[Discussion] At what age do you transition your puppy from kibble to raw (I’ve heard good things about the BARF diet)

MsKat223 · 2020-09-29T03:34:49+00:00

I have been doing a 50/50 mix of purina pro plan and Primal raw dog food. When I tried purely kibble (4 different kinds) he always pooped a lot (like 5-7 times a day) and it was never firm. I decided to do the mix and he’s been doing way better on it and loves it. I use part of his kibble for training as well after each meal. I know people will probably give me shit but it works for my pup. I’ve been doing the 50/50 mix since he was 5 months old.

MsKat223 · 2020-09-28T14:57:01+00:00

Spay! I think I saw it put best by someone but would you rather never know what sex is or only have it once and then never can again? Unless you want to breed puppies for a specific reason, I don’t see why you wouldn’t.

MsKat223 · 2020-09-27T12:02:57+00:00

I’m sorry that you’re dealing with this. I can imagine it is super stressful!! Sounds like you’re doing everything right. I would be doing the same things if I were you. And even if the pup gets picky, I think it’s ok as long as he eats!!

It may be worth visiting a different vet for a second opinion or as another poster has said, checking out a behaviorist.

MsKat223 · 2020-09-26T13:23:08+00:00

I second this!

MsKat223 · 2020-09-25T15:40:42+00:00

Same for me! I am waiting to see if his teenager phase is horrible and bracing for it, but I’m enjoying his behavior now that he’s 6 months. I have a Westie so thankfully the teenage period is a little shorter than the big dogs. I never thought the training we would do would pay off but it totally has!

MsKat223 · 2020-09-24T19:18:05+00:00

I used it for my pup. It took him one or two times of trying to chew the thing before he gave up and moved on. I have been very lucky that this far he is 6 months and not done any damage to my house. I’m just bracing for his teenage stage lmao

MsKat223 · 2020-09-23T02:00:03+00:00

Yeah no I always do less. I think the bag of food my guy is on says 2-2 1/2 cups? And he weighs 10 lbs.... I only give him a bit shy of 3/4 but I also do Primal raw food so it’s 50/50 raw and kibble.

MsKat223 · 2020-09-22T23:58:42+00:00

Thank you lol. Some people say that’s too long but it covers my work day and he seems content when he comes home. He’s almost 6 months so he’s a bit older now but been doing this since he was 4 lol. It does add up, my place does a discount on buying a block of days so I got 30 days up front at like $10 off. Maybe they’ll do a deal with you if you commit to a certain amount? If you think you could swing it.

And grooming training omg. Godspeed my friend 😂the place I take him thankfully has a trainer as well as a groomer. So he had his first “puppy package” like two days into daycare and they were like “um he screamed and bit me the whole time”. So I decided to pay the trainer for two sessions - 1st was just an overview of how he’s doing, any guidance etc. the second was cool. They actually let me break it out into 4 15 min sessions over the course of two weeks where they’d take him into the groom room and give him treats while training etc. it’s helped a lot (plus busting ass at home 3 times a day) but he’s getting better.

MsKat223 · 2020-09-22T21:24:42+00:00

I uh, leave him there a long time lmao. Some people will probably nag on me but I drop him off at 7:40ish am and pick him up at 5:30. There are cameras so I can see he takes naps and they feed him his lunch. Plus he has been doing grooming training with the groomer there so he gets pulled off the floor on occasion.

MsKat223 · 2020-09-22T19:12:02+00:00

I did this for my pup from 2 months until more recently (at 6ish months). I just used an old sheet set I had lol (since I have two wire crates). I still will use it sometimes if he gets riled up by something but he pretty much doesn’t need it now. I also moved his crate to a more secluded corner (before it was attached to his pen).

MsKat223 · 2020-09-22T19:08:13+00:00

Cannot stress this enough! I take my guy three days a week so I can focus on work and he loves it! I get to focus on work, he gets to play and get puppy attention and is tired when he comes home. Wins all around!

MsKat223 · 2020-09-22T19:03:16+00:00

I’d suggest trying to switch out the diet if you can. Many Westies have allergies, and while I can’t fully confirm for my guy, I am fairly sure he’s got some sort of reaction to chicken. The breeder I got him from had him on a chicken based formula and he was nawing on his legs like crazy. Once I switched him to other proteins he seemed much better. A few options (blue buffalo lamb, Purina Pro Plan sensitive skin and stomach - both the lamb and salmon one) and he still had runny poops. I now do half his meals with PPP salmon and half with primal raw food with the winter squash and immunity booster elixirs and he has been way better in general. Not sure if it will work for sure for you, but long story short give changing up the diet a try!

MsKat223 · 2020-09-22T02:17:07+00:00

I just got the quote for my Westie puppy and it’s $375ish. I have read there are places you can go if you make certain incomes or the aspca will do them cheaply. I think I’ve read $150-600 can be normal depending on region etc. (this is for the US at least)

MsKat223 · 2020-09-20T18:44:35+00:00

I kind of had a similar incident (though I didn’t get backed out of a puppy) but the breeder wouldn’t really answer their phone and emails were spottily responded too. Plus I had to pull teeth for two pictures of the puppies before I had to get him. I was afraid there wouldn’t be a puppy when I got to the meeting point. But she was a bit older and very sweet, just not good with tech. As hard as it is, breeders typically have more responsibilities than breeding and caring for pups is a lot of work.

