2006-07-17 04:26:33 · 14 answers · asked by brenda_lilb 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I am assuming that you are bottle feeding this pup?
Mother dogs begin the weaning process at 4 weeks. They limit the amount of time they allow the pups to nurse. Generally, the pups are completely weaned by 8 weeks. But, I have had pups that would nurse until 16 weeks and the mother allowed this.
Offer your pup water, soft food and a bit of dry puppy food from 4 weeks on. You can place a mixture of soft food & milk on your finger and encourage the pup to lick it off. Wash your hands before doing this. Gradually give less and less bottle feedings.
If you aren't bottle feeding this pup don't worry, the mother will wean them. Just make sure they have water & food available.
2006-07-17 04:56:53 · answer #1 · answered by momma dog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About six weeks is the average age at which puppies can be successfully weaned and sold. You can check the teeth, really. If the puppy has grinding teeth and show an inclination to eat dog good, you can begin the process. If you own the mother, it's good to let her feed the puppy for as long as she wants. If not, and you just bought the puppy, it's best to check with the previous owners to see where she was at in the weaning process. A good progression is milk>wet food>puppy chow soaked in hot water>straight puppy chow. Pretty much as soon as your baby dog stops drinking milk, you'll want to provide water.
2006-07-17 04:33:19 · answer #2 · answered by gilgamesh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course you're a BYB. What do you think having one litter for no other reason than it amused you or you thought it was a quick and easy way to make some money off your pet makes you, a top breeder of show or working dogs? They should be eating softened puppy food ONLY, not that other crap you're mixing in. If you're cutting nails, checking mom for signs of breast infections and separating the litter, and she still won't nurse, then the puppy food will be fine. After the pups get the colostrum, and once they're eating the puppy food well, then they'll get what nutrition they need from that. Oooooo...... KC registered! What a novelty! So few BYBs can make that claim about their litters! I haven't been here all day, critiCise is not spelled with 2 Ss, and I have plenty of friends, AND a life that doesn't include producing low quality pets which will displace the low quality dogs already in shelters
2016-03-26 21:34:53 · answer #3 · answered by Janet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by 6-8 weeks, puppies should be able to eat softened food and drink water for their entire diet. But a sudden change isn't good for them. Around 3-4 weeks of age, start encouraging your puppy to eat soft food, and have water available. Try wetting dry dog food with the puppy milk. Also try this when your puppy is hungry but not VERY hungry. As soon as your puppy gets the hang of eating the softened food, substitute 1 meal a day with the food. After a week of that, substitute 2 meals a day with food. Another week, 3 meals a day, until only food is served to your puppy. Then start reducing the milk added to the food until he is eating it dry. Have water available at all times, after learning to lap milk from around the food, he will be able to drink water.
2006-07-17 04:38:09 · answer #4 · answered by imzadi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
usually they start drinking water while still with their mom at 4 weeks - they continue to nurse also and shouldnt be weaned before 6 weeks, 8 weeks is better but if the litter is large you can remove the biggest puppies sooner and give the little guys another week
2006-07-17 04:30:28 · answer #5 · answered by CF_ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why is your puppy drinking milk to begin with? Hopefully it's from its mother...
By six weeks of age, they should be nearly, if not completely weaned from their mother's milk, and eating solid foods.
2006-07-17 04:30:57 · answer #6 · answered by mistresscris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3-4 weeks they should wean off milk
then start them with water and puppy food (NOT Purina--go with Iams or another similar brand--Purina Puppy Chow is lots of fillers!)
2006-07-17 04:32:05 · answer #7 · answered by Dwight D J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
5 weeks is when we took our dog of the milk and gave him water
2006-07-17 04:36:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
aproximately 4 or 5 weeks old. they should b old enough for solid food then.they should b drinking formula not milk. and when ever you start feeding them regular kitten food , that is when u shuld give em water.
2006-07-17 04:30:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 4 weeks you should start weaning him away from the mother.
2006-07-17 04:47:03 · answer #10 · answered by Jenny H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