Hi, our puppies are the same age. Tucker is 16 weeks.
I can tell you what works for us. I am no expert, just worked for us. I got Tucker at 10 weeks. He was a very tiny. To get him to eat, I would hand fed him. I would put the kibble in my hand and he ate it up. Don't know if this the "acceptable" thing to do. I just wanted him to eat and it worked. Make sure you are feeding him the same food he is used to and fixed the same way. Did they grind it up any, or moisten it? Gradually once he got in the hang of eating Tucker ate on his own. I guess I did spoil him though because he still likes for me to handle his dry food before he will eat it. No big deal, but I have to kind of make sure I kind of touch it well and then he will eat it on his own. He also prefers to eat straight off a small plate then a bowl. I leave it out all day, but I still have to encourage him to eat his meals. I touch it lay it on the plate and he will eat it.
As for potty training, even after 6 weeks we are still learning. Tucker is on a regular schedule and he is doing well though. AM, He wakes up and he goes straight outside and does his business. I then feed him his AM feeding. He then goes in his crate for about an hour. I then take him back outside and he does his business. He then plays. When he takes a AM nap, I take him out when he wakes up. At noon, he eats his lunch. Back in his crate(he Loves his crate) for about an hour. Then I let him outside and does his business. Throughout the afternoon he gets let out every so often. He still doesn't "tell" me when he needs to go. Around 6pm he eats, back he his crate for an hour or so and then let out and he does his business. I have always given a tiny Nutri cal before bedtime. He loves that stuff so kind of a bedtime treat to him. I don't know if it is still necessary, kind of a habit. But he is still only 2 lb 8 oz and it makes me feel like his sugar level stays ok during the night.
I hope this helps. I am NO expert but this is just what we do. Since he is not eating, PLEASE take your little one for a vet check if you haven't already. I would worry about his sugar level. They will check him out and make sure everything is OK. I got my Nutri Cal from my vet. It is good to use when they don't eat well. They can explain how to use it.
And one more thing, someone mentioned kids playing with them. Even after 6 weeks, I still don't let my kids get carried away with the play thing. Actually Tucker does not like to be carried around too much. I think they like having down time and nap time. My tucker is asleep now, in my lap, and he has only been awake 2 hours. Make sure his bed or crate is easy for him to get to. Tucker goes and get in is crate when he wants to be left along. It is "his" space.
Good Luck with your new puppy. You are going to have a blast! He reminds me of Tucker.
Tucker's Mom
