i have finally decided on the puppy i wish to bring into my life ... the only thing i still haven't decided on is which food to give him ... i know that many maltes puppies and dogs have digestive issues so i want to be able to give him something that won't upset his stomach or even make him not want to eat ... right now he is two weeks old and his mother is eating science diet ... should i continue to feed him this when he comes home ???? Please help i don't want to upset my puppy's stomach when i go bring him home ...

absolutely not science diet is a terrible food and i'm suprised they would feed a mother dog such a terrible cheap food.

Are you purchasing from a breeder?

no i woman i work with has a female maltese and she wanted her to have pups before they got her fixed ... i am getting one of those pups ... but i want him to be healthy and happy and i dont know what to do about his food ... i still have over a month to decide before he will come home but i want to make the best decision for him ...

BEWARE of the woman you're buying from. There are many people who want their bitch to have a litter before they spay her. Most of these people do not get their animal screened for various problems (HD, eye problems, heart, etc). They don't know the background of the dog's family. You may be getting a pup who's in for a whole world of problems. Just warning you.

(Dunno if my last post will mysteriously post later, but...)

Just wanted you to know to beware of folks wanting to breed before a spay, just for breeding. Most of those people don't know the dogs background, genetics, etc.

I suggest you stick with rescuing a Maltese. The quality of breeding makes as big a difference to health as the kind of food they eat. If Maltese can have digestive issues then you want to go for a good breeder. If your friend wants to breed before getting her dog fixed...you'll want to get a puppy elsewhere.

Science Diet is a horrible, horrible food. Especially for a nursing mother! Please reconsider getting a puppy from your friend and look into rescuing a Maltese.

that is not helping me ... which food is best recomended for a maltese ???

We are trying to help you. Please read what we have to say on the matter.

ok i understand that science diet is about the same as letting a puppy eat his own droppings which is why i was asking what i should feed him ... on the issue of a breeder vs the puppy that is already here has no aparent health issues at the present time and neither do his parents who were both rescued from tennessee i have nothing to say ... he is already here ... someone is going to have to take care of him ... it may as well be me ... i just want to know what is best recomended to limit the health issues that are caused by food (allergies, upset stomach, diarrhea, ect)

It all depends on the dog.

A friend of mine purchased an Australian Shepherd in a situation like this.

As a puppy, the dog had no problems. As the puppy grew older, he became allergic to just about everything. The dog is allergic to just about all meat. Rabbit is about the only thing that doesn't irritate the poor beast. Any corn, rice, or grain in the food. forget it. He's swollen and itchy.

I really hope you're not paying for the dog. I'm not trying to be mean, but you should really think about your decision.

As for the food, people are saying Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul and Wellness. Evo, too.

jennhar, you are right. He is here and someone does have to take care of him. His parents will have health problems later on, most dogs do. I suggest a couple of things:

You don't pay for him. Your co-worker is a backyard breeder and you should not support her dog breeding. If you co-worker insists that you pay, then find a dog elsewhere. Period. You pay, you are supporting an irresponsible dog breeder. That dog will find a home. But the dog population has just needlessly been added to and now some dog in the shelter will never get a home. That money will be used to buy what? Responsible breeders use all the money from the pups to pay off all the expenses earned while breeding. In an animal shelter or rescue organization, that money is also used to pay off expenses.

Second: start requesting your friend do stuff a little different with your pup. You said the pup is two weeks? Technically, the pup would be ready to go home at eight weeks. However, it is around eight weeks that puppies start to learn more from their mom and littermates. I would not take the puppy home until twelve weeks.

Third: how long have you been planning to take this pup? Taking care of a pup is harder then taking care of a full grown dog. Do you have all the supplies? Do you have a potty schedule for the pup? You should probably crate train. Puppies need to be around humans a lot. I would never leave a puppy alone for more then three hours at a time. If that.

I can't stress the importance of socialization. Socialization requires more then just taking the pup for a walk every day. New things should be introduced to the pup every day in a POSITIVE way. Puppies also have something called 'fear periods'. During these times, be very careful. A pup gets scared easily and you could have a behavior problem on your hand. Introduce your dog to everything from household items, wheelchairs, and other dogs.

Don't let the puppy do now what you don't want the puppy to do later. My Airedale's previous owners let her jump up on things and mouth as a puppy. Now, she is eighty pounds and guess who has to deal with those problems? Dog training starts the day you get her.

Start researching the breed. You need to know more about Maltese temperament, health problems, energy level, and grooming. You also need to buy up-to-date books about puppies.

Now that you're getting a dog you get to go for walks! Most dogs should be getting hourly walks a day. Puppies should be getting more. NEVER let the puppy out of your site! Dogs chew on everything! You can puppyproof the entire house, but that furniture will still be there.

No way to get around it, that pup was badly bred. High quality food is a must. The more you pay now, the longer, happier, and healthier the dog will live. No food from Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or Target. Petco and Petsmart doesn't always have good food either. I feed my dogs Wellness. I'll be changing it to Evo soon. Very, very high quality food that is so, so, worth it.

I too, really wish you would rethink this. I don't think it's a wise choice at all. If I can't change your mind, I can at least try to help for the sake of the puppy. I could write a novel on the right way to care for a puppy. But there are already novels out there telling you exactly what to do. Puppies are very, very difficult to properly take care of. Do research, ask questions, and above all, please don't make this mistake again!

