I wonder if anyone can help? Jessie, our 20 week old puppy has started to need to get up in the night again for a poo. She has slept through pretty much since she was 12 weeks old, so it is a bit of a shock to the system! Nothing has really changed in her diet apart from me upping her food slightly now she is older as I was worried she was looking a bit skinny (sheet rather than blanket on her ribs). But I am still feeding this the same way in two main meals morning and evening, plus a few Kongs and hand fed lunch on a training walk. Her poo has also been a tiny bit runny, although again, not a massive change. The only other thing that has changed is the kids being on holiday, so our routine is a bit different. Any thoughts? I need my sleep back! On the plus side she is barking to be let out, so I think we have house training cracked! She goes for a wee and poo and is straight back into her crate with no fuss, so I think she needs to go and it isn't an attention thing.
I think it is natural for them to look at bit skinny at 5 months, they start shooting up but not out at this age. Our pup is 17 weeks today and looking very gangly and a bit skinny too. Are you feeding the same amount as suggested on the bag? We feed ours a little less, and she is fine. Maybe it is just something extra the children have given her over the holidays? Or you could try feeding a little earlier in the evening, and reduce the amount for a short while and see how that goes. Alternatively you could give her a small lunch and reducing her evening meal.
Feeding meals which are two big can result in loose poos. Loose poos are urgent poos! We give three smaller meals until six months old. If this doesn't work Pro-Fibre is excellent for firming poos up then she'll be able to hold on to them (just like we can't hold on to 'loose' poos TMI!) http://tinyurl.com/jcf7gbd What time is her last meal? .
Annie is on Millies Wolfheart feed, she is 21 weeks. I feed her less than they say. On their bag though, it does say it you get running poos after increasing the dog food, feed them less, until the poo firms up. Annie gets 3 meals a day, morning, lunch and tea.
Hi to you, You mention the holidays have had an effect on your routine ,have you tried giving her her last toilet opportunity a little later,that might help her go through the night again. X
Thank you for all the advice, I love the forum. She's on Symply puppy food and I have been feeding the lower end of the portion range. I had her weighed at the vets for her wormer today and the nurse said she was fine, but at the skinnier end of the condition chart, and to bulk up her food a bit with some carbs. She thinks because she is quite high energy she might need to be on working dog food when the time comes to change to adult good, but to see how it goes. So I shall try and bulk up her breakfast and lunch gradually and give less at the evening meal. I feed her around 4.30 in the afternoon and she usually has a Kong whilst kids eat at around 5.30. Fingers crossed. X
My adult dogs are on Symply Large Dog food and have just one and a half coffee mugs a day. They are large boys, as in tall and weigh 30kg each, I think you will be fine to keep her on Symply when she grows up.
Puppies can seem very slim and leggy at times, I'm sure I could see Juno grow sometimes, as they do seem to put on growth spurts at times. I used to have Juno weighed monthly and monitored her body shape and checked her daily kibble portion against her new weight and age.
