Hiya
I've now got my beautiful cocker spaniel home, he's called Dylan & he's 8 and a half weeks old. He's been on Royal Canin, but since I got him home he doesnt seem very interested in that. I've added tuna, chicken, cheese & scrambled egg (not all at once i hasten to add!) but he avoids eating the royal canin. My husband has bought some Bakers complete today for him to try, & we got Eukanuba in a puppy pack from the vets. I dont want to mess him about though. Do you think he'll go back to the canin? The breeder raved about it being the best so I'm wary of changing it. Also I have been told Eukanuba doesnt contain very pleasant things. I don't know if theres any truth in that but it put me off a bit.
Any advice would be much appreciated
Penny

Hi Penny,
Congratulations on your new puppy. My 5 month old Golden Retriever (also called Dylan!) has always been fed on Royal Canin. Some puppies do go off their food when they are taken to their new home - the stress of a new envirnoment, being away from his mum and brothers and sisters, etc. I would persist with the Royal Canin for a while. How many days has he been with you?
My Dylan likes his food moistened rather than completely dry (just a couple of teaspoons). You could try adding a couple of spoons of evaporated milk or rice pudding to it and mixing it well, then he couldn't just pick out the 'nice' food. Dylan had this for the first few weeks, until he went off the evaporated milk. On his other meals, I sometimes put a spoon of tinned pedigree puppy food and mixed it well.

I believe the problem that people have with Eukanuba is that Iams is perhaps responsible for animal cruelty. Take a look here for more info.

HTH, someone with more experience will be along soon I'm sure.

Sarah

Hi Penny, congratulations on your new puppy. He's the same age as my litter so, while not really being an expert I will try to offer some advice.
It's very normal for puppies to go off their food a bit when they go to their new homes, it lasts a few days. Try to stick with the food that the breeder weaned the puppy onto. I can understand your need to make sure he eats something, but as long as he is weeing and pooing he'll be OK. By tempting Dylan with all kinds of different tastes it will upset his digestion and encourage him even more to be a picky eater. Hard though it is, stick with the Royal Canin for now, I bet he'll be fine by next week, and keep an eye on his poos.
Do post again if your still worried next week.
Dawn R.

Hi Penny

I feed my pup on Royal Canin too. A tip from the people on the stand at a show when mine stopped eating, was to zap it in the microwave for 10-20 seconds, this makes it smell more appetising and brings the oils to the surface.
I have to say it worked. Also try feeding as tidbits, it is suprising how much you can get down a pup when they think it is a treat.

Good Luck
Sandra

Thanx for all the help, these boards are really brilliant to a novice like me.
I collected Dylan on Sunday, so we havent had him a week yet. Wees & poos are fine, in fact everything seems great apart from worrying hes not eating enough.
I'm managing to deal with the biting everything that moves. Gwen Baileys book is never far from my side!! lol Its wonderful how in just these few days hes come on in leaps & bounds, he didnt even know his name on Sunday but now he rushes up to you as soon as you call him. Sorry I'm waffling on I'm so over the moon I finally have my beautiful pup!
Penny

Hi Penny

Congrats on your new pup!! I too have just brought home our 10wk old cavalier king charles named Harvey :)

Like you, our breeder highly recommended Royal Canin. He just seems to be 'off it' lately, we've had him 9days now and he's only ate his full portion once. I sympathise with you it's a really worrying time especially if you think they are going hungry :(

I'm awaiting a response to my post, but reading your post i think we have a similar situation.

Hope Dylan is eating again soon

Good luck

Michelle

Hi, I would continue feeding him exactly as the breeder suggested - Bakers comes nowhere near Royal canin in quality. Forget about the other foods you have bought and stick to the Royal canin for now.
Puppies in their new homes almost always go off their grub to begin with, its normal for them to be poor eaters for a couple of weeks til they have settled in. If you start offering all sorts of alternatives you will make him "fussy", it does not take long for a puppy to train a worried new owner!!! If he refuses the food, pick it up after 10 minutes and offer it again at the next meal time. After a day or three when he realises that this is all thats on offer he will start eating it again. As long as he has been well reared so far this will do him no harm at all, though I know its distressing for you. Dont give in and pander to him. :-) The time to worry is when he has eaten NOTHING for more than 5 days. Give it a go - he wont starve himself for long.