Sookeh! Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 I posted this in the general discussion forum and some one recommended to post it here - so here it goes: Hello everyone! I have been reading these forums for a couple of months now and I have learned a lot from them! So I finally decided to join up and ask a few questions myself I have never owned a dog before, until about a month ago when I bought Nelson. He is now 10 weeks old and we are not exactly sure what breed - mostly fox terrier, possibly some Chihuahua? So...here are my questions 1) Our puppy school teacher was talking to us about what we should feed puppies, and she said that Hills Science was absolutely the best, top of the range food you could get ...well of course I went out and bought some immediatly...then I looked it up on the Internet, and dol forums, and I found that most people do not recommend it, and there are far better brands. At puppy school last week, I asked her about this, and I told her that I saw a lot of breeders do not recommend it and I asked her why she considers it to be so good. Her answer was something along the lines of "Those people are full of crap, they don't know what they are talking about, a lot of breeders are sponsored by other brands such as Eukunumba (sp?) so don't believe them, Hills Science is absolutely the best, anything that doesn't have meat as its first ingredient is bad" (umm...hills science puppy does not have meat as its first ingredient, it is corn or something) So - I am not sure what to feed. I read that Eagle Pack and Nutro and a few others are very good (puppy school teacher said "oh..yes... well thats mostly in newzealand and America, very expensive..") At the moment, he gets his hill science dry food for breakfast, followed by a chicken wing for lunch. Dinner has been 'Optimum' brand wet food mixed with dry food however today I bought some lamb bones so I am considering giving him dry food + lamb bone? What do you think of this diet? Sometimes he also has a few different things added, such as eggs, tuna, banana, plain yoghurt (but he only gets small amounts of these) 2) I am not sure if I should be worried or not about the way he interacts with other dogs... The first time he saw another dog after we took him home was a friends chihuahua girl, and he had a great time playing with her! Then we took him to puppy preschool and things were very different. He was the smallest one there and was very scared, he sat behind my chair and didn't try to play with the other dogs. I think this is understandable as he had never seen so many loud, boisterous puppies in such a small space! The second week was pretty much the same. We have a big playful lab pup in our class who is very rough with him, and nelson just yelps when he gets squashed by him, which makes all the other puppies run over and try to 'play' with him. I feel so bad for him but the lady who runs the class says not to interfere as the lab needs to learn not to be so rough, and nelson needs to learn to not be such a sook. He has also played with my next door neighbours huge lab/poodle, but that dog was very gentle and nelson wasn't scared, he just ran around the dog barking. Then I took him to play with another friends puppy, who is a sixteen week old ...wait for it.... schnoodle cross cavoodle..... This puppy was very bouncy and wanted to play, but Nelson got very vicious! He was not interested in the dog, until it came near him. Then nelson would growl and snarl and attack this puppy. It was not playful growling at all, it was very scary actually. I think he does not like other dogs at all, and I think this may have been because of the puppy preschool. The puppies never play in pairs or anything, they all just go for it, and my one is the one who gets picked on. I am not sure what to do about this... I am not even sure what my question is but I just need to let it all out! (by the way, the lady running this school was recommended by a few people on here..so I am not sure why I have such a bad feeling about her?) Anyway ! That was very long, I am sorry, but it is great to get it all out and hopefully, if my post makes any sense, all you knowledgeable DOLers can give me some opinions! Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 (edited) I don't think much of that puppy school. Nelson doesn't need to learn "how not to be a sook". He needs to learn that you will protect him from dogs big enough to harm him by playing roughly. Furthermore, your small pup should not be used as a training aid so that someone else's larger pup learns how not to play roughly. Personally, I'd suggest you find a trainer who knows more about dog behaviour and one that isn't interested in telling you a bunch of crap to promote the food they sell. Edited August 23, 2010 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 agree with Poodlefan! The teacher sounds dreadful, at my puppy class the teacher would always seperate puuppies that were getting too excited or if one was showing fear etc. Also, the puppies should only play for a few minutes at a time (otherwise they do become hyper-excited) and then have quiet time or training time. And the lies about Hills science diet top it off for me!!! Hills is a good brand of food, but certainly not "the best". Eagle pack and Nutro are both better in my experience and many other members on here as well. I think you should find a better puppy school (what area are you in- people might be able to give recommendations) or a good trainer who can help you out, now that it appears Nelson has dog issues. He is still young though, so with some careful socialisation, hopefully these issues will be able to be quickly resolved and he will enjoy playing with other dogs again soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 (edited) Hi Welcome. Hills is not the best one out there, although, my picky eater doesn't mind it. But, my little girl hates it, and only eat Advance Puppy Plus. Saying that, my 2 are mostly on a raw diet.. to me, that's better than dry biscuits. So bones, egg, tuna, banana, plain yoghurt isn't bad for them... although I would suggest sardine instead of tuna (sardine has bones in it.. good for calcium). Chicken Wings, necks, frame and lamb bone is good for the pup too. As for socialisation.. it is important, although I think your puppy school teacher is going about it the wrong way. Just throwing puppies all in together and let them work out stuff themselves is not a good way of introducing puppies to other puppies