I had already paid for this puppy. I've been waiting for it since birth as me and my gf have wanted a puppy for so long. The mother was killed in an accident and the puppies are 5 weeks old. What should I do to properly nourish and socialize the puppy?
2007-10-15 14:55:20 · 13 answers · asked by tripleplatinum2000 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
My mother has 2 small young dogs that she keeps inside her home. Would it help if maybe she kept the puppy for an extra couple weeks to let it learn from her dogs?
2007-10-15 15:13:40 · update #1
Also I wouldn't want anyone thinking bad of the breeder *even though I haven't listed the name* I would feel bad as this situation isn't their fault. The man's house burnt and his family had to split up. The mother and liter of puppies was staying at his mothers house when the accident occured. I'm assuming she can't deal with the puppies at this point. I don't mean to make excuses, but their are outside factors.
2007-10-15 15:17:35 · update #2
She is a Mini Daschund. I think I spelled that right.
2007-10-15 15:22:37 · update #3
The mother and liter was staying with the mans mother. The mom dog was out laying in the driveway and she got hit by one of the older ladies friends that had pulled in to visit her.
2007-10-15 16:09:37 · update #4
Personally, I would find another puppy. A good "breeder" would still have this pup and not be "getting rid" of it now. It still benefits from being with it's littermates.
BAD BREEDER!!!!!!
The situations sounds "sketchy" at best. What happened to the mother of the pups???????
Sorry...but there is NO WAY I would PAY for a pup from this kind of situation!!!!
2007-10-15 14:58:58 · answer #1 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
At this age, the puppy should be seen by a vet to give proper care. A vet can advise you as to nutritional requirements, puppies this young need special nourishment. Immunizations are important to prevent diseases that can kill puppies. If money is an issue there may be resources in your area to assist you, contact your local shelter, etc. for help. Cuddling and holding the puppy will provide a semblance of the maternal bond.
2007-10-15 15:01:46 · answer #2 · answered by mcdr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At five weeks old the puppy shold be old enough to eat solid food. Start him on a good quality puppy food. If you are feeding dry food you will probably have to soften it with warm water.
It is not ideal to take a puppy from its mother and littermates this early, you will probably have more work to do with the training and socializing, but it can work ok. Is the breeder willing to keep the puppy with the littermates for a few more weeks? If possible that would be a good idea - they learn a lot from being with their litter.
If you do take him home now, give him plenty of love and a warm place to sleep - he misses his mommy and littermates, but don't begin any habits you don't intend to continue. Don't let him in bed with you unless you plan on letting him sleep with you his whole life.
After he gets his first shots at six weeks, try to find a friend or two with healthy, vaccinated puppies and dogs for him to play with. He needs to be socialized to other dogs, but he is still very vunerable to infections, so don't take him to public places or let him play with unknown dogs - only ones you KNOW are healthy. As soon as he finishes his shots, enroll in puppy obedience with him.
2007-10-15 15:09:20 · answer #3 · answered by naomi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Despite what some say, I say go ahead and get the puppy. Yes, it will need extra care since it is so young. If you don't get it now, the breeder would just sell it to someone else. You have already paid for the pup. If you didn't get it, someone might get it that would not try to take proper care of it. Just spnd extra time getting to know the puppy, making it feel safe and loved in its new home. If you have friends with young pups, have them come over with their pups and let your pup play together. It will get socialized just as well this way as with its litter,ates. Socialize the puppy around other people too. Your families and friends. Children if you are close to some. That way it will be a nice well socialized pup that will fit in with other dogs and all types of people. Good luck with the little one. Puppies are wonderful. BTW what breed is it?
Instead of having your mother keep the pup for a couple of weeks, just have her come over with the dogs for visits and play dates with the pups. I have bought young pups that the breeder should not have sold so young also but my own dogs were the teachers and they turned out just great!!
2007-10-15 15:13:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have to agree with GotNewfs. This puppy needs to stay with its littermates. The socialization period from 6-8 weeks is when pups learn about bite inhibition (from biting and being bitten by littermates) and dog socialization.
In my experience as a trainer, I can tell you the VAST majority of dogs with nipping/biting issues and/or dog aggression issues are those who were removed from their littermates prior to 8 weeks.
You should not be worrying about nourishing and socializing the puppy, the puppy should be with its littermates playing and being fed a premium brand of dogfood by the breeder.
Do not set yourself up for years of problems.
2007-10-15 15:04:59 · answer #5 · answered by animal_artwork 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should take care of it! It will be like having a little one to look after. Call the vet to get advice on what you need to do. It needs a good home!
2007-10-15 15:04:23 · answer #6 · answered by chestnutlocs1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your vet or Humane Society. Good on you for your puppy love!
2007-10-15 15:00:11 · answer #7 · answered by Dave 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
awww that's really sad and i thinks its very nice of you to want to take care of this puppy properly. i would first contact the breeder to see if they have any tips or specifications and after that i would go to the vet and ask what they think is right. good luck.
2007-10-15 15:04:34 · answer #8 · answered by Alice Cullen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you call your local vet they might give you the right formula to bottle feed it but he is old enough to eat dry food. give it lots of love and attention. pick the best healthy puppy food you can find or ask your local vet, whats the best food. make sure it has been de-wormed and has had its booster shot, heart worm test (when old enough) and rabies(when old enough). and make sure he is groomed ( if long haired brush longer) if he/she is short haired then there is not much you do. give him/her healthy bones if you want too. he/she needs an ID tag for her/his coller (you can get them at hartz.com for $2.95 with free shipping) a coller that won't break when walking him/her. and a good well made leash (retractable leash's are good you can get them cheep at wal-mart and they wok good to just one the make sure the laesh part that re-tracks is a leash not cord the cord will make bad burns if she/or gets caught around you) hope the advise helps!!!
2007-10-15 15:10:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
hmmm 5 wks puppies should be ready to wean at that time just feed the puppy food that is soaked in water
2007-10-15 15:08:00 · answer #10 · answered by GSD Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