puppy weaning.

[blackcat]

Okay a friend of mine has puppies that are three weeks of age and she asked me at what age should she wean them. I have never raised puppies so I have no idea on when to wean them, but I told her I would find out for her. I'm sure I could find that answer in one of my puppie books but I feel I can get a much more informed answer asking here. So can someone help me on this. Thanks in advance.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

*sigh*

~Tucker

 

[blackcat]

What would the reason be for waiting for so long would it be so the pup has time to build up it's immunities? But wouldn't waiting so long cause problems with the puppies shots not being able to take affect because the mothers immunities?

 

[verderben]

*sigh*

~Tucker

I was just thinking the same thing IMO if you ( general you ) don't know something SO basic about breeding and raising a litter just maybe you shouldn't be breeding.

 

[blackcat]

Aww c'mon don't drop that bomb on me. These arn't my puppies I had no control over this litter neither did my friend. I could of just told her 3-4 weeks but I needed a better answer then that. You can f*** off if your going to give me **** for trying to do my best for some puppies that are on the other side of town and that I will probably never see.

 

[Maxy24]

It's true the person should probably not have bred, in fact I'm almost certain of that but the question still needs to be answered. I don't know much about this stuff so don't take my word for it but I *think* the mom should wean them herself. I think they are completely weaned around 7 weeks. Around 4 weeks she should start giving solid (actually mushy) food which is blended dry food mixed with puppy milk. That's all I know and I might be off a little.

Keep in mind that just because they are weaned does NOT mean they are ready to leave the mother. Depending on breed they can leave between 8 and 12 weeks. There are other important things that puppies get from living with their siblings and mother for a longer period.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I wish someone who was more informed would answer this question for you...

I also believe (as someone else already said) that the mother will begin to wean them in that she will start to push them away. Also what breed are these pups?

Where are the mods when you need them...staying out of the important threads and only hanging around in pointless threads?!

OP.. i really wish I could help you more however, if you dont get the answers you need here maybe you could contact the local humane society and let them know your situation and im sure they would be willing to give you some advice. Good Luck.

Elissa

 

[blackcat]

Yea I don't think she meant to breed these dogs. But she may be secretly trying to win some Canadian or American champions with these Bullmastive Rottwreiler puppies. Or maybe she's doing it for the 1000's she can fetch selling such a breed. Bottom line accidents happen we don't pick on orphins because their parents are... I'll just leave it at that. Thanks maxy I'll be sure to let her know. I'll also inform her of the proper ways to socialize, stress, and temperment test so that they will one day make it in their new homes.

 

[blackcat]

I wish someone who was more informed would answer this question for you...

I also believe (as someone else already said) that the mother will begin to wean them in that she will start to push them away. Also what breed are these pups?

Where are the mods when you need them...staying out of the important threads and only hanging around in pointless threads?!

OP.. i really wish I could help you more however, if you dont get the answers you need here maybe you could contact the local humane society and let them know your situation and im sure they would be willing to give you some advice. Good Luck.

Elissa

Thank you I will keep my eyes on this forum for the next few days. I'm sure someone will be able to answer it shortly. I have like 10 books on dogs but none of them say anything about weaning puppies they all focus on behavior and training. One mentions that around three weeks puppies will start to eat solid food but it doesn't say how it should be fed, offered, or mixed.

 

[Maxy24]

Do you have the book Grammy always recommends "How to Raise a Puppy you can Live With" Rutherford and Neil. I have a hunch it would be in there, I think it goes step by step through each age.

 

[bubbatd]

Thanks Maxy ... you saved me some typing !!!! I personally never rushed weaning .... if pups and Mom were doing well , let it be . Also, the minute you start to feed, Mom will let you do the clean up job .....something I liked to prolong as 10 pups = 40 poops a day . By week 4-5 my females started to regurgitate their food for the pups .....and I'd start feeding . Of course the pups snack , then Mom tells them when to lay off . She is usually standing up at this point and the pups try their best !! I'd let them take the pressure off for a second then let Mom out . By now ,( 6 weeks ) except for play and discipline time , Mom is thrilled to have you take over for the next 2 or 3 weeks . Please see that she gets " THE " book . The socialization pages are SO important !!!!

