How much should a 2.1 kg westie mix 8 week old puppy be eating each day?
I’ve brought royal canin mini junior food at the advice of my vet and she said follow the adult weight guide, so going by that she needs 150g a day which sounds like a lot for her. I’m feeding her three times a day and putting out 50g each time. She’s only eating 25g at each meal though.
Should I be worried or should I throw out the 150g guide line and just go by what she wants?
Also we’re in the middle of a really hot spell at home and she still won’t settle at night. I’ve put a ticking clock and a night light where she’s sleeping but I’m worried that a hot water bottle or the like will overheat her in the night, is there something else I can try until it cools down a bit?
And how do we toilet train her at night? We’ve got the day time sorted, there are still little accidents but she lets us know if she’s had an accident and we’re taking her out hourly into the garden, but what do I do at night? I feed her three hours before she goes to sleep but I leave water out for her all night just in case.
My other two dogs had toilet-training sorted when I rescued them so I never had to go through all this.
It’s a huge learning curve and any info you can pass on to a first time puppy owner would be appreciated.
Mini Junior is Royal Canin’s Mini Breed Puppy food, it’s suitable from 2 – 10 months.
She was on bakers before and there was no way in the world I was going to feed her bakers puppy food.
awwww, I’m getting a westie pup soon so i thought i’d give answering this question a go.
1. For the food – go to a local supermarket at the pet sections, if you read on the back of the packets they should tell you roughly how much to feed them, your dog might tend to eat more or less that amount, you only really need to worry if it doesn’t eat much. If you give her the adult amount and she’s not eating all of it, don’t worry, she’ll adjust, and if she’s hungry she’ll eat, just make sure there is always food avalaible for her until you’re satisfied she’s easten enough.
2. I wouldn’t put a hot water bottle near her, but maybe give her a thin blanket and lay it on her, she’ll likely snuggle up in it and if she gets hot she’ll be able to shake it off herself! I would make sure she sleeps near you in case she needs the loo and whines or something.
3. You can buy nappy mats at a local pet store or supermarket which you can surround her in if you want, that way if she has an accident it won’t matter!
I wish you the best of luck and a lifetime of happiness with your new dog!
Btw, did you buy from a breeder, pets store, etc…. Not sure where i want to get my puppy from yet 
Tags: Westie
This article might just help: Feeding a puppy
http://lnk.nu/dogtime.com/rxc.html
Crate-houstrain your pup. helps a lot. here’s how:
http://lnk.nu/dogtime.com/s02.html
References :
awwww, I’m getting a westie pup soon so i thought i’d give answering this question a go.
1. For the food – go to a local supermarket at the pet sections, if you read on the back of the packets they should tell you roughly how much to feed them, your dog might tend to eat more or less that amount, you only really need to worry if it doesn’t eat much. If you give her the adult amount and she’s not eating all of it, don’t worry, she’ll adjust, and if she’s hungry she’ll eat, just make sure there is always food avalaible for her until you’re satisfied she’s easten enough.
2. I wouldn’t put a hot water bottle near her, but maybe give her a thin blanket and lay it on her, she’ll likely snuggle up in it and if she gets hot she’ll be able to shake it off herself! I would make sure she sleeps near you in case she needs the loo and whines or something.
3. You can buy nappy mats at a local pet store or supermarket which you can surround her in if you want, that way if she has an accident it won’t matter!
I wish you the best of luck and a lifetime of happiness with your new dog!
Btw, did you buy from a breeder, pets store, etc…. Not sure where i want to get my puppy from yet
References :
Mini Junior 33-Expect weight 10pounds?
http://www.royalcanin.co.uk/my_pet/dog_products/size_health_nutrition/mini_dogs/mini_junior.aspx
References :
Bear in mind that dog food companies want to sell as much of their food as they can!! The guidelines they print on the packets are usually way too much for the average puppy. If she’s not eating the amount you put out, just cut down to the amount she eats – if she seems lively and healthy, she will soon let you know when she needs more.
Some pups take weeks to accept that they are on their own at night, if you don’t want to crate train her, keep her confined in a small area and once she can hold it all night she will. Don’t leave her without water, pups are quickly dehydrated and with her being on dried food she should always have access to water.
Sounds as if you are doing a great job — just keep it up and with patience and consistency you’ll get there.
References :
Owned, bred, shown, worked dogs for nearly 50 yrs