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New Puppy Advice
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Hello, how old was he when you got him? And wow 3lbs? I have never had a Basenji puppy that only weighed 3lbs at 8wks. And breeders keep puppies till they are at least 8 to 10 wks before placing them. Basenjis are not socially ready to leave their littermates before that. I keep puppies to 10 to 12 wks. I would question any breeder that is letting puppy be place earlier than 8 weeks at least.
Have you talked to his breeder about his weight? What are you feeding him? How often?
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He was 6 weeks old when we got him. We told the breeder we were from out of town so only certain dates would work and he said he would be ready at 6 weeks. When we picked him up we mentioned his size and the breeder told us he was the runt, but comparing him to his litter mates through facebook posts they look to be around the same size.
We feed him at least 3 times a day. Mostly wet food w/dry mixed in bc he was having a hard time chewing at first. Trying different brands--Nutro, Wellness, some Pedigree- but we try to stay away from it.
The breeder...wasn't our ideal choice. Definitely not as reliable as others we researched. However we have been happy with our pup since day one and are trying to do the best for him now.
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@Destiny-Galimore - You know it is not legal to place a puppy under 8 weeks? Honestly you would not have been able to do that from a responsible breeder. Hopefully this puppy has been or both parents have been DNA tested for Fanconi and PRA at the very least? Those results are publicly posted at www.offa.org so it is not something that you have to take someone's word for it.... And if this has not happened, I would suggest that you do so. It is a test kit via cheek swab that you do your self and send in. Here is a link to testing recommendations and you can also order the DNA tests for Fanconi and PRA - https://www.ofa.org/browse-by-breed.
The reason he would be having problems with chewing is because of his age. Buy foods that are labeled small bites. Grain free foods are best, I like Fromms Surf and Turf or really any of the Fromms grain free, also I like Natural Balance Small bites, you can also soften it up with warm water or you can grind the kibble up and mix with wet food or warm water. My puppies are on ground kibble until 7 to 8 weeks. Be prepared for socialization problems as he gets older. Taking a puppy that early from the litter and Mom they miss much socialization such as "soft bite" as their littermates will "scream" if the biting is too rough.... Puppies learn so much from littermates and from adult dogs. Is he registered AKC? Do you know the registered names of his Sire and Dam? I would have to say that the size issue most likely is because of poor breeding.Texas 16 TAC § 91.113 Licensed breeders, which is defined a dog or cat breeder who holds a license issued under chapter 802. V. T. C. A., Occupations Code § 802.001(13) A dog or cat at least eight weeks of age. Sell, trade, or give away
If you go to my website (www.tanzabasenjis.net) and then to Tanza Girls and Tanza Boys links, you can see pictures of puppies at ages 6 wks to 14wks. For the girls, Carley is pictured sitting in the puppy pen at 7 weeks C-Me at 11 weeks, Franie at 9 wks. Tanza boys, Trip at 9 weeks.
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Hi @Destiny-Galimore! I think I know the breeder you're talking about, and unfortunately, he's pretty sketchy. "Backyard Breeder" would probably be a nice term for him. When my husband and I talked to him on the phone, he offered to let us pick up a puppy at 6 weeks, saying we just needed to give it formula, and that it didn't really matter. He has so many litters every year, and he doesn't typically require any of the puppies to be spayed or neutered... Anyway, I hope Grizzly turns out to be a great puppy (despite "basenjicrazy"'s methods, or lack thereof). We just moved to the Dallas area from Seattle, and while we were sad to leave the super-helpful Evergreen basenji community there, we've found a lot of great, responsible breeders here in TX. If you ever decide to add to your pack, definitely check them out! We're anxiously waiting for our reserved puppy to be born and get big enough--April seems like AGES away--but it really is worth it, especially with basenjis.
Definitely wet down the dry food; we used to add water or diluted chicken broth to create what I called "puppy cereal," and that works really well. Plus, once the kibble has soaked up all the liquid, you can shove the extra bits into a puppy Kong, freeze it, and offer that as a treat, especially as Grizzly starts teething.
