I'm not actually a breeder, and will always leave that to the professionals, but there's something I've always wondering...

I understand that a dam usually eats her pups poo instinctively keep the nest clean (and to get a bit of extra nutrients?), but why do they stop this at weaning/when the pup is eating solids?

I thought it was partially down to teaching her litter to keep the nest/their bed clean, but I would have thought that can come as soon as they are able to walk/move away from the nest by themselves. Why does it coincide with weaning, is it something to do with the amount of poo when they are started on solids, or the consistency?

Not all bitches stop when the pups are weaned, some continue for weeks yet, it's very individual. I've never had to bottlefeed pups that have a mother, but have done many times with kittens and the queen usually stops cleaning up after them then -as if she said "You put it into them, not me, so you clean it up!" LOL.

I have found that a bitch will clean it up even when on solids usually a bit of a competition on who get thier first  !
Also think it is something to do with in the wild they clean up so as not to leave any evidence of puppies to predators ..

Mine usually stop when they are eating solid food.
I think it probably becomes 'dog poo' rather than 'milkie puppy poo' and probably is very unappetising. It makes you so glad that human babies wear nappies doesn't it? lol

One of my bitches has been cleaning up after her 6 month old pup this week because he has the runs- It's a race to get there before her she hasn't done this since he was about 10 weeks old

My bitch is STILL cleaning up after her nearly 7 month old puppy, and even worse the puppy thinks that it's the right thing to do! So now I'm praising her for pooing outside and scooping it up at the same time before either she or her mum gets to it. No idea how to stop it!!!

> Not all bitches stop when the pups are weaned,

Very true.  I have one bitch that was still doing it at 12 weeks (toy breed) and I had to watch her like a hawk to get there first.  I had visions of her still doing this at 3 years old!  LOL 

It was a pup that I was keeping, and they spend so much time together, I knew that I needed to intervene. 

one of mine used to go for the cats poop when she was a pup.  i put it down the fast transition going through the cat and so still very tasty (yeuk).  She's never done it since or to any other poops knocking about.

i wonder if it does taste nice for them.

I think everyones right, its an instinct thing.

I'm afraid all my dogs will clean the cat litter tray for me given a chance. The cats now have a flap into the boiler room to keep the litter tray and their food out of harms way

Not quite the same,but my girl still washes her boy's man bits when he's been to spend a penny and he is now 16 months old.Spoilt or what!!!

lol.  I'm so glad we don't take after our animals.

My breeders gang all do that, they can have a washing orgy.