I have never lost a puppy due to weaning. And my pups have never been depressed. I start offering a high quality puppy kibble mush at about 3 weeks. At this point, mom usually eats most of it, but the pups are learning ques about eating from her. As the pups mature they naturally start eating and the mom naturally loses interest in nursing. By the pups are ready to leave home at 12 - 14 weeks, the pups have forgotten about nursing and there has been no stress on mom or pups. No engorged and sore mammary glands and no unhappy pups.
I would like to add that.... if I EVER had a mom or pups that showed any distress I would step in and speed up the weaning process, but that hasn't happened. My bitches are good milkers and the pups we have produced thus far are good nursers and good eaters. |