I did it...am i crazy?

[swan128]

Well I went and did it!!!! I got myself a new puppy!!!! I was so lonesome and upset without my Biscuit, I decided to take a leap!
Of course I broke all the rules....i searched the internet and got more confused as I searched. I answered an ad in the local newspaper. The lady Fran owns and operates a Kennel, Dog Grooming place from her home. And also breeds Maltese.
She had 1 female and one male. I went just to take a look. HA..The minuet I saw them I was hooked. Fran said the father passed away 2 weeks ago. She was so upset. He was her dog. Tanner...He fell out of her husbands arms and broke his neck...AW...I took the little girl....1 1/2 lbs at 8 weeks. Her father was 8 lbs and her mother 5 or six. No papers (I wanted a pet so that does not matter to me). She told me to take her to the vet and she would give me my money back if they found anything wrong with her. NO longterm guarantees. She said the father and mother were/are healthy, did not see what they would find. i took her to the vet and he said she is a healthy pup. Just have to watch out for hypoglicemia, which can happen with any dog. I paid less than half of what all the others out there are charging. I hated to leave her brother but I don't think I could handle more that one dog.

BOTTOM LINE: I LOVE HER.....Now the fun begins....HA

Need help with: NAME...FOOD....PAPER TRAINING.
She was on Pedigree small bite kibble left down all day ...The Vet recommended small bite Euchanuba...she has not eaten it. She sniffs and walks away..Should I get the Pedigree? I am going to call Fran today to see if she was a big eater....Vet also said to give her Eucanuba meat...3 times a day....HELP!!!!

[Zanadu'sMom]

I am sorry , but you did the wrong thing. You came here looking for some reputable breeders and we helped you. I even PM'd you and shared Nemo's story with you. I am not mad or angry, just feel sad for you.
First off a puppy at 8 weeks belongs with it's mother, period.
Secondly just cause the vet says it's healthy doesn't mean a thing, your puppy is 8 weeks.
Nemo was healthy until after a year old.
Third you have no background info on the mom and dad no genetic history or anything.
Just cause someone tells you the parents are healthy doesn't me DIDDLY SQUAT.
You may have paid less so did I and now so far I am into Nemo for over 3000, which I could have spent on a puppy from a reputable breeder.
Sometimes when you pay less now , you pay more later :(
I love Nemo always and will always tend to his every need, but I tried to help you so you wouldn't make the same mistake as I and some others.
Bottom line, it's your choice and you made it.
Good Luck.

[swan128]

What can I say to you??? I spoke to a few of the recommended breeders. They either did not have a female or they lived to far away for me to travel to...They mostly were offering show bred dogs. So sorry I disapointed you and every one else on this site. You do sound angry at me....Yes maybe I was selfish to purchase a puppy so quickly but I was devistated and in a deep depression and needed some one Now to love me and for me to love. I guess I should take my licking and not ask for anymore help. You

[Zanadu'sMom]

What can I say to you??? I spoke to a few of the recommended breeders. They either did not have a female or they lived to far away for me to travel to...They mostly were offering show bred dogs. So sorry I disapointed you and every one else on this site. You do sound angry at me....Yes maybe I was selfish to purchase a puppy so quickly but I was devistated and in a deep depression and needed some one Now to love me and for me to love. I guess I should take my licking and not ask for anymore help. You

I posted that I was not angry , I was only trying to save you from possible future heart-break that is all :(
I understand your loss of your sweet Biscuit, but that should have given you more incentive of doing the right thing and doing it the right way.
There is no licking for you to take from me or anyone, just a lesson from my own experience I was trying to teach you .
I wish you much love and luck with your new little one and I do hope for all the best.

Thanks

[Ashley V]

8 weeks really is too young - we got Chip when he was 7.5 weeks old and he didn't even know how to chew hard food. We didn't know that because the brokers we got him from didn't tell us that and he got severe hypoglycemia and almost died. We had to teach Chip everything his mother should have taught him. It concerns me that you said she's sniffing the food and walking away. Did you ever feed her the Pedigree yourself? These little dogs can be very picky about eating, and typically I'd recommend a higher quality food, but getting her to eat is really important. If they don't eat, their blood sugars can drop quickly and I've seen it from experience. Do you have nutrical or nutristat on hand? Or even Karo Syrup? As for types of food, Pedigree and Ekanuba are not really good foods. They have a lot of byproducts, artificial fillers, additives, corn (which can cause food allergies), etc. I'm not really educated on food and nutrition on dogs, but I know as soon as I see "by products" on the ingredient list, I put it down. I'll leave the food recommendations to the pros on MT. :D The most important thing right now is that she eats.