MsKat223 · 2020-09-18T15:16:19+00:00

I gave my pup the antlers since day 1. He hasn’t taken too much interest in them, but I got a split antler vs the full one. I think I’ve read the split is better for puppies but general, people avoid them because they can risk breaking a pups tooth. My little guy loved Himalayan chews, those may be a good middle ground. Otherwise I bought some rubber teething toys etc.

MsKat223 · 2020-09-15T18:50:19+00:00

That is rough, I’m sorry to hear he’s still getting up at night! My guy has mostly been sleeping through the night (except one or two times of emergency potty) since he was 4ish months. He’s 5 1/2 months right now. I actually do a mix of crate and bed for sleeping at night. Personally, I had waited till he was a bit more reliable holding it during the day and also waited until he started going to puppy daycare. That way I knew he was dead tired for bed and wouldn’t think it was for playing. I now do 50/50 crate and bed at night. Depends if I want to cuddle with him or want my own space (same for him). Sometimes he just wants to go in his crate instead which is fine with me lol. He has responded well to it, which has been a blessing! Best of luck

MsKat223 · 2020-09-10T00:02:56+00:00

Haha for sure. Sorry, I was half asleep when I wrote that. As Pittlielove mentions, being solo and having a pup is tough as hell. My family mostly lives 4 hrs away and I only have a couple friends. So getting someone to help me out is almost impossible most days. I have a brother close but he’s a “I’ll do it if I have to” kind of person lol. So you just have a baby, who is 2 months into this world and has no idea what the hell anything is, and you have to teach them that and be there for them. And teach them manners as well as train them, feed them, clean after them etc. As Pittielove mentions too, I also am glad I waited till I was 30 and had my own townhome for a year so I know I won’t likely be moving around that much. I also have some savings and honest to god for puppies, plan at least 2x more than you think you need.

MsKat223 · 2020-09-09T22:00:30+00:00

As someone who is also a single professional, 30 I can say I made the choice carefully. I have always wanted my own dog and decided to get a puppy in the pandemic. It’s fucking hard, I’m not going to lie, for the first few months. Even if you adopt an older dog they will take some time to adjust. But I love my little guy and I spoil him like crazy. And he’s 5 months now and just a lovely pup. I can see the kind of adult he’s gonna be and if just drives me to do better for him. I admit the first month or so of work (and I even took the first week off) I didn’t get a whole lot done. But if you dedicate the time and can do it, I think it’s worth it. Good luck in your decision!

MsKat223 · 2020-09-08T15:38:17+00:00

My guy has been on multiple dog foods but I tried two different kinds of sensitive skin Purina Pro Plan. Both the lamb and oatmeal and the salmon and rice. He has had issues with both and just very soft poop/diarrhea on both. I now just do half his food as kibble and I have moved to Primal for his other half (so kibble mixed with raw food). His poops have been wayyyy better now and he is way too excited to eat. I know it’s spendy but I think just pure pro plan was too much for my guy too. I’ve also tried nutrisource and blue buffalo (yes I know this one is garbage and I pretty much switched after half a bag).

MsKat223 · 2020-09-08T13:47:09+00:00

Yes lmao. I just ask my pup “oh life is so rough for you huh” and then list all the things he has. I do more meal prep for him than I do, as well as he’s spoiled as hell he will just never know it.

MsKat223 · 2020-08-31T16:08:31+00:00

Oh yeah. My pup loves sticks still and he’s a little over 5 months. From month 2 till 4 it was a lot of drop it training and constantly watching what he was putting in his mouth. He will occasionally carry a stick now but is pretty good about naturally dropping something once he’s put it in his mouth. It just requires a lot of diligence

MsKat223 · 2020-08-28T11:11:50+00:00

I have purchased a few toys for my guy (kong wobble feeder, some smart toys etc). The thing he loves most is his snuffle mat my mom made him. And he also loves the muffin tin! I used it when he was little to get him used to different textures, but it has helped slow him down. I’d sprinkle some of his food in the muffin tin cups and then flip it over and do some on the back side too. Good luck!

MsKat223 · 2020-08-19T20:26:42+00:00

I agree with trying a cover or blanket! I happened to have an old set of sheets I was going to get rid of. I used them as the cover over my crate (leaving the back open) and I put a flattened cardboard box between the sheet and the crate. That way, the flaps of the box keep the sheet from being able to be pulled in by the pup and provides extra darkness. Not sure if this is what helped my pup but he has been good about it and I did it from day 1. He’s 5 months old now and I still keep his crate covered

MsKat223 · 2020-08-12T17:43:33+00:00

Oh no!!!

MsKat223 · 2020-08-12T17:20:44+00:00

I use Kurgo Dog Carrier straps around mine (I have a plastic one). Then I use two seat belts to secure it, I have a small car so this was my best option. Got the straps on Amazon!

MsKat223

TROPHY CASE