The other thing you might want to be concerned about is socialization; the 5-8 weeks age is when puppies are learning a LOT about dog manners from their dams and their litter mates. If possible, I'd get him into a puppy preschool of some kind, go to a playgroup that's monitored by dog trainers (so they can stop bad behavior, encourage good behavior, and help you learn what's acceptable and what you need to stop), and try to have visitors and appropriate canine companionship. That will make a huge difference in temperament, which can be a problem area when the breeder isn't as careful.
Regardless, congrats on the new pup! He's super cute, and if the experience we've had with our basenji puppy (born Nov 2016; came home Jan 2017) is any indicator, that cuteness will result in completely falling in love!
ETA: (I clearly need to read better before posting, since a lot of what I said has already been covered. Sorry, and still: he's adorable!)
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@Zannah - Thanks for your response Zannah, you are spot on.... and yes there are wonderful responsible breeders in Texas and if they don't have something for you, they can/will refer you to other responsible breeders in the area. I will say that many "pre" school places will not let pups there before all shots are given... so that could be an issue. To Destiny-Galimore, you are going to have to assume the roll of littermates, adults to teach the things that this pup would have learned from its littermates and/or adults....
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@tanza I wasn't aware of that. He had a video of him doing Fanconi testing from a few years ago and told us that the dame was registered through AKC, but we got very little paperwork from him so it's hard to know what was true. We are planning to have it done just to be sure.
Thanks @Zannah !! He definitely wasn't my first (or second, or third) choice. My boyfriend found him through puppy finder, it wasn't until we got closer to picking Grizzly up that I found out how irresponsible this breeder was. I had contacted much more reputable breeders from all over before, since I'm currently stationed in Virginia and my boyfriend is in Texas. However, none that were anywhere near us had any puppies available. Ideally we would've waited, however we have Grizzly now and we are so happy with him!
*If all goes well with Grizzly, I could definitely see us getting a second. I will plan ahead next time and be sure to wait for a more reliable and trustworthy breeder.
I really appreciate the tips so far! I have already looked the puppy socialization and found a puppy kindergarten in the town where my bf lives that works perfectly with his schedule! We'll try out the the suggestions on his food and see how that works.
Thank you both!
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@Destiny-Galimore - Glad to hear that you will do the DNA test, sooner the better for your peace of mind. These two tests are 65.00 each, well worth the price. And you just order the test and since it is a cheek swab you do it yourself and then just send it back. On the OFA homepage (www.offa.org) there is a link "order OFA DNA tests". Then select Fanconi Syndrome and Basenji PRA. Good luck and I hope that your boy is at worst a Carrier. A Carrier will never get Fanconi or go blind from PRA
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Hi,
@Destiny-Galimore @tanza @Zannah I have a basenji female puppy on the way and is similar weight. I am very concerned. How big did your puppy end up growing? Any insight or tips to help her gain weight and size?
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@destiny-galimore - By the way, at the age of 6wks they should be fed at least 4 times a day and at that age (6wks) they are still nursing from Mom
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@ave_basenji - All I can say is that is extremely small. Everyone of my litters the pups were around 6lbs at 6 weeks and 10 to 11lbs at 8 weeks. Please make sure regardless that the pup is tested for Fanconi and PRA. It is a DNA test that you order from www.offa.org and it is a cheek swab that you do yourself.
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The breeder loves the pups and comes recommended. I see pics and videos of the pup every day and the litters are inside his home, well fed and comfortable.
The mom and dad have been tested for PRA and Fanconi and I have seen proof. I dont want to post any identifying info at this time.
To clarify, i won't be taking delivery of the pup until she is 11 weeks old. I just dont understand why the pup is so small? Any insights?
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@ave_basenji said in New Puppy Advice:
@tanza tests were ordered for the pup litter today
If the parents actually were tested and clear of Fanconi, there is no reason to test the puppies. If both are carriers, be aware that responsible breeders do not do that as they risk affected puppies. Carrier to clear is safe, so testing would tell you if pup is carrier or clear.There is a DNA test for the main type of PRA. Same testing needs as for Fanconi.
"Descendants of basenjis, where both parents have DNA tested clear may be declared genetically free of Fanconi and PRA-BJ1. However, even though errors in DNA testing are extremely rare, further testing for the first generation should be considered for breeding stock."
https://www.basenji.org/index.php/health-issuesAs for the breeder loves the pups... who doesn't? You can be an irresponsible breeder but love puppies.
