Hello again everyone, puppy questions

[riaxray]

I am still waiting for my puppy to be ready. I do have a few questions. When is the soonest a puppy can leave their mamma and is too soon not good for them. It is just so hard to wait. She will be 5 weeks on Wednesday so I have 3 more weeks to go. The baby that I want is the runt of the litter. She does seem a bit weaker and smaller than the others, but I have had a connection with her and she has captured my heart. Is there anything different I need to do with her since she is the runt? Also what kind of bed should I get for her or should I just use a comfy blanket? I have been reading up on puppies and dogs but there are so many questions. Can you tell I am a first time dog owner? I am sooooo excited!!!

Thanks all,

Ria

 

[gmacleod]

8 weeks is the earliest she should be leaving her mother and littermates Please do wait that long - it's important that she gets the socialisation experience that generally occurs in the 6-8 week range.

As for food - any high quality kibble or a raw diet will be fine. Canidae could be a good choice. It's an all-life-stages food, so you don't have to worry about her growing too quickly on a puppy formula (could be the case with a 'runt' who suddenly catches up to her littermates).

Other than that - no, nothing special you need to do since she's the smallest A crate and a thick blanket should do fine as a bed. You can buy a specially made bed - but boxers do seem to take that as an invitation to shred them LOL

Do check out the puppy forums. There's plenty information of good reading there.

Good luck with your pup!

 

[kassa]

There are true "runts" and then there are small puppies. My smallest puppy ended up being a 70 lb bitch (huge compared to her mother and sisters). She was always a couple of days behind the others -- reached the milestones, just a trifle behind. Not enough to cause real concern, but enough to always keep an eye on her when the others hit a milestone, so that she didn't get lost in the shuffle.

A true runt really does have something wrong with it, as opposed to just happening to be the smallest at that particular time.

Assuming she's growing normally, just think of her as petite... for now, anyway. She could end up being huge

 

[dagney's mom]

my puppy is 7 months old now and here's what i learned:

we got our puppy when he was almost 10 weeks old. do not get your pup before 8 weeks, and i would even hold off until 9 weeks if you can.

get a crate that has a divider so that you can adjust the crate size as your puppy grows (so he won't pee in the crate)... get a blanket and a stuffed animal. we also had a t shirt with my boyfriend's scent on it and wrapped it around a clock that ticked... it is supposed to be like their mom's heartbeat. it worked really well for our puppy.

as for food... we were first on nutro large puppy wet and dry-- i do not recommend it-- it gave dagney alot of stomach problems. and try to wean off canned food if you can. we are now on canidae food and it's going well

good luck!

 

[PawPrintBoxers]

8 weeks is the minimum. Thanks so much for asking before getting your puppy. So many people ask after, then take the pup too young and have a ton of problems.

Runts can grow up to be the biggest in the litter. So just give the pup love when they come home and let Mother Nature do the rest. If they are smaller when they are older, so much the better. As long as they are healthy, that is all that matters.

 

[riaxray]

Ok now I am nervous !! Help !

In Kassa's reply she said that true runts do have something wrong with them. This little girl was born 2 hrs after the others and is smaller than the others. She seems to be keeping up with the other puppies , just a little bit smaller. I have not seen her in a week so I need to ask the breeder if I can come have a look. My husband is wary about getting the runt of the litter but she seems to be so perfect. Can a vet tell now if there is a problem? My breeder says she had been checked out at the vet and is perfect. What should I do??
This is my first puppy and I do not want to make a mistake. How can I be sure that she is healthy?

ria

 

[MoxyRoxy]

Sounds like she is just the smallest in the bunch, for now. She's playing, eating and keeping up with the other pups, she'll be fine. In Roxy's litter there were only 2 females, she and a fawn. Her sister was the "runt" only by size. They are 7 months old now and both girls are 45-50lbs, wired boxerbeans!

Roxy is my first puppy too. I've grown up with Boxers, but she is my first as an adult! Enjoy your puppy!

 

[lillys7]

I actually got my puppy at 6 1/2 weeks...The only problem we have is that he pees in the crate. He is extremely social and has an exellent personality...

 

[PawPrintBoxers]

I actually got my puppy at 6 1/2 weeks...

It is unfortunate you bought your puppy from such an irresponsible breeder that would let their puppy go so early. Please understand that is not an appropriate age at all.

In some states, it is even against the law to let puppies go before 8 weeks old.

 

[riaxray]

this info is priceless

I will wait at least 8 wks. I did not know that it was so inportant. My breeder also will not let her go till she is at least that old. I guess I just need to be patient. Thanks all for your help.

Ria