hi there,
i today have just brought the most adorable little shih tsu puppy. Initially thinking she was old enough to bring home i am having other thoughts. Sellor told me she was 5 weeks but a good friend who breeds dogs thinks she is 4 or maybe even less. She has no teeth and very wobbly when she walks. I have previously owned a pup but never one this small. I understand she needs at least 4 feeds a day my concern is i work 8.5 hrs a day. Im concerned about leaving her for the day with no one. Some days i maybe able to pop home at lunch time but not always. Does anyone have any advice or tips for me. I would really appeciate it.

My advice would be to take the dog back to the breeder, and depending on which state you live in (that is if you live in the US), report that breeder. Because in most states it's illegal to sell or transport a pup before 8 weeks of age. Your contract should have stipulation on when it is necessary to return a pup, I say this is one of them.

And if get the opportunity, kick that breeder in his private parts when you leave.

Your puppy is way to young to be separated from it's mother and littermates. If at all possible, take it back. The seller was very unethical to sell you a puppy that doesn't even have teeth yet.

If it's not possible to return the pup, you're going to have a lot of work to do. But first, take puppy to your vet, ASAP. You need advice on what to feed, how often to feed, how to keep puppy healthy. Your puppy is at great risk of contracting some very serious illnesses, like distemper and parvo, both of which are killers. You need to know how to protect him.

Thanks for the advice, unfortunately i cant take puppy back as i travelled to get her. Im in Australia so i to think it is against the law to set a puppy at such an age. Plus i love her to much to part with her. I have her baby sat through the day so that she's not home by herself. She is doing alot of sleeping and eating really well. I am taking her to the vet this weekend to have her fully checked out and vacinated etc. You'll be pleased to know her teeth are coming through and she is a little terror. Trying to chew shoes already.

Great! Glad to hear it. Good luck!

[lil mutt]

maybe you can ask some of your friends if you can leave the puppy to them while you are not around...

8 weeks is minimum

Whats done is done so what you should really be concentrating on now is the health of the puppy. Having the puppy home alone for 8 hours wouldn't be a wise choice, especially when the pup is that young. Maybe you can take some time off work or hire a dog sitter.

Did the pups breeder come reccomended and certified by the state canine association, if so you need to report this to them, so they are aware of one of their breeders in breach of their contract with them. (each Australian state has a governing canine association and the breeders registred with them are bound by rules and conditions to ensure the best possible outcome of new puppy owners and the new pup) If not, I suspect, unfortunately that you have ended up with a young dog bred from a mill. Does not make your pup any less likely to be a active loved and loving family member, but keep an eye on her overall health, the breeder may not have checked her out or even provided her with appropriate vaccinations, and she could be sitting on potential hereditary conditions. But ill keep my fingers crossed that all is well, and she is healthy and safe for a long, long time.

Sounds like another bad breeder. They are far too common these days.

I am glad to hear the puppy is doing well and you are making the best out of a potentially dangerous situation.

I wish you and your new companion the best of luck!

definitely that's a bad bad breeder.

i suggest you to live him a food that is equivalent to 4 meals..

[wishbone]

Pups should not left his/her mother until he/she's about 8-12 months old depending on the breed. Mother's milk is the best food for them at this time of their life.