Weaning needs to be a gradual experience for puppies occurring over several weeks.  When puppies are still with their mother they are learning behaviors that are important, such as figuring out signs of dominance and biting in their littermates.

This article is written by Irene Veal

Best Time to Wean Puppies

You want to start first by removing the puppies from their mother for a few hours each day.  Weaning can be a stressful time for mother and puppies alike and needs to be supervised closely.  During this time away from the mother, the puppies have an opportunity to become less dependent on the mother and the mother’s milk supply can begin to dry up.

Over time you can increase the time away from mother and introduce the puppies to kibbles and a high quality puppy food which will be required during their growth.  Mix the food with a milk replacement or warm water for a nice gruel so that the puppies will be able to chew and swallow without any difficulty.  You may need to encourage the puppies to eat some of the food from your finger to get them use to eating food and gradually eating from a bowl.  Most puppies will get accustomed to eating from a bowl rather quickly.

It is also important to keep an eye on the mother while the puppies are being weaned to ensure that the mother’s mammary glands do not become engorged.  Check with your veterinarian to make sure that the mother and puppies are receiving adequate nutrition and that the mother’s diet has been adjusted while she is no longer nursing.

The weaning process can be started as early as three to four weeks of age if you should discover an orphaned litter of pups.  Start by offering a replacement milk in a bottle or dip your finger in the milk if they are reluctant to drink from the bottle.  Never force the puppies noses into the a bowl of milk if that is what you’re using.