My papillon.

Question
I have had my Papillon puppy since he was 4 months old, he is now 9 months. He is very hyper and he eats way too much for his size, he wiggles his back area when he walks sometimes, and he shakes most of the time. He also hates being alone, but sometimes he likes to sleep under me bed. Can this be from anxiety? Also how much food should I feed him, because he eats and eats and always wants more, and because he eats so much he poops a lot, I'm saying he goes about 4 times in a couple hours. Also one more thing, would you think that he wiggles so much because he might have a spine problem? I wanted to ask someone before taking him to a vet because I can't afford a visit if it isn't necessary. Thank you so much!

Answer
Hi Kelly,

Puppies of all breeds are naturally VERY active, I wouldn't call it hyper. Most puppies have calmed down by the time they're 1 1/2 - 2 years old.

You should be feeding him a puppy food formula for his first full year, before switching him to an adult dog food. Even though your puppy eats alot, is he fat? Your vet could tell you if your puppy is overweight. Generally the way to tell if your puppy is overweight is to rub your hands down along his sides. If you can feel the ribs beneath the skin then he's fine, if not, he's overweight. Rarely are puppies over weight, because of their activity levels. I can't say how much to feed your puppy, different foods are different nutritionally. You should read the feeding guidelines on the puppy food you've selected.

It's not uncommon for puppies and dogs to dislike being alone. However it's important that you train your puppy to be quiet and well behaved when you leave him alone. For starters, before you leave your puppy alone, you should give him a good long walk or run in a park. Leaving your puppy when he's tired will make him more inclined to sleep, rather than spending time barking or being destructive. Your puppy should either be crated when you leave him (if he's crate trained), or contained to part of a room with the help of a child gate or two. Also, leave your puppy with something to do when he's left alone. A Kong or Buster Cube are two toys you can stuff with treats. This takes time, and it's also mentally stimulating for your puppy.
You can read more about how to train your puppy to be good when left alone, here:

http://www.pet-sitters.biz/working_pet_owners.cfm

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Train-Your-Puppy-To-Accept-%E2%80%9CBeing-Alone...

I doubt wiggling is hurting your puppy's spine. Puppies are naturally wiggly.

Best of luck,

Patti