Puppy weaning, my breeder recommended a silly diet, advice please???

Question

My boxer puppy is due to be picked up on 15th September, she will be 8 weeks old. The breeder gave me a diet sheet for her. It says scrambled egg or porridge for breakfast. For lunch, puppy food with pasta. for tea, puppy food with more pasta, for supper, rice pudding.

Do dogs really need rice pudding in their diets? what about pasta? I have bought a premiun dry food to feed 4 x daily softened a little with warm water, plus the occasional egg scrambled with minced steak

Answer 1

I can't see that all of that trouble is actually necessary. If you want extra nutrition then instead of water you can soften the puppy food you bought with goats milk.  You can but it powdered at a feed store or sometimes in the vet's office- it is called kid milk.  Just be sure to not get calf milk replacer because you will have a sick puppy- it is way too harsh on their stomachs.

Answer 2

That's a lot of grain which can lead to food allergy.  Pasta is a grain based food.  If you don't believe me read the ingredients.  Feed your good quality meat based puppy food.  You should not have problems doing this.  Some breeders make thing too hard for pet owners.

Answer 3

I don't think any of that is strictly necessary - it's more likely just her individual preference, and many of the things she recommends make very little sense and aren't going to really benefit your pup in any way. Pasta for a pup? Where did this woman get her info on dog nutrition? The whole thing is just weird.

I brought one of my dogs home at 8 weeks (the other at 12 weeks), and I fed her a good, high-quality kibble softened in water 3-4 times a day. She did great on it. Since you are planing to feed a high-quality kibble, I think your pup will be just fine on that alone.

Answer 4

That is a ridiculous diet for a dog.  Puppies need protein and all the ingredients in commercial dog foods to maintain bone growth (especially proper bone growth in a large breed), energy levels and the proper amount of fat.  Please follow your instincts and go with the diet you purchased.

Answer 5

not necessary.  feed as planned.  she should be on solid food in a couple of weeks.  we don't even give our pups eggs.  they get absolutely no people food because we don't want them thinking they can eat our eggs if we leave our plate where they can reach  

Answer 6

I have never heard of such foolishness.  It is not a proper diet for a pup!

Pasta is nothing but carbs and starch.  Not good for a growing pup.

Rice pudding is just bazaar too.

All your pup needs is high quality puppy food soaked in warm water for the first month or so.  Nothing else.  Puppy food is designed to give the pup all the nutrition it needs with out adding anything to it.

An 8 week old pup needs to be fed 3 times a day with a good puppy food nothing more.

Answer 7

Dogs can eat pasta.  Many people cook for their dog or feed them Raw diet.  I think you feeding him premium food soften with warm water is perfectly fine.  He will eat it.  You don't need to follow the breeder's suggestion.

Answer 8

thats a bit odd,

boxers need protein, so I understand the egg...but pasta?!

she will gain weight like CRAZY if you feed this to her, so stick with the kibble...and ONE raw egg a week, and If you are feeling up to it, give her some carrots and broccoli in the kibble  

have fun with the puppy, just take your time with it, they don't grow out of "puppy mode" till around 2, Boxers need a firm hand in training, but a loving owner...lots of energy, If she isn't  trained properly, she will walk all over you...Also, the leash pulling is a issue...I would recommend a harness up till 5 months, then a halti (head collar) with a normal collar for walks...have fun and good luck!!!

Answer 9

I used to breed dogs similar to the boxer, pasta and rice are ok in a dogs diet, you can get a mixture called puppy mince as well, it has a higher content of fat which a growing animal needs, I used to give them half dry, half meat, some times half rice/meat or a combination meat/rice/pasta, do as you think, a change of diet helps, they look forward to different things to eat, although most dogs will eat anything in front of them.  it is always best to try to keep the meat that you feed them at a later age a bit leaner, chicken is good for a pup, due to the high fat content, especially chicken necks, my guys used to love them and they are cheap, good luck, and have fun, boxers are an hilarious breed.