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katelin 03-30-2008 09:12 AM
Weaning Puppies
 
I am having trouble weaning our four boys. Mom just doesn't want to! They are six weeks old, and on the larger size. Since 5 weeks (at my vets suggestion) I've been offering softened Royal Canin Baby Dog food several times a day. I've also offered Newman's Own Organic puppy food (canned). The puppies take a few bits and then go on their way. Mom still cries every night at 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. to be put in with the puppies (she's back to sleeping with us).

I've tried separating them for a few hours and offering food... but no luck yet. Any suggestions?

francis53 03-30-2008 12:05 PM
My momma dog fed her babies for at over 10 weeks with her last litter. I just let her feed them whenever she wanted. I also started offering them puppy food and they ate they also, but still wanted to nurse off mom every chance they could:) Towards the end, she just did it less and less, but I was surprised that she fed them for so long. I think I hurried her first litter and weaned too soon, mother knows best!!

bjh 03-30-2008 12:45 PM
I never separate the momma from her babies that young. All I do is grind up the dry puppy food in a blender and I put this ground up dry food in a bowl in the pen with the puppies, along with some water. The puppies will start eating on their own and the food will not spoil and it is not messy. My puppies are in a big excercise pen and I have a board across the front of the pen so the mom can go in and out when she wants to. I leave it up to the mom to decide when to wean. I have one mom now that her pups are 8 weeks old and she still insists on nursing them some, even though she is nearly dried up. The puppies are eating the dry food very well but they need the socialization of their mother.

katelin 03-30-2008 02:12 PM
2 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjh (Post 1885713)
I never separate the momma from her babies that young. All I do is grind up the dry puppy food in a blender and I put this ground up dry food in a bowl in the pen with the puppies, along with some water. The puppies will start eating on their own and the food will not spoil and it is not messy. My puppies are in a big excercise pen and I have a board across the front of the pen so the mom can go in and out when she wants to. I leave it up to the mom to decide when to wean. I have one mom now that her pups are 8 weeks old and she still insists on nursing them some, even though she is nearly dried up. The puppies are eating the dry food very well but they need the socialization of their mother.
Just to be clear, you don't moisten the dry food, just put it in the blender to chop it up?

Nursing is so popular here that even our mommy-to-be is getting in with the puppies and nursing them. She looks pretty guilty, like she knows she isn't supposed to be in there. But mom doesn't mind, so she sneaks in every now and then. See pictures below, they are in their "swimming pool" that worked for exercise when they were smaller, but they are exercising in the kitchen now.
1. Ruby looking guilty
2. Coco and Ruby "sharing" puppy duty.

bjh 03-30-2008 04:48 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by katelin (Post 1885932)
Just to be clear, you don't moisten the dry food, just put it in the blender to chop it up?

Nursing is so popular here that even our mommy-to-be is getting in with the puppies and nursing them. She looks pretty guilty, like she knows she isn't supposed to be in there. But mom doesn't mind, so she sneaks in every now and then. See pictures below, they are in their "swimming pool" that worked for exercise when they were smaller, but they are exercising in the kitchen now.
1. Ruby looking guilty
2. Coco and Ruby "sharing" puppy duty.
Yes, I just wean mine on ground up dry food (not moistened) and they always do very well.

Do I understand right that Ruby is expecting pups and she is nursing Coco's puppies? If so, I would not think that would be a wise thing to let her do.

SueNCricket 2 03-30-2008 05:51 PM
let her!
 
she is a good mamma and that should not be discouraged.
Why seperate her from her pups at all? Nature knows best.
My Bonnie nursed her pups for 13-15 weeks, I let her, and her pups were much the better for it.
:animal-pa

katelin 03-30-2008 07:54 PM
Our mommy-to-be doesn't actually "nurse" because she doesn't have any milk. But she did go thru the motions and so did the puppies. I'm not sure where the harm is, but if you know something please let me know.

They had litters together before and Coco helped nurse some of Ruby's puppies because Coco only had one and Ruby had four. That seemed to work out okay, but again, if you know something about this that is harmful, let me know.

bjh 03-30-2008 08:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by katelin (Post 1886721)
Our mommy-to-be doesn't actually "nurse" because she doesn't have any milk. But she did go thru the motions and so did the puppies. I'm not sure where the harm is, but if you know something please let me know.

They had litters together before and Coco helped nurse some of Ruby's puppies because Coco only had one and Ruby had four. That seemed to work out okay, but again, if you know something about this that is harmful, let me know.
First, I want to thank you for sharing the pictures, they are cute. I understand about mommas liking to share. I have had some of mine help each other out when the litters were born close together. I guess my main concern is that if the expectant mom has not has her pups yet then if the pups are actually sucking on her then that could bring her milk in early and I am not sure how that would effect her producing colostrum when her pups are born. Maybe it won't hurt anything but I think it would be better safe than sorry. How soon is she due? Good luck weaning the little ones. It's best to just not rush things too much when it comes to weaning, some just take longer than others.

katelin 03-30-2008 08:26 PM
Thanks for the information -- I can see the concern and will watch her to see she doesn't nurse them any more. She is due 4/17 +\-. She is just a super mom and tries to take care of everyone. Great natural instincts. :aimeeyork

urbnalbino 03-31-2008 05:03 AM
[QUOTE=katelin;1885932]Just to be clear, you don't moisten the dry food, just put it in the blender to chop it up?

Nursing is so popular here that even our mommy-to-be is getting in with the puppies and nursing them. She looks pretty guilty, like she knows she isn't supposed to be in there. But mom doesn't mind, so she sneaks in every now and then. See pictures below, they are in their "swimming pool" that worked for exercise when they were smaller, but they are exercising in the kitchen now.


How funny! That's strange to me! -- a lot of my mom's girl dogs become hawks toward the other girl dogs if they get too close. Not to people though! She does have a few that don't mind if other doggies sniff sniff, but others to nurse! How weird! Thanks for sharing cute pics.


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