As for name, what's her personality like? What are some of your favorite books or movies? What's does she remind you of? What have you been thinking of already?

As for paper training, watch for signals that she needs to potty. When Chip needs to go, I see him walking around in circles with his nose to the ground a lot. When he was a puppy we crate trained him. As soon as he came out of his crate, I would take him straight to his pee pad and not let him leave until he peed. When I was home, I just watched him very, very closely and as soon as I saw his "signals" I'd take him to the pad. Of course when he went, he got LOTS of praise and treats. If I caught him in the act of peeing somewhere else, I'd say "No!" and take him to his pad and tell him "This is where you potty." I wouldn't yell, I just changed the tone of my voice. He got the idea pretty quickly and started going there by himself. Treats, praise, and consistency are key.

Even though you didn't get her from the best breeder, congrats! I hope everything goes okay and you do have a better experience than some of us. Smokey was a rescue, but a mill dog and Chip was a mill dog and I got him from a broker - I've had a lot of vet bills with Chip in his first year and a ton of extra training with both of them. I wouldn't trade either of them for the world and I love them lots and lots, but I wish I had been smarter when I purchased Chip and saved up money for a reputable breeder. Please, ask us anything. We'll try to help the best we can.

[JiJi's Mom]

Eukanuba is not a good brand, I fed it to my girl too; gladly I research early enough. It's like giving her take out food everyday. Try Merrick, Wellness, umm I forgot names but if you do a search on food in this forum allot of recommendations will come up. Also, a good idea is to smuch wet food with the dry food.
The girls on this forum just want was is best with the pups and they know the dangers of taking the pup too early from the mom. If I'm not mistaken you got her from a backyard breeder. Not to say she's not a good person but she is just not educated in the breeding process. And that can have consequences. We all make mistakes, I know I did. Just care for the pup make sure you have Nutri-Cal on hand. If she looks down or sick give her a tiny bit of it. She might be a trooper, Good Luck!! And I might add Congratulations!!
P.S. I agree with the above post, pls ask if you have questions.

[JiJi's Mom]

Ohh, please post pictures. We would love to meet your new furbaby.

[stampin4fun]

Maybe you should try and mix in some of the food the vet suggested to the food she is now eating. This will help her tummy adjust to the new food.

-Rita

[JesBred]

CONGRATULATIONS!!

8 weeks is way to young and so many red flags with that breeder, but you have her now so watch her carefully.

She needs to be eating so my suggestion is to go out NOW and get her whatever food she was eating at the breeders. Although Pedigree is not the best food for her she is to young to be switching back and forth between foods, you will upset her stomach. So keep her on the pedigree and when she is a bit older you can SLOWLY switch her over to a higheer quality food. Its not good that she is not eating, please watch for signs of hypoglycemia. Like Ashley said you need to get some nutrical, karo syrup or even just some honey so she doesn't go into shock. Because she is a puppy and so young I wouldnt even feed her 3 times a day I would just leave the food down 24-7, especially if you say she is not eating, she need to have access to that food when she becomes hungry.

Best of luck.

[Zanadu'sMom]

Eukanuba is not a good brand, I fed it to my girl too; gladly I research early enough. It's like giving her take out food everyday. Try Merrick, Wellness, umm I forgot names but if you do a search on food in this forum allot of recommendations will come up. Also, a good idea is to smuch wet food with the dry food.
The girls on this forum just want was is best with the pups and they know the dangers of taking the pup too early from the mom. If I'm not mistaken you got her from a backyard breeder. Not to say she's not a good person but she is just not educated in the breeding process. And that can have consequences. We all make mistakes, I know I did. Just care for the pup make sure you have Nutri-Cal on hand. If she looks down or sick give her a tiny bit of it. She might be a trooper, Good Luck!! And I might add Congratulations!!
P.S. I agree with the above post, pls ask if you have questions.

