Newborn Puppy Questions!!
 

Hey experienced breeders and owners! I have a few newborn questions to ask and would love some advice! My baby is growing up!! ;) Napoleon is now almost 3 weeks old (on Friday) he weighs 1.3lbs as of this morning, his eyes are open and he is finding his legs! I was just wondering how often does he need to nurse now? At the start it was about every 1.5 hours and then he was going about every 2.5 hours. Does he still need to be feeding in the middle of the night? Paris has been hopping in and out of the laundry basket where he sleeps (which is next to my pillow on my bed) to feed him periodically in the middle of the night and then getting back out for more room to stretch out when she wants to sleep. Here is a new problem: He is figuring out how to get out of the laundry basket (caught him squeaking and climbing out last night! Luckily I am a very light sleeper!) So obviously we are going to have to come up with a new plan. Paris and Napoleon are in a pack n play right now as I write and are used to it because its where I put them when I need to leave the house but at night I don't know if that will work because she wants to sleep with me! I don't want to risk his safety. I have let him cuddle up with us in the middle of the night and he stays pretty close to me or to her but I don't want to risk his safety! Any suggestions? Can he go the full night without feeding? Also, he is gaining weight like a beast! He is chubby and round and I was just wondering will this even off at some point or is he going to be a gynormous yorkie? LOL. Also, his eyes look a little blue and a little bit cloudy is this normal when they first open their eyes? He is precious and I couldn't love him any more! Both Louis and Paris are doing great with him! Louis has never had a moment of jealousy...it's like he senses that Napoleon is his boy! Just want to make sure we are moving in the right direction! Any advice is appreciated!! Have a great day!!:animal-pa:animal-pa:animal-pa

Sorry I am not a breeder, therefore can not help. But, I would suggest that you post this in the breeders' section or the YT Baby Nursery section. Those are the two places members who are breeders tend to hang out. Good luck with your little one. ~Joanne~

Mary, I would keep him in the pack n play at night. If he wakes up hungry.... believe me he will wake Mommy and you up to eat. His feeding will slow down soon and now (at around 3-4 weeks) is a good time to start him on a little Gerber baby rice cereal mixed with a 50/50 mix of canned goats milk and water with just a bit of karo syrup. Keep the cereal mixture thin and put it on a small plate and he will lap it up. Mommy will like it as well..... after a week or so you can grind up a good quality puppy food in a coffee grinder and add into the mixture... then gradually increase the puppy kibble and decrease the rice cereal until he is eating the puppy kibble. As for the eye color.. when they first open them, they are somewhat cloudy and blue... they will clear as he gets older.

Sunnie! Thanks for those answers! That was very helpful info! How do I feed the puppy mixture to him? Will he open his mouth for that? Just wondering! Will put him in the pack n play tonight! Thanks for reassuring me that I am on the right track! Have a great night!!

You forgot to add, have a camera near by because it is hysterical to watch them eat their mush....all over the place.:D

Hi there~~

I went one step farther with the pack and play.....we put in a "cat door" with a magnetic door catch on the end of it. We didn't want the other dogs or the cats to get into the babies. We made a wooden top and put plexiglass on the end with the door. Mom had a magnet on her collar so the door would open and she could get out, but the babies couldn't. Worked really well. As soon as she heard the kids make a sound she's go and take care of them. They were safe and she was the only one who had access to them and could get to them when ever they needed her.

absolutely.. It isd a hoot to watch them..

Mary.. you will find in the next few days that the puppy will be getting around extremely well.. just set him in front of the plate and dip your finger in the mush and give him a taste... He will start licking it then on his own.

went one step farther with the pack and play.....we put in a "cat door" with a magnetic door catch on the end of it. We didn't want the other dogs or the cats to get into the babies. We made a wooden top and put plexiglass on the end with the door. Mom had a magnet on her collar so the door would open and she could get out, but the babies couldn't. Worked really well. As soon as she heard the kids make a sound she's go and take care of them. They were safe and she was the only one who had access to them and could get to them when ever they needed her.

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!