 

[blackcat]

Yes I do have that book. It very breifly mentions 3-4 weeks as when puppies will begin to accept food. And it says from 4-7 weeks they will begin weaning. But it doesn't go into detail on what to feed or what to mix the food with.

 

[nancy2394]

Blackcat... you are getting a few sighs because of the nature of your thread. You must know this forum is definately against byb. Whether it was an accident or not... it shows some degree of irresponsiblity in regards to prevention.

Maybe part of it was ignorance.. whatever the situation was.. it's a done deal and there are puppies as a result of it. I think it was good of you to take the initiative to try and get some good advice in regards to weaning. I do, however, think your approach was a bit rough and gruff at one point... with a little sarcasm thrown in there.

I don't think anyone was blaming you for this litter of puppies. I think the sighs were just a result of hearing of another byb litter that could have been prevented.

If you want to get some good advice maybe you should re approach how you display yourself. Telling people to F*** off and whatever else it was that you said was just in my opinion rude.

There are several breeders on this forum who will be able to offer you some valuable information to pass along to your friend. Maybe this will be a learning experience for your friend.

Goodluck!

 

[bubbatd]

Just saw your post BC ....I put puppy chow through a blender and added water to make a gruel . Through the weeks , I would make it more coarse ... adding cottage cheese and hard boiled eggs chopped . I've always moisted dry food .

 

[blackcat]

Just saw your post BC ....I put puppy chow through a blender and added water to make a gruel . Through the weeks , I would make it more coarse ... adding cottage cheese and hard boiled eggs chopped . I've always moisted dry food .

When should this be done? At around 3-4 weeks or when momma starts pushing them away?

 

[blackcat]

Blackcat... you are getting a few sighs because of the nature of your thread. You must know this forum is definately against byb. Whether it was an accident or not... it shows some degree of irresponsiblity in regards to prevention.

Maybe part of it was ignorance.. whatever the situation was.. it's a done deal and there are puppies as a result of it. I think it was good of you to take the initiative to try and get some good advice in regards to weaning. I do, however, think your approach was a bit rough and gruff at one point... with a little sarcasm thrown in there.

I don't think anyone was blaming you for this litter of puppies. I think the sighs were just a result of hearing of another byb litter that could have been prevented.

If you want to get some good advice maybe you should re approach how you display yourself. Telling people to F*** off and whatever else it was that you said was just in my opinion rude.

There are several breeders on this forum who will be able to offer you some valuable information to pass along to your friend. Maybe this will be a learning experience for your friend.

Goodluck!

Done and forgotten.

 

[bubbatd]

I've never had a Mom push her pups away !!! At least not until what I posted above has happened ! Maybe some breeds are different . I've seen my Moms lay down for shorter nursing times and then jump out of pen . My females always were able to come and go from the pen . That's when they started to share their meal .... 1/2 digested . Hey , this was 20 years ago , but it worked for me for 45 years !

 

[blackcat]

Thanks. Lets see if I got this right around 3-4 weeks start offering them gruel, then between 5-7 weeks start the weaning process.

 

[verderben]

Aww c'mon don't drop that bomb on me. These arn't my puppies I had no control over this litter neither did my friend. I could of just told her 3-4 weeks but I needed a better answer then that. You can f*** off if your going to give me **** for trying to do my best for some puppies that are on the other side of town and that I will probably never see.

Your friend had no control? Excuse me but unless its a rescued dog that was already Pregnant then it is your friends fault. No control ... Yeah. Every dog I own is intact and I have plenty control of who breeds IF and WHEN *I* say so. Not when the dogs say so.

EDIT: and to answer your question, I usually start weaning between 4 and 5 weeks. I use a mixture of dry puppy food soaked in and All species milk replacer, and canned puppy food. after it soaks a few minutes I put it in the blender and make a mush. As they start to get older I stop using the blender but still soak it to make it soft, at about 7 - 8 weeks they get dry food with a bit of the powdered milk replacer mixed in.

 

[bubbatd]

OP .... please re-read the whole thread . I only stated what I did . I took the timing from the Moms. Each one's different . I believe in nature's timing when all's going well with the Mom and pups . To me it was never a cut and dried timing . Each litter is different .....some I had 6 , some I had 12 . Mom seemed to know when the time was right . All litters were on solids by 5 weeks ....some litters at 4 weeks .