weaning

[PerdixPerdix]

So ive weaned many puppies before. but never terriers and OH MY GOD do they eat!

there is 6 in the litter and they are 6 weeks old now. and going by mums teats she isnt feeding them much anymore, she is probably a third of what she was and she is spending only overnight with them.

they are now on a good dry puppy mix, which i soak and then is mixed with lactose free milk to a porridgey consistency and they go through a litre jug full (i think) a day, fed at regular intervals.

they eat till they could pop and really go for it, ive never had pups quite as 'enthusiastic' before and they are starting to get quite tubby. if they finish the bowl before they are stuffed they whine and whine and whine.

would you keep them the same or change something. as far as im concerned they are okay, theyve been wormed and are happy in themselves, typical naughty puppies! just thought id ask.

 

[echodomino]

I'd be feeding them a thicker consistency of food at 6wks and wouldn't be putting mum in at all. How many times a day are you feeding them? Perhaps split it up more so they're eating little and often, my pups are usually on 3 or 4 meals a day - I have Jack Russells. I wouldn't let them over eat as their tummies won't take it and you'll end up with 6 extremely runny tummies.

ETA - you can't post about puppies without posting piccies lol

 

[PerdixPerdix]

lol, i have no camera, otherwise i would.

they get fed at 9/12-1ish/5 and if they are asking at about 8 or 9.

the reason ive made it so thin is because if it were any thicker i think they would burst, and they dont seem to be drinking much water. its annoying because im used to spaniels and i know them inside out, terrier puppies to me are so different.

they havent got runny poo's, ive kept a check on that. and mum is with them-they are at the end of my hallway in about 8ft by 3 ft running room, blocked off so mum can jump out and get away, tbh she spends most of her time sat avoiding them and watching her this morning she will not let them feed now.

they were weaned later than they should have been, i began at 4and a half weeks instead,completely my fault but at the time unavoidable.

i did split the feeds to smaller quantites and they didnt handle it well, lots of whining and scraping at the bowl and really bothering mum as she went in. their tummies arent getting too big either, ive seen much worse. maybe im overthinking it. they are perfectly healthy, bright eyed, waggy tailed, alert and very vocal, run up to see me whenever im about, scream at m for fuss lol.

 

[echodomino]

I wouldn't worry too much then my Terriers are pigs from pup to adult any way, Millie my oldest will eat for the sake of it, I've seen her eat something that she doesn't want just because one of the others has shown an interest and she doesn't want them to have it lol

 

[PerdixPerdix]

lol, their mum scavenges like a hyaena, even though she eats well. and the boy thinks feeding her his toast is the funniest thing on the planet grr!

ive thickened the mix up a bit and they scoffed it, pooed and went to sleep. think thats the way forward.