Expert: Jannie Balliett - 6/8/2010

Question
Hi,

We had a litter of boxer puppies (5) (our first time) on May 17th. They are 3 weeks old. I know that we will need to start introducing them puppy food soon, so I was just wondering if you can give me info on that. How do I introduce it to them? Do I just moisten the dry food, or do I give them wet food with water?

Also, they are currently indoors (in our house) and they have been starting to walk around lately and barking like crazy. So we consider moving them outside now with mama? (we have a nice kennel we can use) We live in Colorado and temps have been 80's-90's.

Thank you for any info you can share with me regarding newborn puppies.

Answer
They should be with mom at all times anyway- but Boxers cannot "live" outside-- they are inside dogs.

Introducing them to puppy food is simple but time consuming.

Buy a good high protein puppy food with NO corn, and NO glutens.

Put some in Rubbermaid or Tupperware bowls and add water and seal. Let the puppy food soften and mash it up with a fork and spoon until like mashed potatoes. Make sure it is not thick and pasty, but moist and slurpy. Add water to make it the right consistency.

Feed them 4 times a day and keep fresh water out and available to them at all times.

After they are 3 months old, you can start them on crunch puppy food by hand feeding them little bits at a time to test their chewing ability and not choking.

Do not allow mom and pups to "live" outside. It is dangerous to the puppies, and mom needs to teach them all day and all night by being with her pups. Bring her inside with them. It is important for them to learn socialization and acceptable behavior from mom.