Re: [pyrnet] Help- I've just rescued a Pyr Pup

Hi Jennifer,

Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy food is one of the foods we recommend for our puppies. Pyrs seem to do better with a food with a lower percent of protein. For this reason many breeders never fed puppy chow to their puppies. Now that there are "large breed" puppy chows, several have the lower protein. However, there is at least one that has a very high percent protein. If Nutro is one of those, I would suggest switching. Many people will add a small amount of canned dog food just to make the food taste better. It doesn't seem to hurt the dogs, and if it works why not.

Charlotte Perry

Pyreau Great Pyrenees

----- Original Message -----

From: Jenn Hair

To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org

Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2004 10:40 AM

Subject: [pyrnet] Help- I've just rescued a Pyr Pup

Hi everyone,

Well, sadly its the same old story. People get a cute, irresistible Pyr pup and discover at about 5 months that he is too big and too much to handle. Fortunately for this pup, I happen to be a Pyr lover and he happened to be my neighbors' dog.

I need help, because I'm fairly new to Pyrs. I got my first Pyr last year from a rescue group, and just fell in love with the breed. I've never had a pup before. As with babies, everyone wants to give me "helpful" advice, but I know with all the experience between all of you that I will get advice that I can trust. Here's the problem:

My vetrinarian is recommending that I feed "Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Food".

The puppy is already on "Nutro Large Breed Puppy Food". Is Eukanuba really better? Does anybody have any suggestions/experiences to share?

Next, Couper, that's the pup's name is a nibbler. My Golden Retriever,Chase, is a chow hound, and I never have had any trouble getting him to finish his food. My rescued Pyr, Bailey, was also a nibbler, but soon got over that. However, this pup is on the thin side and the vet wants him to gain weight. Does anyone have any suggestions. I thought about feeding him in his crate, but I'm afraid he'll know over his food and make a mess. I do have special feeding dishes for his crate, but you know how clumsy that are at this age.

Lastly, I'm not sure how much to feed him. The bag says between 6 1/2 to 7 3/4 cups, but Coupe barely finishes 5 3/4 a day. His old owners were mixing wet food in with his dry food, but I've always been told that it's really bad for their teeth. Help!!!! What should I do.

Thanks in advance for all your advice.

Jennifer

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