Recommended? By who? Is the breeder part of the national or local breed club? Do their dogs have titles?
It is a misconception that all bad breeders have puppies out in barns or kennels or bad conditions. In fact, people breeding their family pets produce more puppies than puppymills. Being in the house, fed and seemingly loved really doesn't mean they are responsibly bred.
I am glad the breeder is keeping the pups until they are 11 weeks. However, if you trust this breeder, what is their response to these tiny puppies? Your first resource for information should always be the responsible breeder. I apologize for my earlier hasty post, but it was based on your description of the size, and figuring either you didn't trust the breeder about the cause for size or the breeder blew off your question and assured you it was normal. It is a good thing to ask questions if you aren't sure about the breeder. If you simply haven't asked because you don't want to risk a negative reaction, then I really hope you push that aside. A good breeder wants you to ask, they want you to be educated and they want to make sure you have a good relationship because ultimately you are going to be responsible for their puppy and they want to know if there is a problem that you will come to them.
You can see Destiny Galimore's pup here. https://basenjiforums.com/user/destiny-galimore
As for size, hopefully, best case scenario is that the litter is younger than stated because that weight is normal for a much younger puppy. Since you said the whole litter, that is far more likely for the extremely small size. (If it was only one pup, then, unfortunately, you will see runts who often have serious genetic issues. Runts who are at the lower end of normal are fine... but that incredibly small, no.) If they really are 6 weeks and that tiny, something is wrong.
You can contact tanza privately with sire and dam. She truly can guide you on the lines without you publicly posting them. Also, you can do a check on the sire and dam health testing, and the breeder's kennel name dogs to see official results.
https://www.ofa.org/advanced-search?search=advancedFinally, as to what you can do about size and weight... you can do nothing about size. It will grow however small or big. Weight needs to be kept at normal size. Overfeeding just gives you a fat dog, not a big one.
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Also, did @Destiny-Galimore pup grow to full size? @DebraDownSouth
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@ave_basenji - Hellos Ave_Basenji... I would be more than happy to assist and of course it would be confidential. I would need to know their registered AKC names... to look at the pedigrees. Or any information you can supply on pedigree given to your breeders would be helpful also. Please email me at tanzab@aol.com or you can find that email address at my website noted below. By the way, if a breeder is breeding Clear to an Afflicted offspring would be Carriers... Carriers would not get Fanconi or PRA, but would carry the gene (recessive) and if bred would need to be only bred to a Clear. Note that I would never breed an Afflicted bitch, but using an Afflicted sire depending on the reason or is that male was not tested but collected as many males are done before we had a DNA test is not unheard of... and if this was a bloodline that I would want to carry on, I would do it... Just depends on what the breeder is looking to do to improve the breed. We have males collected that have been "on ice" for many, many years... this now gives breeders the opportunity to carry on these lines.
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@debradownsouth - One other comment is that according to OFA there is no such thing as "clear by parents" per say.... not saying that anyone should be concerned, however that said... If it was me and I had a pup clear by parents, if I were to breed, I would still test for Fanconi and PRA... but that is just me. I have supplied a link to one of my bitches that is listed on the OFA site so that people can see what testing results look like. Note that Fanconi/PRA testing it is not optional that it be posted (results) but hips can be noted as not made public and some of the other tests breeders would have to pay to have the results listed. This is not to say that the tests have not been done and those breeders should be able to supply the results to an interested party in the pups
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@ave_basenji Grizzly was at 22lbs around his birthday, November 17th. I fed him pretty freely in the beginning and did a mix of wet and dry foods (Wellness Brands). I left his food out all day and he ate when he wanted, which was sometimes in the middle of the night. He tends to not eat while I’m at work which can be very late so I didn’t feel right depriving him. I feel like it worked well for both of us. Now he eats about 2 cups a day of dry food a day with occasional wet food mixed. He stays lean. He finds ways to sneak eat weird things on our walks so he has occasional stomach issues but outside of that he’s very healthy.
Hopes this helps!
