New here and have a puppy and a few questions

[on:]

Hello I just got a bishon/shitzue mix ( he mostly looks shitzue )  his name is Jackson and he is almost 9 weeks old.  We have had him for about a week and he is doing great with potty training.  I just have a few questions.  One at about what age will he learn to go to the door himself to go potty?  Also is 3 times a day enough for feeding?  I give him a half a can of evo in the morning and give him Natures Variety kibble the rest of the day.  I wish  I had my USB cord so I could post picks of him.  I guess I will have to buy one soon because he is such a cuttie and I cant wait to show him off.

[Reply #1 on:]

  Hi and welcome,
     Ill bet he is precious.I have a bichon-poodlex,that looks like a poodle,and a Shi-Pomx that looks like a Shih Tzu.They are both about 3 years old.They still don't tell me when they have to go out,but that is probably my fault.I am home all day,and let them out every couple of hours,last time about 10pm.If they have to go thru the night, they use puppy pads.
     I personally think 3 times a day is enough,IF,he is not acting like he is still hungry when he finishes his dish,or,really acting like he is starved when it is time for his next one.Where I don't have to worry about schedules,etc., I keep food and water down all day,for all my dogs and they just graze,but that is not a good idea,if you have to keep them on a schedule,for potty breaks.
     Most bags of food have a chart for feeding,and little ones have very small tummys,they don't require as much as you would think they do.I'm not much help,but it is mostly just reading your pup and going with your instincts.  Good luck and enjoy the puppy stage,they grow so fast. Bev

[Reply #2 on:]

About the food - three times a day is what is recommended for puppies, and when he gets to be an adult (around 6 months or so) you should be slowly switching his food to an adult formula, and reduce feeding to two times a day.

Also, make sure you are brushing your dogs teeth. All dogs should have their teeth brushed, especially smaller breeds. It will take a while for the dog to get used to it. Make sure you get a toothpaste that is specifically for dogs(or it might say "pet toothpaste"), it will be an enzyme toothpaste. This type of toothpaste is different from what we use; the enzymes in dog toothpaste work to break down plaque, rather than scrubing it off. All you have to do is rub it on the ouside of their teeth, for about 30 seconds every day or every other day. It'll be easier if you get a flavor Jackson likes, and he may fight it at first but eventually he will enjoy it, because it tastes good! (this may save you lots of dentistry bills down the road and Jackson will thank you for his pretty smile!)

Enjoy your new puppy

[Reply #3 on:]

I have a 3 yr. old bichon frise/puggle mix.  I got her when she was a yr. old.  Although I have never had a problem with her going outside, she had never vocalized anything she wanted but a toy at which time she would do this special whine like a baby asking to be picked up will do.  I then began to imitate the whine sound when asking her if she wanted out and only taking her out after she repeated it back to me.  She still is the only one that will ask to be let out.  Fortunately and unfortunately, she does not need out as often as the others lol.  Therefore two of my others:  Shih Tzu, Shiorkie, still are not asking out.  My dachshund/chow mix will ask out also by pacing but not vocalizing either. 

It is nice for dogs to ask out in case of a need to go now emergency.  My Shih Tzu is currently a mom.  She has had to ask out recently as she cannot get out of the whelping cage we built unless lifted out.  This has been an relief as she is the only dog that we would have to leave a paper down for in our bathroom - just in case.  She is very vocal about going out now.  (We had to build the whelping box up on our wood box as the floor was just too cold of an area for the puppies to be living where it is cold and in a cabin/loft type home with a wood stove.)

During her last litter, she has developed eating poo also.  This has never stopped and was a great problem as her puppies followed her instinct and my bichon also.  We have three horses and horses do not digest their food as cows do.  The poo is full of chewed grass and oats.  It is horrifying to call your dogs in and see a brown face.  They get into great big trouble but it doesn't seem to stop them.  We have had to have the dogs wormed also.  We dab their tongue with a smudge of  peppermint while washing out the mouth to try and discourage this.   

[Reply #4 on:]

Bootsey, I agree being vocal to be let out makes it much easier. When they sit or pace it doesn't help if your in the other room.

As for the poo eating that seems like a major pain. I wonder what they find attractive in the horse manure? Don't horses have vegetarian diets?

[Reply #5 on:]

ya know it's been some time since i had a pup, and i got one now 8 weeks old... it's hard to say what age he will go to the door, it can be different for each puppy.  and he might not even do to the door.  my one dog cairo doesn't, however she will come to me and i can tell it's a "i want to go out" thing.

just be patient and keep bringing him out.. one thing i can say, is with his age it won't be soon.

[Reply #6 on:]

Talon, my dogs love to eat grass and eat out of my garden often lol!..., ... even cukes and onions.  They eat most fruits also, along with potatoes, sweet potatoes.  Picture a dog after eating a beet!!!!  Funny!

But I am happy to report that after getting the dogs all wormed at the advice of our vet, we have 4 dogs who are no longer "POO" eating dogs!! whew!!

[Reply #7 on:]

bootsy please don't give your dog onions.. onions are dangerous for dogs. also dogs shouldn't have cupcakes either. here is a link that tells you what human foods you really need to stay away from giving your dog.   please read it for your dog's health.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1661&aid=1030

jean

[Reply #8 on:]

Thanks Jean!!

[Reply #9 on:]

your very welcome..