Hi all :) new here so will say hello :) I'm Rachel. I have a nearly 17 week old springer cocker cross named Buzz. First time dog owner :)
Basically his problem is feeding. He seems to cope for a few days then has issues with very soft stools. I keep reading about fish based diets but not not sure what causes the problem. He has had beta puppy and royal canin, both caused problems. Despite being introduced very gradually. Once he is on the food properly he only lasts 3 days before it starts again. He seems to spend more time on chicken and rice! Vet said Chappie is good for dogs like him but it isn't a puppy food so not sure what to do?! I hope this made sense and someone can help!

What did his breeder have him on ? How was he on that ? There are various good completes royal canin being one fish for dogs is good for some sensitive dogs but I would also have a word with his breeder to see what she says strangely tinned chappie can also be useful for sensitive tums puppy or not . I am sure others will be around with ideas soon

I would also look at the amount of food you are giving him as too much food can give them soft stools. Do not stick to the amount on the pack or tin every dog is different.You need to find the correct amount that suits him.Plus if you give treats  this also adds to the amount of food which can cause the runs. If you are using treats for training remember to deduct similar amount or use his own food.
Also changing from one food to another wont help. Wafcol fish and potato is a good food for problematic tummies .

> Vet said Chappie is good for dogs like him but it isn't a puppy food so not sure what to do?!

Years ago I had a new Border Collie pup with the worst digestive disorder.  He was just having the runs every single day.  So, giving him puppy food made no difference, as he couldn't absorb enough nutrients.

Once I found a dry complete for sensitive tums that suited, I fed half dry and half Chappie tinned.  He is now almost 6 years old, and still loves his Chappie.  Not only is his poo normal, Chappie gives a super shine to the coat.

Has your dog had his stools tested for bugs like Campylobacter?  Sometimes they can have picked up on a bug that no matter what food they are on they have repeated doses of upset stomachs.  So rather than switching his food over all the time perhaps see if there is anything else going on first :)  Your vet will be able to send off a sample and its soon sorted.

Thank you for all your replies.

His breeder wasn't helpful, just told.me "any old complete" to be honest it was a struggle to get any of it into Buzz. The food had no smell to it at all.

I've always gone for the lowest weight of food for his age, I tend to use chicken as treats, but he never gets much. But perhaps you're right about it being too much,

I took him to the vets on Thursday as he was ill again, they made no mention of testing him for any bugs, is.it normal to have to demand a test from them?

He's currently on canin recovery food of chicken and rice in tins (from vets) and its helped bring him back normal but would prefer something slightly cheaper than £12 for three tins so think Chappie has to be worth a try.

I'm hearing about more and more indiscriminately bred springer with stomach problems.  I raise my puppies on a varied diet but basically the base is Royal canin.  I had 7 pups and could actually time when they would pooh, the food was that good!  That is by far the best I have found, dried food wise.  I also fed meat, bones, egg, fruit, veg, milk and a varitey of table scraps.  This way, I can find out if any pups have sensitive tums and I feel tjat the pups never get sensitive after I feed them this way.
Basically, if he were my pup, I would put him on the BARF (bone and raw food) diet.  If you search Britbarf, you can search the forum and find diet sheets for puppies too.  Many people are raising their litter on raw food now.

Cracar has made some very useful points and breeds as well . Was he like this from the beginning on Royal Canin ? or only now
Raw is my preference and would always recommend it. If you want more information their are plenty on here who are raw feeders and would be hapy to help either here or by pm as well asjoining britbarf forum. Otherwise I would certainly give chappie (tinned ) ago. I can understand that although you want the best for you pup vets diets are often very expensive to sustain. 
AS for vet testing its not necessarily required and if you trust your vet I would go along with their advice however if it is a new vet and your first dog I can see you dilema.
Slowly change his food again to chappie if thats your choice , and see how he goes before going back to the vet for tests

>His breeder wasn't helpful, just told.me "any old complete" to be honest it was a struggle to get any of it into Buzz. The food had no smell to it at all

That's a very big thumbs down for the breeder and why most of here recommend choosing a good breeder long before they have a litter on the ground - it gives you more time to find the right one to raise your ideal puppy...

Kibble has no smell when served cold and dry and it's hard to get a fussy dog to get excited about this stuff.  However you should be soaking the food for a puppy in warm water which helps to make it a bit more interesting.  How much are you feeding at each meal?  Try adding water, covering, and then microwave for 30 or 40 seconds.   Warming certainly activates the smell and watching you prep his food might engage Buzz's interest.

My two most recent dogs have always been big foodies so I've not had the same anxieties as you but even so I do watch them pretty closely as pups with regard to input and output.  Do have a look at the amounts you are feeding but I've always found kibble poo to be a bit sloppy.  Pups are so active and eat so much that it never really has time to form and comes out pretty loose.  My youngest dog (7 months) is still on 50:50 with raw and kibble and I found that this made a complete contrast with an older dog who was kibble fed at the same age.  The pups poo is so much easier to pick up (firm, kickable, poo is ideal).  My adults are raw fed

Can you tell us how often you feed and how much? Also how much does your pup weigh?  It might be helpful to see if you can get some useful comparisons with others.  This is where a good breeder can help too, usually they will have bred to keep a puppy and can tell you what they are feeding the litter mate, or they can put you in touch with other owners from the same litter. 

Your vet might not be testing by this stage, but should certainly have given you some ABs by now, I would think.

It is quite common for giardia to affect random stools - not every single one - so it might not be related to what he's eating at all, but he could be carrying a giardia burden. 

I would go back to the vet's and ask for ABs if you haven't been given any already. 

Hi just wanted to say, that our pup has had loose stools since we got him at 7wks, he is now 18wks. His stools are normal in the morning firm poo, then as the day goes on they get softer,  he was fed on royal canin puppy, put him on homecooked fish and potato, stools perfect, kept him on that for a few weeks then slowly introduced  the wafcol salmon and potato, we only got to 50grms per feed over a three week period,(he should be on 400grms per day) but his stools, started again softer as the day goes on.
To cut a long story short, started him on friday with royal canin sensitive 24 prescription diet,along with a digestive enzyme from holland and barrett.
Tried to introduce it with the homecooked fish and pots, but he had the worst runs ever, on saturday,I had no option, but to try the new food on its own, and low and behold, his poos are fabulous like pellets, its early days (having had two dogs in the past with allergies, hopefully not another).
Are you giving him any chews or bones ?
Have heard a few people mention chappie, as being good.
regards elle