I was distressed recently by a reader.
Now I have to say I love answering readers’ queries, and helping them get the best for their dog and themselves, in their particular circumstances. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
If they’re asking it’s because they realise they don’t know the answer, and want help. But sometimes you get someone who doesn’t want to learn . . .
This person wanted to know why her 8-week-old medium-size puppy cried all its first night. I asked her a few questions while giving her resources. It seems this tiny puppy had been fed six hours before bedtime and was expected to last on this till the next morning.
No wonder it couldn’t sleep!
The poor puppy was starving!
At that age it should have been on 4-5 meals a day. I explained this to my correspondent, giving resources again.
And she replied that the vet had said this 8-week-old puppy should be fed half a cup of food twice a day only. For English readers, this would be about 3.5 oz of food in total - enough to keep a sparrow alive.
Clearly no proper vet would say such a daft thing! She simply must have misunderstood somehow.
To cheer you up in this tale of woe, here’s a nice full puppy sleeping!
By the way, for English readers, here’s a load of money off a super food I regularly use and here’s another where you can get a big discount using this link - they provide high-quality fishy treats and foods, which are firm favourites with my crew!
But it set me thinking …
In this case the vet was asked about feeding - something that should come squarely within the vet’s remit.
But so often people take behaviour advice from their breeder (that’s fine if it’s a real breeder and not a puppy farmer or designer-dog “greeder”), or their groomer, or their vet, or the milkman . . .
Behaviour advice should be taken from people who are trained in dog behaviour!
Simple as that!
😳 You wouldn’t ask your hairdresser about a skin disease - you’d go to the doctor.
😮 You wouldn’t ask your gardener why your house is falling down - you’d go to a builder or engineer.
So please - don’t take behaviour advice from anyone but a qualified dog trainer/behaviourist!
And if the advice you get makes no sense (who’d feed a small baby twice a day with a set amount of food?) don’t do it!
***
Footnote: What happened to that puppy? I have no idea. The owner told me my advice would only work for people who didn’t work, then unsubscribed. Presumably they leave the puppy alone all day while they’re out - afraid, lost, and starving. So upsetting . . .
I do what I can to change people’s approach to dogs. One dog at a time. This was one I couldn’t reach.
But hey! You’re reading this, so you understand and know just what I mean!
We have to keep spreading the word.
And if you know someone who’s just got a puppy and is struggling - send them here so they can start the right way!
