Weaning Tips/Advice
 

I have read some info on this site and have been given some great info from some members here, but I just thought it would be nice to have a thread dedicated to weaning puppies.

At what age do you start?

How often do you feed them?

What are some good recipes for the pups?

Any other info you'd like to give that would be helpful?

Ok, and now I'll start by answering my own thread and if I put anything down that's wrong, by all means, correct me.

I have started the weaning process slowly at 4-5weeks. I have read you should get serious with it at 6 weeks.

My pups are a few days over 5 weeks right now and are currently eating mom's milk and about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of Gerber rice cereal with goats milk/water and a little bit of Karo syrup. Today I'm going to try and make some dry kibble mixed with water and a little goats milk and see how they like that. Since I'm not home that often, they're only getting the cereal in the evening for now. In about another week, I'm going to try to have them eat the puppy gruel during the day and at night to start out with.

I start weaning around 4 1/2 weeks, but it's a gradual process, still allowing mom in with them 2x/day, morning and night.

I keep the food out for them all day/night.

Recipes?? I'm simple. I use canned Pedigree with added water, decreasing the water after they learn how to eat it. Then, I graduate them to the Iams Smart Puppy kibbles, moistened with water, of course. By 8 weeks old, they are fully weaned, eating the kibbles dry. Has worked well for me.

Be patient. The whole process takes at least a couple of weeks, usually longer.

So you leave the wet food/water mixture in with them in one food bowl so they can free feed?? Also, we can do the same with the dry food mix as well???

I have been hand feeding them but was wondering how to get them to eat out of a bowl, which would be a lot easier.

I fed them some dry kibble mixed with water and goats milk all mushed up last night. It didn't look or smell very appetizing, but they ate it up pretty well.

Yes, I leave it in there, in a small bowl. Be sure the bowl is shallow enough that they can get their little noses into the food. I've even used a tupperware lid before, since it was so shallow, and big enough that all 5 pups could circle around it to eat.

I did mix it with puppy formula (milk replacement) once or twice, but then you can't leave that in there for too long, or the milk will sour. Not good.

They got plenty of milk from mom, since she still nursed 2x/day for the first 5 days of weaning, then 1x/day for 3-4 days. By then, they were eating well on their own.

Mom will also "teach" them how to eat, if you put her food in there. They really do learn alot from watching her.

Ollie started weaning her's by herself at 4 weeks. I noticed that she would regurgitate her food for them.

So now I am also feeding the Gerber rice with goats milk and I mix in a little pedigree lamb and rice puppy formula and a touch of karo.

Last night was they first night they were separated from their mom all night and I was scared to death that I would wake up to dead puppies. But they were fine and hungry and ate VERY well. Prior to this they have been taking a few licks but did not eat a lot.

My concern is, How often should I feed them. I don't like to leave wet food set for over an hour. Is 4 times a day enough? Or should it be every 3 hours?

I read it should be 4-5 times a day, but when I was doing just the rice cereal, I wasn't home enough to do it that many times. Lily pretty much nursed them up full time up until 5 to 5 1/2 weeks and I gave them the cereal only in the evenings.

Now, I'm doing what Angelbaby Mom's recommended and taking dry puppy kibble, soaking it in water until it's soft, and leaving the bowl in there with them. I bought a doggie bowl that was wide so they can't knock it over. I am now doing this about 4 times a day (morning, lunchtime (thx to my husband), evening, and before bedtime). Lily still goes in the pen with them a few times a day, but when she's in there, she's ready to come out pretty soon after. I'm not sure how she can deal with them still nursing with those teeth of theirs! :eek: ;) I tried the wet puppy food and none of them seemed to really like it, plus then there is the hassle of not being able to leave it out and having to store it away hoping it stays good, etc.

I also am letting them try to lap up water too in case they get thirsty after eating the kibble, but a lot of them don't know what to do with the water and are more interested in the shiny, silver bowl the water's in. :p I don't leave the water in there with them though. I put it in there and pretty much take it out soon after.

You can get those heavy bowls fat Petco that they can't tip over.

I even worry that the dry food can grow bacteria once it is wet.

I say I leave it in there, but I really place it in there, watch them munch, and take it out about 15 to 20 minutes later or so. :)