HELP! Ok... So a friend of a friend let his black lab female get loose and she mated with well... could be several other males... puppies look like possible rotweiler (sp) black lab (those two males are in the neighborhood anyway) mix. Well, he was looking for a good home and I have a two sons (5 and 3) that have wanted a puppy rather badly, besides it has been YEARS since I have had a dog myself so... we took one. Darling little male all black but with some non-lab face structure... hence the possible rotweiler???

So... The family with the female didn't know too much and I want to do this right.... does anybody know how much I should be feeding an 8 week old black lab mix and how often? If memory serves you don't just put the food down all the time or house breaking is going to be rough... We figured 3 to 4 times a day then play outside till Maximus Hades does his business...

Wide open for feedback (no pun intended...) here!

Welcome to Champdogs:)
What was the friend of a friend feeding the pup before you took it on, and how often? I think it's common amongst most breeds to be feeding four meals a day to start with for a pup of about eight weeks, reducing gradually to two meals by about six months, but I am generalising. There are lots of lab people around who can be more specific.
If you do a search on here for house training you'll find loads of advice. One thing I would suggest though is not to play with him when you're taking him out to "perform" because you want him to know what you're expecting of him when you tell him "do your business" or whatever command you'll use. Take him out and be calm, give the command, and if he obliges, then loads of praise. If you have to get up to him in the middle of the night the last thing you'll feel like is a half-hour romp in the garden before he gets round to doing anything!
Good luck with your pup.
LynnT

Thank you Lynn!
I really don't like to think about what the folks were doing... basically they put 3 to 4 cups of food in a bowl in the morning and that was to feed a nursing mom and 5 pups... He seems to be pretty healthy (if a bit skinny) and I did get a GREAT e-mail from a golden retriever Kennel (thanks Bobbi!) that explained basic feeding schedules... Maximus seems to be doing great! Your suggestion about keeping 'business' to business and not mix with play is brilliant! As he is currently getting me up twice a night for a quick lawn visit, I really appreciate the suggestion. This also seems to be working great! I am happy for the 3 day weekend as we are having LOTS of bonding time and my wife is definately letting me do the late night 'business' breaks on my own and I quote... 'K. I had to get up with the baby boys... you get the baby puppy!' I had NO idea how much time this was going to take but I have having the time of my life with this little guy! Thanks much for the support! You have no idea how much I appreciate it!

Todd

Don't worry Todd - it's not too long before the night trips stop!

Ruth

Sounds like things are going well, Todd. They grow out of the "baby" phase so quickly. Enjoy it while it lasts. Then it's on to pulling on the lead (leash, I guess, for the Rockies!), chasing inappropriate things, mounting, marking, recall..........but we love them really;)
Lynn x

Todd

I fed my black lab from 9 weeks, 3 times a day on Pedigree Advance Puppy (the dog came used to it) and she seems to be coping brilliantly on it. I also have a much larger puppy (9 month akita) and she can eat the same food quite appily up until the lab doesn't need it (Very difficult to feed one dog one thing and one another!)

I now mixed it with some hot water and a couple of tablespoons of pedigree original as it seems to make it more palitable (however if yours will eat without then great)

Make sure you have plenty of fresh water around for it, and as you said don't leave food down for long time (5-10mins in my opinion)

Hope you get one well with him.

Regards

Tim

hi and welcome. Just wondered whether the pup had been wormed by his breeder / as they dont sound very experienced breeders I thought I would mention it. I get the feeling you are in the US? I'm not sure what worming products are needed there but he will need worming regularly over the next months. Here in UK I worm puppies for roundworms every 3 or 4 weeks til they are about 16 weeks and then every 6 weeks til about 9 months , then 3/4 times a year. Tapeworm tablet once a year, but in the Us there may be different parasites to deal with. Its really important to worm regularly especially as you have young children, unwormed puppies produce thousands of worm eggs in every poo. He will also need vaccinating against doggy diseases now if that hasn't been done yet. Also a flea/tick preventing medication from the vet is a good idea, you often get these in a tiny tube called a "drop on" which is the easiest (and not expenisve) way to prevent/treat them. Hope you dont mind me posting this, good luck with your puppy, it sounds like he has a lovely caring home.