and dogs!!! Just got to find the right kind of dogs to socialise your dog will teach them to be confident... a big hyper lab is going to teach it to be fearful against big dogs. If you live in Sydney... your puppy can come play with my two They are really good with puppies (especially the little ones). Charlie loves puppies and so patience with them and Emmy will teach it how to play. She taught my cousins' tiny Tibetian Spainel puppy and a timid 13 weeks old Jap Spitz puppy how to play.. very cute. Edited August 24, 2010 by CW EW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 If the lab puppy has upset yours you are welcome to introduce him to Mindy so he doesn't dislike all labs and other big dogs! She is a very well behaved puppy and plays really gently with the smaller puppies. I would separate the pups if either began to get too excited as well as I don't believe in letting them sort it out themselves or letting a tiny pup get squashed to "toughen up". Also, the lab will not learn to be gentle by being allowed to bully your pup, the only thing it will learn is that it gets its own way when rough. They learn to be gentle by being removed if they get too rough- that way they think "i only get to play if i play like this...(nicely)'' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adza Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 The puppy school you are going to sounds dreadful. I thought they were not to socialise pups like that during classes was my understanding, creating too much excitement etc? While owners and trainers sit back and watch? Maybe Nelson was scared the first time it's had a ripple effect when with other dogs that seem a threat? I don't know but I would have thought things like that would have an effect on dogs later on causing these behaviours. Then again I'm no expert at all but the "explanations" given at this puppy school don't seem right. Don't go back is my advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sookeh! Posted August 24, 2010 Author Share Posted August 24, 2010 Hi Welcome.Hills is not the best one out there, although, my picky eater doesn't mind it. But, my little girl hates it, and only eat Advance Puppy Plus. Saying that, my 2 are mostly on a raw diet.. to me, that's better than dry biscuits. So bones, egg, tuna, banana, plain yoghurt isn't bad for them... although I would suggest sardine instead of tuna (sardine has bones in it.. good for calcium). Chicken Wings, necks, frame and lamb bone is good for the pup too. As for socialisation.. it is important, although I think your puppy school teacher is going about it the wrong way. Just throwing puppies all in together and let them work out stuff themselves is not a good way of introducing puppies to other puppies and dogs!!! Just got to find the right kind of dogs to socialise your dog will teach them to be confident... a big hyper lab is going to teach it to be fearful against big dogs. If you live in Sydney... your puppy can come play with my two They are really good with puppies (especially the little ones). Charlie loves puppies and so patience with them and Emmy will teach it how to play. She taught my cousins' tiny Tibetian Spainel puppy and a timid 13 weeks old Jap Spitz puppy how to play.. very cute. haha I may have to take you up on that offer some time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hachna Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Hi Sookeh, I fed my minis with Euk and Hills when he was a puppy. I personally think it is waste of money. Any good supermarket brand will serve fine unless your puppy has certain on going health/medical issues. The puppy school-it looks like the staff who runs the school seems lack of experience and professional boundary. Yes what the person said about barking and big/little dog things are not completely wrong imo but i personally think a little dog has to be handled with a bit more care in the class. My minis puppy school, we had 800g chi and the trainer was fully supporting the puppy by providing more space yet inclusive, I think the trainer did well. How far do you have to go for the p school? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narcissa Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I agree with everyone here. The puppy school sounds awful! Most places would even give advice on how to let a small dog socialise with other dogs without getting hurt (sometimes even keeping the pup on the owner's lap if all the others are big breeds and boisterous). It could seriously be hurt, and that is not "turning him into a sook". My Chi had an unfortunately playing accident with a Mini Schnauzer, and it caused him to limp for weeks. I would think that it may even cause your dog to be afraid of bigger dogs. As for the diet, well, just read the ingredients and go from there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Hi Welcome.Hills is not the best one out there, although, my picky eater doesn't mind it. But, my little girl hates it, and only eat Advance Puppy Plus. Saying that, my 2 are mostly on a raw diet.. to me, that's better than dry biscuits. So bones, egg, tuna, banana, plain yoghurt isn't bad for them... although I would suggest sardine instead of tuna (sardine has bones in it.. good for calcium). Chicken Wings, necks, frame and lamb bone is good for the pup too. As for socialisation.. it is important, although I think your puppy school teacher is going about it the wrong way. Just throwing puppies all in together and let them work out stuff themselves is not a good way of introducing puppies to other puppies and dogs!!! Just got to find the right kind of dogs to socialise your dog will teach them to be confident... a big hyper lab is going to teach it to be fearful against big dogs. If you live in Sydney... your puppy can come play with my two They are really good with puppies (especially the little ones). Charlie loves puppies and so patience with them and Emmy will teach it how to play. She taught my cousins' tiny Tibetian Spainel puppy and a timid 13 weeks old Jap Spitz puppy how to play.. very cute. haha I may have to take you up on that offer some time! anytime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Monster Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 the puppy school i took charlie to was great. there was no interaction between puppies until the 3rd week and that was at the end of the lesson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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