I agree that we all make mistakes, I certainly did. But this is different, why?
She came her and asked for breeders and I posted some with very reasonable prices, I pm'd her about the dangers of Pet-Stores, BYB's and Brokers and to no avail.
Everyone thinks including me at the time that it will be fine and you will sail through life with your precious baby with no problems, that is just not the case.
I am not mad nor angry I just feel like I wanted to help someone and not have them go through what I did with Nemo, that is all.
But what's done is done and at the end of the day I did my part and tried my best. :)

[bellaratamalt]

I agree that we all make mistakes, I certainly did. But this is different, why?
She came her and asked for breeders and I posted some with very reasonable prices, I pm'd her about the dangers of Pet-Stores, BYB's and Brokers and to no avail.
Everyone thinks including me at the time that it will be fine and you will sail through life with your precious baby with no problems, that is just not the case.
I am not mad nor angry I just feel like I wanted to help someone and not have them go through what I did with Nemo, that is all.
But what's done is done and at the end of the day I did my part and tried my best. :)

I can understand Andrea's frustration here. It's frustrating when you go out of your way to prevent someone from making a potentially bad mistake and the advice is unheeded (been there, done that) When I was looking for my first maltese, I was under the same impression as you, that I just wanted a pet so 'show dogs' meant nothing to me. Luckily, I did not find out the hard way that champion lines and buying from a good breeder ARE important, but i know others, like Andrea, weren't so lucky.

Maltese breeders are not created equal, unfortunately. Do you mind if I ask how much you paid for your little one?

You need to make sure she eats, as I'm sure you know. Switch the foods slowly. I feed my puppies and adults Nature's Variety Prairie and I use Proplan canned puppy food on occasion. I wouldn't feed Eukanuba wet food 3x a day, you run the risk of diarrhea. Purina and Pro Plan are very similiar products, so I would recommend the Proplan puppy food, if you want to feed her a canned food. You can switch brands later but you need to not shock her system with new food, since coming into a new household is already a big enough shock.

Do not expect much consistancy with potty training now, she is just too young to fully comprehend what you are asking of her. DO NOT put her down outside until she has had her full course of vaccinations (last one at 16 weeks)

Good luck!

[mom2boo]

I really really hope things work out for you & your new puppy. I understand your desire for another Maltese puppy,but I do wish you had taken others advice & got one from a reputable breeder. Best wishes for you & your new puppy. I hope she helps heal your heart from the loss of your precious Biscuit.

[maltchimom]

Good luck with your new baby! I hope she does well and is much comfort to you.

[Vylula]

Congratulations on your new baby. I made some bad decisions too with one of mine but I still couldn't be happier. I love my girls with all my heart and they have been healthy. It sounds like you are a good dog mom and you did what you did and it is what it is. You sound happy and you also sound like you will do whatever to take care of that baby. I got both of mine a little too young and I have been lucky. Good luck to you and enjoy her!

[Alana]

Congratulations on your new puppy! I know your pain of losing a furbaby all to well. Getting my Vincent so soon after my last loss was the best thing I could have done. He helped to heal my heart, as your baby will heal yours.

How is she doing? I hope she is eating better. The kibble might be a little too hard and big for her to eat well. Have you tried moistening it to make softer?
Also I would try human baby food. None of those dreaded by-products we all hate that is in so many grocery store dog food brands, and easier and cheaper to find for you. The important thing is that she eats. Like the others have said, her sugar level can fall off quickly, so watch her carefully for that, and have nutrical or even corn syrup on hand for a quick pick me up.

As for house breaking, consistancy is the key. Put her on her pee pad often.. watch her for any signs she has to go, sniffing the floor, etc. and lots of loving when she does the deed on the pad! Good luck!!
Do you have a exercise pen for her? Makes the training a little easier when she is not on your lap! :wink5: Also a good place for quiet time and napping.

May you have many years of happiness with your new furbaby!
Looking forward to hearing more about her. Oh and did I mention we love pictures here? :)

[Jan]

Congratulations on your new puppy! I know that you will be a good puppy mommy. I knew your pain after Biscuit died. When our little Kringle died, my pain was unbearable and I had a husband and I was still teaching school. I got a substitute for the day. You were alone. If I ever get a little girl, I want to name her Lucy Lou. You can find lots of names on the internet. Follow the other girls advice on food and pee pads. We have a lot of smart people on our board; so don't go away. Jan and Sparky

[Morkie4]

Congratulations on your new puppy..........I know that Andrea and the others were only trying to help you may an "informed" decision about getting a new puppy to avoid some of the not so nice things that can happen when you buy impulsively. I have three rescues with backgrounds that vary and I knew going in that I would have issues but once the initial cost was put out, they all have been doing well. I do hope that you do not encounter any expensive health issues...........I was willing to take the risk of health issues when I rescued my three gals because I felt they needed me and I needed them. So now that you have made the decision, just move forward and do the best you can and give your fluff a happy life!

I hope you will share your life with the MT Members and so we can watch your little girl grow and prosper!