-WEANING -
Chinese Cresteds are late bloomers, completing
weaning anywhere from 7 to 9 weeks, depending on
the individual pup.
Bellissima Farms allows the process to evolve naturally,
w/ Mom & babies deciding when "enough is enough".
Early/forced weaning appears to interfere w/ maturity in multiple facets, therefore, pups are never released to their new homes before the appropriate time. Generally speaking, between 6-9 weeks, Momma is sick of the baby's incoming teeth & the baby is sick of the Mom's diminishing milk supply.
The baby begins abandoning Mom, heading off to play w/ others & gather 'round the commercial food trays. Mom may be growling at a persistant pup who refuses to grow up.
Some believe the most opportunistic "window" for bonding, learning, socializing, etc. is open up until 16 weeks - enough time for a new owner to do their homework.
During this time, several basic innoculations & wormings take place - fortifying the pup's health.
Please continue pup on food given at time of purchase. As your choice of puppy food is chosen, dilute 50/50 w/ old food for 7-10 days to stave off digestive upsets.
When considering new food, know canned food is most expensive, but most palatable. Careful of "all meat" claims - your dog should have a balanced, complete diet to fulfill nutritional requirements - meat alone does not do the job.
Kibble is most economical - commercial manufacturers offer diets for all sizes & ages. Dry food can be fed
exactly as it comes - straight from the bag.
An oral hygiene advantage is presented w/ dry food because kibble helps keep gums & teeth healthy. It can be moistened w/ hot water, canned food or yogurt. While not necessary, it sometimes makes it more delicious to your pup.
Homemade diets sound wonderful but usually do not provide the necessary balance of nutrients.
Occasionally, a pup may skip a meal - normal. Check amount fed in prior meal, make sure you are not over-serving - thus wasting food. If pup seems normal otherwise (no lethary, vomiting, etc.) he's probably okay.
If possible, try to feed same time every day - dogs prefer a schedule. A good idea is to NOT feed soon as you come home from work - the behavior sometimes enforces seperation anxiety, so play or walk them, mix it up a bit .
Be careful of over the counter vitamins/supplements - know what you're doing. If diet is balanced, they could cause more harm than good.
Chicken, turkey - any kind of poultry bones are off limits. Pork bones - same story. They are known to splinter into shards, causing problems w/ entire digestive system. Any bones chewed to small pieces & swallowed could block intestines, leading to vet interventon or worse. Commercially marketed bones (i.e. giant flavored knuckle bones) satiate a dogs' need to chew & can be thrown out when all the good stuff is gone.
Pig ears are terrific, but pups chew down fast - piggy dogs will sometimes swallow a rather large chunk of piggy ear. Rawhide & ears both should be watched - scissor off any long strings or dispose of anything that is small enough to cause choking/blockage.
Raw fruit & veggies are good treats - carrots, broccoli, apples. Most chinese cresteds love mandarin oranges, pineapple, strawberries @ room temperature. NO GRAPES, RAISINS or CHOCOLATE (dark, milk or white)
Rinse water bowls to eliminate bacteria buildup. Outdoor waterers are visited by birds, worms, bugs, wild animals etc. - many times leaving poop droppings behind (do worms poop?) . Outdoor food dishes are often times visited by birds but also by ants.
Dogs are cunning - able to use beauty, big eyes, doleful looks to squeeze treats out of you. Snacks & people food should be kept to a minimum. Scientists actually have a name for a begging dog: evolutionary survival strategy - he's begging you, you sucker, because you are falling for the ploy. He's like the relative who always has a sob story in order to wring $ out of your wallet. A steady stream of treats is misguided affection, ignore the whimpering/wheedling/whining - the way you have learned to avoid phone calls from loser beggar relatives.
Some ingredients & spices can cause stomach upset in an animal.
For the dog (& the relative), it's a low-risk, high-reward hunting technique.
Canine metabolisms vary within breeds.
General rule:
6-12 weeks - diet formulated for development - approx. 4 meals a day
3-6 months - decrease feedings from 4 to 4 per day
6-12 months - SPAY or NEUTER before 6-9 months - as it lowers energy requirements - usually by 12 months, adult maintenace food is sufficient - ask your vet, as it is better to be on puppy food too long than not long enough.
Tiny tummies don't hold much - small breeds require high calorie foods to provide sufficient nutrition. Small dogs require more calories to maintain body heat. They produce less heat & radiate more of it from their skin than large dogs. However, small dogs tend to be more pampered & less exercised, so watch for a pudgy belly.
Body condition, not amount eaten/amount left in bowl should determine feeding portions. Portions should achieve peak body condition depending on type & individual metabolism.
Premium food has higher nutritional density - feed less, achieve same results.
Any questions? Let's talk.
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