[ylheitman]

I just brought home an 8 week old Scottish Terrier puppy from a very loving breeder. I'm not sure if he's just too young or what's going on. He ate the first night I brought him home and now he hasn't eaten in the past two days. He drinks plenty of water and is piddling but short of force feeding him he won't eat. The dog I chose was the runt of the litter because he was the most playful and feisty of all the rest of them. The breeder said he played so much all the time that he would forget to eat and she was supplementing him twice a day with chicken and rice but he won't even eat that for me. I took him to the vet and she says he's healthy but slightly underweight. She thinks he may be a little too young to have been taken from his brothers and sisters and he should go back for a while. Has anyone else ever had this happen to them before, and if so, what did you do about it?? Help! Should I just take him back to the breeder for a week or two? :(

[labman]

8 weeks is a great time to bring home a puppy. It has had long enough with its mother and litter mates to learn about living with other dogs. Now is the time for it to be learning about your home, and the people in it. It is going to live with people, and needs to be learning to live with them.

I am so used to greedily little Labs, the not eating seems strange. However even one of my Labs didn't eat very well. Scotties are small. Most puppies come overweight. Put down about a 1/4 cup of a dry puppy chow, preferably what the breeder was feeding 3 times a day. Take up any uneaten food and do not offer any more food or treats until the next scheduled meal. This is far harder on you, than him. Likely he is very excited about his new home and the people in it. As he adjusts, he should remember to start eating again. If you want to feed something other than the breeder was, make a slow switch over about a week after he starts eating.

Besides Labs I had a Shepherd. She went 3 days without eating once. She eventually started eating again. You may want to choose one of the concentrated chows such as Pro Plan or Eukanuba. It is easier to keep a light eating dog in good shape on them. Allow him to keep himself trim and healthy. My 1/4 cup was a guess. Here is a great guide you can use with any dog, http://www.purina.com/dogs/nutrition.asp?article=292.

Those active little runts can be fun dogs. Take him seriously, he will. If you don't watch it, he will be running the household. The dogs see all the
People and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
The pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
Outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by
Reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
Or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
A treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/.

If he doesn't start eating in a few days, let me know as much as you can, and I will see if I can help.