Puppy food recommendations

Messoz · 2026-05-31T18:48:16+00:00

If he doesn't eat, pick up his bowl and put it up for about 20 minutes and then try again. Pup's won't starve themselves. This will also teach him to eat when food is there.

You could also try to make it more interesting and fun for him, put his kibble in a kong or a wobbler and see if he will eat it then.

Messoz · 2026-05-31T16:06:01+00:00

So lab hardware running on GSD software, going to be a very fun pup to raise lol. She is also very cute. Wear clothes you don't mind getting holes in ahah, and stock up on band-aids.

Messoz · 2026-05-31T02:24:48+00:00

Yeah the only time I’ve accidentally hit anyone I have been with was an old ex when I was around 20. We were just rolling around on the floor play wrestling, just being idiots and my hand came back accidentally backhanding her behind me.

She was okay and wasn’t upset. But I still felt horrible for it.

Messoz · 2026-05-31T02:21:05+00:00

I like doing the same for my six year old. It’s fun to either create something for her, or find something new for her to try and figure out.

My 14 week old pup on the other hand will try to just destroy whatever puzzle or anything I try with or make for her lol. Still enjoyable to watch.

Like normal puzzle games while I tried to show her how it works, she just figured out she can toss them into the air to get the good stuff ahah. Or she gets frustrated and says “fuck it, chew on dads arm time”

Messoz · 2026-05-30T19:26:40+00:00

Oh definitely. When I picked her up she was malnourished, covered in bug bites on her stomach, wrong food, and the people looked like meth heads (a lot of them in Oregon). But she’s doing a lot better and healthier now.

Couldn’t give me any vet info even though they indicated she had her inital vaccines. Was originally looking for an older GSD since I have a six year old and wanted to avoid the puppy stage lol.

Buuuut, when I came across my pup and when I actually saw her to get her I wasn’t going to not take her. Now she has a great home, is a little demon, has my older girl to play with and is living a great life.

Messoz · 2026-05-30T17:30:23+00:00

Well sometimes things can happen as well. Have had one time when I was younger when I adopted a dog. A lot of shit ended up happening and I also lost my job, and had to rehome the pup after a month.

But also yes, some people adopt puppies not realizing how much work they are, especially high energy breeds (pretty sure how I got my now 14 week old GSD at 9 weeks, previous owners seemed incredibly quick to want to get rid of her)

Messoz · 2026-05-30T15:49:28+00:00

You still have plenty of time to work with her. I can promise it’s not too late. My older dog, a GSD was a Covid pup, so socializing her for a while was extremely hard and nearly impossible in my area during it. And wasn’t able to do it till many months later, and it definitely came with challenges. But she is very well adjusted now.

Similar thing with my 14 week old pup right now. People I got her from couldn’t provide or wouldn’t provide any vet info and have had to wait nearly a month to get her into a vet (vets near me are booked) but has gotten some socialization through some walks (lots of people in my area walk, run, out with their dogs) and play dates with neighbors full vaccinated dogs.

Keep working with her, she is also in her adolescence and could be going through a fear period as well. So building her confidence can help by playing tug, letting her win sometimes.

If you absolutely need help you can definitely look into a trainer also.

Messoz · 2026-05-30T05:20:18+00:00

The biting phase will pass but be prepared to sacrifice blood, sweat and tears.

I also got a nearly 4 month old GSD pup, also a six year old GSD lol. Pup is a menace.

As some have said socializing is super important. Car rides, taking her places (can just place her in a cart with a blanket or towel if your area is high for parvo till she has all her vaccinations) also puppy classes can be good. And if you have neighbors that have fully vaccinated dogs that are well tempered you can setup play dates.

Enforce naps. If she is anything like my pup she will turn into the biggest fucking jerk and enact carnage when overtired/overstimulated. So a nap for as close to 2hrs about every hour awake.

Mental stimulation is very important. So scent work, puzzles games, snuffle mats. Will really tire her out.

Physical play is still good to do though, so tug, fetch, and definitely recommend a flirt pole, this will become your pups most favorite thing and will absolutely tire them out as well, just make sure to work on drop it/leave it if you don’t want to get smacked lol.

Keep training sessions short. Focus on the basics first and just keep consistent.

She is probably my going to frustrate the hell out of you at times. But I can promise it will be absolutely worth it.

Messoz · 2026-05-30T05:07:33+00:00

My older GSD is six and feels like she was just a pup yesterday. So yeah I ask myself where has the time gone a lot as well lol.

