9 Week Old Jack Russel Wont Eat

Question
We've had our adorable JRT puppy for a week.  He was 8 weeks old when we got him (from a small puppy shop that gets dogs directly from local breeders). We were told to feed him nothing but Purina Puppy Chow.  He ate about a 3rd of a cup a day the first 5 days.  The last 2 days he has eaten very, very little (a few grains at a time).  She goes crazy at the smell of our human food.  We think she's losing weight.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Hi Eduardo

A third of a cup of food (no matter what kind) is not enough for a growing puppy. I give my puppies a half a cup in the morning and a half a cup in the evening - and increase it weekly.  I don't know why the store would tell you only to feed him the Purina Puppy Chow unless they are getting a commission on it and want to make money from the sale. There are many other brands that are much better for the puppy. My worry is that the pup is losing weight but it might not be from not eating but from something more serious. Have you taken him to the veterinarian to be thoroughly checked out? How do you know the store only gets them from local breeders? What if the local breeder is a puppy mill? My best advice to you would be to make sure that puppy is healthy first. If he's OK then change the food to something more appealing and tasty (always dry food, don't buy the canned junk - it rots the teeth and causes runny stools). Add a little water to the food to make it easier for the puppy to eat because he may be teething and it might be too hard for him to chew right now. Check his mouth periodically anyway - make sure his teeth are coming in correctly and there are no impacted teeth.  Don't feed him any human food now or ever - you will be setting yourself up for a difficult eater.
Best of luck with the puppy. I hope he is healthy!
Please feel free to write anytime.