Looking for general advice for our 2 new puppies, feeding, injections etc etc etc. They are six weeks old and a cross between a boxer and a staffy bull. Both are dogs and are red in colour.

Info via email or any web sites available will be greatly recieved.

Thanks in advance

The best person to advise you would be your vet. Book an appointment as soon as you can to take the pups in for a general health check and you'll be told when to bring them back for their injections.
Good luck.
:)

Yeh, we are going on tuesday, when it re-opens.

The reason i asked is 1 of them seems quite dosile, also both seem to sleep every minute of the day.

Hi,
Sounds like you are in for a fun time.They will sleep alot at that age.My boxer is 11 weeks now and still sleeps alot of the day,hope this helps,
Hazel

Thats good then, i honestly didnt think they would sleep that much. They wake up, pee and poo everywhere, but what ever they see for a few mins then fall alseep again - in the strangest places, cant wait to get a digital camera....

That's pups for you....eat, sleep. wee, sleep. poo, sleep. play, sleep. Give you a nervous breakdown, sleep.

Enjoy it, they grow up so quickly :)

liberty

Make the most of the peace.In a few weeks time they are going to be running around like loonies,chewing everything they can get hold of.I see it like having a crawling baby-if it's on the floor it will get eaten!Have you got lots of toys etc for them to chew on instead of your shoes?Very good luck with your puppies,I am sure you'l be on here asking lots more advice once they become livelier,
Hazel

Cor blimey, you're telling me! Just getting to that stage! No matter how hard I try to keep the door closed to the stairs, if it's open, he dashes up, and hides under the bed so I can't get him out. He ate a piece of paper the other day cos it had cake crumbs on it, a bit of an egg shell that he dug out of the bin (didn't realise til I cleared up his poo this today!) haha, yuck! But no matter how mischevious he is, he is an absolute darling, and I love him so much. He is on a par with my children in the love stakes, and having had cats for 5 years, who I love lots, this little bundle of fun came into my life and grabbed the heart strings so hard it shocked me! :)

How's yours doing Hazel?

Charlie's wonderful,he's hard work but so worth it.This is the second time around for us but the first time with a 5 year old!!!It seemed so easy with our last Boxer but we didn't have any kids then and my husband managed to follow my instructions regarding the puppy-my son does not!!
They seem to wind each other up and basicly have the same mentality!!It's like having 2 pups!We took him out for the first time yesterday and it was so exciting!Walking up and down the garden on the lead gets so boring but was worth it as he is great on the lead now(well until he's big enough to pull me-I'm under no illusions!)
It's so good to be able to talk to people in the same situation.I do love Champdogs
Hazel

Hi,
Injections: Usually puppies have their first injection at 8 weeks and another at 12 weeks. One week after that they are safe to go out and mix with other dogs. Untill then keep them off the ground outside your own home /garden and do not let them meet other dogs or sniff where others may have been. As soon as they can go out take them to training classes, you vet may know of some. These are going to be big powerful dogs and will need to be very obedient and very well socialised with people and other dogs from an early age.
Worming: Almost all puppies carry roundworms inherited from their mother and the breeder should have wormed these puppies preferably twice, but hopefully at least once. They will need worming regularly for their first year - discuss this with your vet. I prefer Drontal or Strongid worming products. There is one that begins with P that may have made several puppies of breederposters from the site - unwell.

Flea treatment: Most dogs will pick up fleas at this time of year and the best way to prevent them is to use a "drop on" product from the vet. I have found Frontline to be much more effective and long lasting than any of the others. My vet was pushing Advantage, which I used but only 2 weeks after the dog had picked up a flea again.

House training: Having these puppies so young means that house training should be a doddle. As soon as they wake/have eaten or had a long drink take them outside and praise greatly when they perform. Ignore accidents unless you catch them in the act in which case take them outside anyway, praise when you get outside. Never scold when house training, but reward good behaviour. If you are vigilant and can avoid them making mistakes by being quick off the mark they could be day time housetrained within a week or so, especially if you can leave the back door open as it takes some time for young dogs to actually ask to go out. I put down newspaper by the door and teach them to go on that first, but not everyone agrees that this is a good method!

Feeding: They should be on 4 meals of quality dog food, spaced evenly throughout the day with the last meal no later than about 9pm. At about 12 week they can go onto 3 meals and I would be tempted to keep them on 3 meals til at least 12 months, and then two meals daily. If you feed dry complete biscuit its a good idea to add water and soak it first. Potentially big dogs like yours may be prone to a condition called "Bloat" (again search this site for info) which suggest they should be fed from a raised bowl (about chest hight) and little but often to prevent bloat.
Its ususally best to feed them as the breeder suggested. Vets will often "push" brands that they make commission on, commonly Hills Science diet. Your puppies are likely to be big and heavy as adults so need to grow slowly, dont feed them a very high protein diet. There are special complete foods for "large breed puppies" that are designed for this-search this site and you will find lots of opinions on feeding. But basically I would choose what you feel is the best diet after reading up on it/talking to people and stick to it. Many puppies go through a fussy stage at 10-18 weeksish, but its best to keep them on the same diet as long as they look/grow well and their tummies are settled. Good luck with your puppies, you are in for some work!!
PS
Keeping two males together, especially ones from the same litter can sometimes cause problems when they approach adolesance and they may start proper fighting as opposed to the "play fighting" that they do now. Be prepared that you may need to neuter one or both at some point in the future so they can live together happily.

Thanks for that, needed to read sommat like that to help me on my way. Am very greatful..

Mark Wright

The only other thing i can add to the advice already given (unless its already been said, an i missed it!) is to make sure you give each puppy some time with you, without its sibling!

Especially for training, and games and things. That way, you can make sure they bond to you, as well as each other, if they only bond to each other (which is easier, since they already have!) then u may find you have two dogs who dont areally give a monkeys what you are saying! They just do their own thing!

Have fun wtih them though, u will have your hands full!

Em