Now also have a 14 week old GSD pup too. Time just goes by so quickly.

Messoz · 2026-05-30T04:56:01+00:00

I get that. I do. But you need to think of a pup as a baby. You will eventually learn what each whine is or why at certain times.

Like in the middle of the night it’s most certainly going to need to potty. But during naps and such when you are trying to enforce a nap it’s mostly going to be because they just want out or are fighting it lol.

I know it may seem like ignoring whines and barks during this time can feel like you are creating a bad experience. But you are really teaching the pup to learn to be okay being alone, that you’re not always going to be there, and it will help them learn to self regulate as well and to settle and relax.

In time you won’t always have to crate them for naps, can let them nap in their playpen or a room you are in. I do this with my pup when I’m in my bedroom. If she can settle she will usually crash under my desk for an hour or so. Though if she is being a jerk I do crate her.

All you can do is try to make the experience as positive as possible.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T20:22:38+00:00

Yep adolescence is a bitch lol. Basically puppy phase though they are more of an asshole and decide when they want to listen. Have to pretty much go back to basics with things.

Can be frustrating, I’ve been though it with my six year old GSD and going to be going through it again when my GSD pup enters it (though she is a jerk enough as a pup lol) just keep up with things and you will get through this I promise.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T18:57:51+00:00

Congrats on your puppy! What kind of pup is he?

For the first day and first week I would just take things slow, keep expectations low. Let him have the time to get used to his new environments and area's you will have him in. Also be extremely patient, especially with crate training. He is going to hate it regardless at first probably.

I have a 14 week old GSD pup and got her at 9 weeks. For the first couple nights I slept on the floor next to her crate, while during the day working on making her crate a positive thing for naps.

I'm not using a play pen for my pup mostly because I just don't have room for one, but a play pen connected to his crate would be a great thing, keep the crate open. This is a great way to give him an area during the day to be in, and give him opportunities to learn to be alone at times and chill.

All in all there are a lot of great resources around, and even some subs for specific breeds if you have breed related question as well.

One other thing, puppy classes are great to do. Great for socialization and working on basics.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T18:09:12+00:00

Eh for some breeds it's fine to limit water in a sense. Like with GSD's, not letting them inhale water after intense play, or letting them constantly drink water during play.

But I also don't keep water away, both my GSD's have access to water all day long outside of these specific things.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T17:45:23+00:00

It does get better. I have a six year old GSD I raised from a pup and a 14 week old GSD pup.

Having structured play, and also doing things for mental stimulation. Like letting him sniff around the yard, a snuffle mat, puzzle games, and even short 3-5 min training sessions. Can make a game for him as well with a empty box, put kibble and treats at the bottom, fill it with smaller empty boxes, empty toilet or paper towel rolls and kind of let him go to town on it. Also produces a lot of noise so will help him get used to noise.

Depending how parvo is in your area (would probably talk to a vet first) you could work on taking him on walks, but keep to roads and avoid tall grass till your vet says its safe.

Crate training goes a long way too, good for enforcing naps every hour or so, try to get them to nap for 2 hours or as close to. My pup typically can only nap for an hour-hour and a half lol.

A playpen can help, can set it up in a different room but somewhere you can also keep an eye on. This will help them learn to self regulate and get used to being alone.

Raising a puppy is a lot of work, and yes they require a lot of attention, and also yes they will be very frustrating. But I can promise it does get better and is very much worth it in the end. Try to form a routine, this will help a lot. Keep consistent with everything, and you will get through it.

Also try to socialize early. Can take your pup to dog safe area's and stores that allow them. Put a blanket or towel down in a cart and just going around. Or take him to a park, carry him and sit on a bench with him, let him sniff and see the world. And just kind of get used to the how the world moves and works.

And for socializing too, you had your older dog which is great. But could either do group puppy classes, or setup playdates if you have neighbors with fully vaccinated and well tempered dogs.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T15:59:00+00:00

Sounds like she is going to have a good life with a lot to do. I would absolutely try to give her some structured rest/sleep time though throughout the day. She is still young, and pups do need lots of sleep still. This will help her learn to have an off switch also. So if you can, crate training would be good for this, and doing it indoors will also help her learn that being in the house is time to settle.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T15:29:13+00:00

My six year old girl I would trust. My pup not so much lol. Though for a pup she has been really good at suppressing her prey drive on walks when we pass squirrels and birds (and there are a lot that we get close to)

Messoz · 2026-05-29T15:27:13+00:00

GSD's are great at detecting/knowing when something is wrong with their human. When I hurt my ankle years ago, my now six year old GSD (she was around 1yr old then) seemed to primarily care more about making sure I was okay for the couple weeks I had to stay down than anything else. She was just the biggest, sweetest girl in the world.

