What to feed 8-week poochon pup?

[Sammsxx]

Hi all,

Becoming pup "parents" for our first time in 2 weeks when we'll collect our 8 week poochon puppy and wondered if I could get some advice on what to feed her.

A lot of the YouTube videos I've been watching on the subject seem to have an affiliation angle which I am finding difficult to look past.

The breeder hasn't been super forthcoming in the pup's menu in her 8 weeks of existence, but has remarked that they're feeding her cooked chicken and yoghurt. We baulked at this, but maybe it's not so bad.

In any case, given this news, how is it advises we proceed, from collection day?

Our budget would cover the "real food" brands who prepare and send "meal plans", but we do acknowledge the benefits on kibble.

Where do we begin?

Thanks!

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dog-breeding/dog-breeding-regulations/#:~:text=A%20breeding%20licence%20is%20required,a%20business%20of%20selling%20dogs

Big fat list of all the hoops KC breeders have to jump through to sell puppies. It’s almost like it’s tightly regulated for the welfare of the animals. You won’t see a single backyard breeder, greeder, my dog got out, I just wanted her to have one litter, it was a mistake (a totally correctable one) held to these same standards. Let alone inspected by anyone randomly to confirm those standards.

There are Mini poodles and Bichon Frise available, right now from a good KC breeder and both parents health tested. It’s not that they aren’t out there. All you need to do is enquire, don’t be surprised if you get a lot of questions back cause they’ll want to know you’re a good home for the pup.

If you want verified data be prepared to be hit with a lot of a reading. Peer reviewed studies are not short or easy reads. Not some rando website just stating figures with no back up.

I wouldn't buy from a breeder that wasn't more forthcoming about the puppy's diet. And chicken and yoghurt is not a balanced diet, if that is all they are eating. And they should be weaned by now. I would think again and walk away.

So your source is the KC themselves? Perhaps they're financially motivated?

If you read properly I didn’t claim it was verifiable.

I said on balance of probabilities if you are new to the breeder world you are more likely to land on a good breeder through the KC, than you are picking a cross breed from somewhere like gumtree.

I am sure there are good non KC breeders and bad KC ones. But as the KC limits the number of litters per bitch and puts other restrictions on breeding, it’s logical that you aren’t going to get people churning out KC reg puppies in the same volumes.

I take it you’re going ahead with this pup despite the red flags?

How much are you paying ??

As the KC is paid per registered pup, what is the financial motivation for restricting the number of puppies?

the KC is a charity anyway, so your point is moot as they aren’t a for-profit organisation.

Aside from the doodle issue, there are loads of red flags with this dog.

It is very unusual for ethical breeders to own to both parents. Usually they own the bitch and use a reputable, proven, fully health tested stud dog. It is likely that the dogs you saw are stunt dogs and the real parents are in a shed somewhere being bred until they drop with no socialisation and extremely limited healthcare.

Ethical breeders (in fact even crap ones!) will have weaned pups on a nutritionally complete, stage appropriate, puppy food and will be happy to tell you what that is, so you can feed them the same food and minimise stress. A good breeder will have the dogs on a good quality food and will provide you with a sample to take home when you collect your puppy. As PP say, inadequate nutrition in early development can have huge knock on effects throughout the dog’s life.

8 weeks is fine for collection of most breeds, though there are some smaller breeds where 8-12 is preferred. You don’t want to go lower than 8wks though.

The breeders are financially motivated to break even or lose money on puppies because of the licensing fees and higher welfare standards? Yes totally.

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3316914

brill.com/view/journals/jaae/1/2/article-p230_5.xml?language=en

Here are some studies to have a read of, the verified data if you will. You can find research papers by using Google scholar if you wanted to go look at some more, not all are accessible but you can often email the author to send you a copy free.

As a PP has suggested, phase out the chicken diet by mixing with a puppy dry dog food kibble. Puppy kibble is smaller than adult. Check the packaging as it should ideally be a high % meat content in the ingredients.
We've always used James Wellbeloved.
Millies Wolfheart is supposed to be excellent. Get advice from a vet or reputable pet shop.
Avoid pedigree chum and supermarket crap as it's mostly additives, cereals and derivatives.

8 weeks is standard age for getting a puppy.

Fab response - we're grateful! Thank you so much

Why not a poodle or a Bichon ?
I don’t especially hate these poodle crosses, although they are ridiculously expensive and often come from puppy farms. I DO think that you need to find out the LEAST desirable traits of each breed and decide if you could cope with a puppy that had all of them because you don’t know how “poo” it will be or how “chon”