Well said talltail! I agree COMPLETELY!

I am not paying for the dog itself ... I am paying for the visits to the vet during his first 2 months of life ... these puppies were not born to make money ... Also both of his parents live in the same house ... and niether one of them have any health problems including any digestive or skin issues ... I simply wanted to know what food would prevent any unnecessary issues ...

Just because the parents don't have any issues that are apparent, doesn't mean that there aren't any underlying problems. Does this lady check the hips, elbows, heart, eyes, thyroid, etc? I'm not saying that they need to be sent to the organizations to be graded, but they should at least be checked and graded by a qualified veterinarian. I have three Great Danes in my household. Two males that are in tact as well as a female. When the female goes into heat, all precautions will be taken to keep her from being bred. Until she is two, there will be no breeding. When she is two, she better have one Hell of a temperement as well as the health to boot. If not, under the knife she goes. She'll get spayed. That's just the way things work. Breeding before a spay, just to breed, is to make money. When I took my litters of puppies in for their checkups and shots, prior to going to their homes (where they were required to be spayed/neutered, unless otherwise stated in a very strict contract), the bills were minimal. You shouldn't have to pay a dime, if she's not in it for the money. For 8 puppies to get their checkup and a round of shots, it only cost $132. That's just under $17 a dog. Therefore, if she's trying to make you pay anything... it's a scam and it is for money.

If the puppies aren't being bred for money, then what are they being bred for? The breeder should have some expenses to pay off I would think. Unless you are bettering the breed...there's no reason to breed at all! Why exactly were the puppies bred?

Whenever I see a puppy, I just want to jump all over the owner to see how exactly this dog is being taken care of. Who knows, maybe someday I could be picking that same dog up from the animal shelter, just a little older and possessing a multitude of behavior problems and bad habits. If you have any questions, ASK. For the pure sake of that puppy, I will be more then happy to answer any questions.

Just to make sure, you are getting your puppy spayed/neutered, right?

On the topic of food however the way to tell good food is if the first few ingredients listed are MEAT real meat not meat meal or meat by-product.

Ok, Jennhar, I am new to this site, but I have to say I think everyone was a little hard on you. Yes, they are right, this person probably should not have bred her Maltese, and you never know what you'll get. But you already want one of these pups, and probably already love it, so I think everyone should just stick to the question you posed.
I stated on another forum about the dog food I use...Solid Gold. I have a Maltese, not from a top breeder, but from a friend who had two of her own. She is not registered, and is not the perfect dog you see in all the pictures. But she is a perfectly adorable dog, all of 7 lbs, and healthy! I have fed her Solid Gold since I brought her home. It is a healthier food, much better for her. I also put one small tablespoon of Wellness can food in her food, (only because I couldn't find the Solid gold cans when I started this). The thing with maltese is that they are picky eaters, and can become hypoglysemic (did I even come close to spelling that right) So the can food helps her to want the dry. I give her the weebits type. I hope you see this post. I know of the health problems this breed can have, but also know if you go to a breeder, that doesn't guarentee you will have no health issues. I suggest you get a good book on Maltese dogs. They are wonderful pets, a little crazy, but will be loving forever. I wish you luck with your little one, and seriously...check out the Solid Gold weebits food and puppy food. It is a little expensive, but my dogs eat less of it, and poop less...much less!! If you have any questions, just let me know.
And don't let anyone put you down for getting the pup you are getting.!

hi my name is sandy.I have a beautiful Maltese.She will be 8 years old on Sunday.This year,after intense research,I changed her diet from boring kibbles to freshly cooked human food,like chicken,salmon,ground veal turkey,lamb,vegetables,and a tiny bitof brown rice.From a picky eater,she now runs to her food,and truly loves it,and I know what I am giving her,as with dog food,you really don't know! also,as for groom,after 7years of sending her to be groomed,I went to Nash academy grooming school,and learned how to groom my own dog.Check out their web site Nashacademy.com

vmaisie,

Why don't you go to an animal shelter? Take a look at all the dogs there that need homes. Most of those dogs came from the same people who bred your Maltese. And most of those dogs won't ever get a home because of irresponsible breeders and all the people that want a cute, cheap little puppy to bring home to their family. Put a bit more research into the number of unwanted dogs that are born and die in the same day, then tell me we were too hard on her.

vmaisie,
As a breeder of Great Danes (I don't show in the ring as of right now but I am very picky as to the health and genetics of these dogs), I'd say that she needs to go to a shelter. I know the consequences of breeding dogs that aren't tested. I've seen it many a times in the Great Dane world. Have you ever seen a pup born that looks and acts completely normal, but collapses in the middle of the yard gasping in the middle of play? Serious cardiomyathopy (sp?... just woke up) can go undetected at a veterinary clinic if the dog is extremely excited and panting loudly during the visit. I'd go into more detail, but I'm tired and have to get off of the computer so my wife can do her homework.

It'd be different if she were adopting one of these animals and the breeding were an accident. By buying one of them, she is supporting a BYB. As I stated above, the average cost, per round of shots, per check-up and pup is UNDER $20, so if she's paying more than than $50, she's NOT adopting a dog.