Hi,
I have had my Boxer puppy for 3 weeks and he's wonderfull.The only thing is that the breeder has given me a diet sheet and some dry food,I have been following it but he dosen't seem to like the food soaked(which the breeder has asked us to do).He loves it dry mixed with mince etc but when I soak it he turns his nose up.
The reason the breeder has asked for it to be soaked is so it doesn't swell in the stomach.My understanding of dry food was that it is good for the teeth to be fed dry.He seems quite happy for it to be dry and he is eating well and has plenty of firm you know whats.Do you think this is ok?He is 10 weeks old and very healthy,happy and settled.Can anyone advise?Many thanks,
Hazel

It is a problem that dry food swells in the stomach - and the worry is that the animal will 'bloat'. If feeding it dry, you must make sure you don't feed too much at a time, so that when it has expanded, the stomach isn't over-full. (Put a few pieces in warm water and see how much they swell in an hour!!)

None of my dogs crunch their food, so it can have no beneficial effect on their teeth :( However, if he is happy with it dry, then if you're observant and aware of the (very slight) risk, I'd say go ahead. But make sure he has access to fresh water 24/7....feeding dry food means that the dog's water requirements will be much higher than they would otherwise, and dehydration can cause other longterm problems.

HTH
:)

Thanks for the advice JG(I am a big Bowie fan too).I am feeding him nutro large breed puppy and he loves it!!It says to soften for weaning but dosn't say for how long after.Our last Boxer was a real fusspot and I remember fretting about him not eating much at this stage but I didn't have Champdogs then!!
I thought it was something to do with bloat.I have always been on the lookout for that as every Boxer book I have mentions it but I have read conflicting advice about dry food that you must feed it dry so as to benefit the teeth.I wondered if a raised feeding bowl would be good,I saw some at crufts but didn't want to lug it about(already lugging a few other things!).He has access to water 24/7 and I keep a close eye on him as I am at home during the day.
He has a good apetite except when I give him the moistened food.I mix the dry food with either scrambled egg or mince and he has rice pudding in the evening.I carefully measure the food and divide it between the 3 meals(Obviously I don't put any in the rice pudding although it's me not him that would think that strange!)
Thanks again and keep up the great advice!!
Hazel

As long as you follow the guidelines on the pack I don't think you can go wrong. Our food states it should be fed moistened up to the age of 6 weeks, then dry after then if prefered.
We used to feed our pup the food dry with just a little pedigree chum tinned puppy food, just so it coated the biscuit, it never touched the sides! (he hated it soaked) Now he eats it plain with just a little warm water added to help it go down. We totally ignored our breeder once we got him home, he was being fed soaked with roar mince!
Try experimenting, but as JG said make plenty of water available.

Our tiger brindle boxer is 15 weeks now and at first he turned his nose up at the recommended food by the breeder. At first I gat some tins pedigree chum puppy and mixed a bit in with his food - which he ate! After a few days I stopped with the chum and all of a sudden he didn't seem to mind his other food. He still eats when he's hungry - which is in fits and starts but eventually eats it all.
Good Luck! by the way what colour is your pup?
Dexy

Hi Dexy,
Thanks for your reply.Charlie is red and white but George was a brindle.I wanted a red this time so as I didn't feel I was replacing George but our son keeps moaning that he hasn't got stripes!!!George was going to be called Tigger which would have realy suited him but when we went for the first viewing the breeder had named them all and he answered to his name.We didn't have the heart to change it.
How's the biting going?It's been such a long time I can't remember how long it lasted.I seem to have only good memories of George but i do remember the puppy teeth!!Good luck with your little bundle of joy,
Hazel
P.s George was a real fusspot with his food,the only thing he would eat in one sitting was any human food!!!

Hazel - we too went for a change of colour as our girl we lost recently was a red. Strange isn't it going for a change of colour it doesn't seem like you're trying to replace the one you lost. We are hoping to have a little red girl in the next 6 months - so we'll go through the puppy stages once more!
The biting isn't too bad at the moment - if he does bite (or chew) I take my hand out of his mouth and say no - then give him one of his toys to chew, hopefully he'll get the message. This is my first experience as a puppy boxer owner as our girl was my partners dog - so every stage of pup's life is a new experience!
Dexy