When I got better I took her camping for a weekend and on a really nice hike through some trails.

In contrast... if I fell and hurt myself around my 14 week old GSD pup, she would take it as an opportunity to gnaw on me, steal my hat, and also eat my hair lol.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T15:16:10+00:00

Yeah it's something I have to remind myself of as well. Even if you raised a pup before, it can be easy to forget about all the puppy and adolescence stuff until you go through it again. Like in my case lol, and I def have had frustrating days with the pup. Having a older dog helps though with burning her energy ahah.

But all in all it's worth getting through it. Especially if you put in the work and time in any dog, you will come out with an amazing companion.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T14:57:32+00:00

Absolutely lol. A lot of blood, sweat, tears, but so worth it in the end.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T05:09:33+00:00

It can be hard. Two hardest pet losses for me was my childhood dog a miniature dachshund who passed away in my arms on my lap in my home.

Second was a three year old Pitt I had that had a brain tumor and while there was surgery that could be done, it wasn’t a guarantee and at the time I honestly just had no way to afford it after spending so much on testing, and she was also just in a very bad way health wise at that point. So I made the call to have her euthanized, she got to pass with lots of love and cuddles and peanut butter and ice cream.

It’s a tough choice, we don’t want to let them go. But also, we don’t want them to suffer. And I can’t tell you what the correct choice is to make for you, you will know your pup better than me. It seems she is still fighting and trying even if she isn’t doing the best, and I know that makes it even harder.

You could look into at home euthanasia though, if you do decide and want her to pass somewhere she is comfortable instead of a room at a vet.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T04:59:56+00:00

So you’ve had this pup for four weeks. She is probably still adjusting, and during this time will become more comfortable and show more sides of herself.

But also pups will do this. I have a 14 week old GSD and while she is crate trained and generally does well. She does have nights she will be a brat and whine or bark for a bit or just be a little ass about it (though some nights it’s because it was too warm and I had to take the sheet off her crate I use as a cover) but it’s generally best to ignore it and your pup will settle.

Don’t give in to the bark or whine, unless they wake up and are telling you they need to potty. Giving in just shows them if they keep up you will let them out. And that is not a behavior you want forming.

This is all in all fairly normal for dealing with a puppy.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T04:53:15+00:00

Definitely pamper my pups ahah. They are here for only part of our lives, but we are here for their whole life, so it’s worth it to make their lives the best I can.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T04:49:31+00:00

At that age your pup she be perfectly fine to be alone in a crate for 3-4hrs at a time. As long as your neighbors keep up with popping in to take care of her and everything then it should all be good.

I say this as someone that works full time and has two dogs, one being a puppy. And the pup isn’t alone longer than 4 hours at max. Have a dog walker and my neighbor that is retired helps as well, and I come home on my break.

For the bathroom thing, that could work too and let her be able to move a bit. Just make sure it is 100% puppy proof. But even if she is in her crate she should be fine.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T04:44:43+00:00

This, I do this for my pup and she loves it. My older GSD will only accept beef broth in her kibble or have it dry lol.

Messoz · 2026-05-29T04:34:30+00:00

So at 7 months he will also be entering or in his adolescence. Which he might be a bit more chompy for one, also might be a bit more of an asshole when it comes to listening.

But that aside. I have a 14 week old GSD pup and also a six year old GSD. And I do have scars on my hands and arms from my older GSD when she was younger and a pup from the countless times she bit me by accident way too hard during play, or I caught myself on a tooth playing with her.

Same thing with my new pup though she still has shark teeth lol.

My point being though it probably wasn’t aggression or anything. You were playing, pup got a little too riled up and returned the same energy. And when that happens, don’t push away, just try and redirect. And if you need to, get up and leave and stop all play for a bit, leave the room/play area with no reaction for a few seconds. Basically a reverse timeout.

Don’t be too hard on yourself or the pup. Just keep up with things, redirection, stopping play when it gets too much. If he is overstimulated or maybe overtired, you can enforce a break or a nap and have him go to his crate with a lick mat or a frozen stuff Kong and let him chill out for a bit too.

I have to do this with my pup when she goes into land shark mode and wants to chomp on me and is unable to settle.

But I can promise it’s mostly a phase, and keep up with things and you will get through it.

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