somersetgirl
New User
wat sort of time should puppies be weaned and should it depend on what breed??
when should puppies be weaned?????
- Thread starter somersetgirl
- Start date
Tia
Well-Known Member
I weaned my puppies off their mothers milk at 4 weeks. The puppies were all chunky little things and they went off to their new homes at almost 7 weeks.
I'd say puppies of any breed are weaned from their mothers milk at around the same time; often working breeds are weaned totally from their Mother at a slightly younger age and are often in their new homes at 6 weeks.
Most people on here prefer for breeders to keep their puppies at the breeders home until about 9 weeks. Personally I can't see any reason for this if the pups are already fully weaned from the milk and completely healthy. Each to their own though.
I'd say puppies of any breed are weaned from their mothers milk at around the same time; often working breeds are weaned totally from their Mother at a slightly younger age and are often in their new homes at 6 weeks.
Most people on here prefer for breeders to keep their puppies at the breeders home until about 9 weeks. Personally I can't see any reason for this if the pups are already fully weaned from the milk and completely healthy. Each to their own though.
severnmiles
Well-Known Member
Onto solids or away from mum?
ladylisa
Well-Known Member
I start introducing a small amout of solids at 3 weeks building it up gradually, then at 4 weeks i take mum away from them during the day and fully at 5 weeks.
Seems to work well for my pups and mum looks well throughout.
Seems to work well for my pups and mum looks well throughout.
Dizzykizzy
Well-Known Member
We started ours on solids at 14 days because there were 12 of them and Mum wasn't coping (vets advice). They still fed from her in shifts up till about 5-6 weeks and we cut down the numbers of feeds per day gradually so she didn't get too full and sore and risk mastitis.
Personally I don't think they should go before their 8th week as I think they need the socialising within the litter to teach them a bit about being a dog!
Personally I don't think they should go before their 8th week as I think they need the socialising within the litter to teach them a bit about being a dog!
echodomino
Well-Known Member
Same as Ladylisa
Janah
Well-Known Member
My lab had a litter of seven. I started them on solids at three weeks. Once a day for three days then twice a day for three days and so on 'til on four feeds a day. I never took the bitch away. It was her choice whether to feed or not. She stayed away at night when they were about four weeks, but would visit them throughout the day.
The puppy I kept was still having the occassional sip at 10 weeks.
The bitch, I felt knew what she was doing and I left her to it. No mastitis or sore udders as I kept the pups nails trimmed.
Jane
The puppy I kept was still having the occassional sip at 10 weeks.
The bitch, I felt knew what she was doing and I left her to it. No mastitis or sore udders as I kept the pups nails trimmed.
Jane
FinnishLapphund
There's no cow on the ice
I wouldn't sell my pups before around 8 weeks even if SKK allowed it, but I think waiting as long as to 12 weeks as the Swedish CAT club dictates is a little bit to much.
I started to provide the pups with dogfood when they was 4 weeks old, but my bitch was still feeding her pups in their 7 week, then she started to bring up her own food for them to eat
(so wishing there was a green smiley available).
When the malepuppy was home for a visit the other day, and me giving the owner a replay on How-to-cut-claws, when we were saying goodbay, my bitch allowed her son to suckle a little, and the pups are soon 11 weeks.
from Sweden.
I started to provide the pups with dogfood when they was 4 weeks old, but my bitch was still feeding her pups in their 7 week, then she started to bring up her own food for them to eat
When the malepuppy was home for a visit the other day, and me giving the owner a replay on How-to-cut-claws, when we were saying goodbay, my bitch allowed her son to suckle a little, and the pups are soon 11 weeks.
from Sweden.
Foxfolly
Well-Known Member
Our patterdale pups usually start eating pup food mixed to a porridge with warm goats milk and water at 3 weeks.
Our bitch does them very well, but at 3-4 weeks starts spending more time away from them, and tends to wean them herself by about 5-6 weeks. By 6 weeks they are on dry pup food with ad lib water and usually put down a bowl of goats milk when we feed them. We have let them go at 7 weeks in the past but any of the smaller ones are kept until they are big enough!
Our bitch does them very well, but at 3-4 weeks starts spending more time away from them, and tends to wean them herself by about 5-6 weeks. By 6 weeks they are on dry pup food with ad lib water and usually put down a bowl of goats milk when we feed them. We have let them go at 7 weeks in the past but any of the smaller ones are kept until they are big enough!