I'm starting the weaning process tomorrow. I'm going to soak JWB puppy with some puppy milk for 3 meals and give one meal of scrambled egg (as we have hens so have a complete glut of them). To me this is when the real work starts, apart from the 2 weeks of sleep deprivation when I don't leave them or sleep in my bed, it's messy and a constant clear up job from now on.

I'm interested though to know how others do the weaning process, what do you start your pups on, at what age and how many meals a day and what times?

Also, do you discourage the bitch from feeding the pups sometimes in the process or do you naturally let that diminish slowly with no input from yourself?

I always start with raw mince (frozen and thawed to remove any undesirables!) - sometimes they need a bit of help sometimes I've started helping one and looked down and the others are tucking in!  I also offer sheep or goats milk for them to lap... no I never discourage the bitch from feeding - I believe it's down to her to decide when to stop, although I guess if she didn't I'd be worried... I find they do this in their time and way and continue to go and play with the pups.  the bitch knows her own milk bar and pups so I don't want to interfere.  Depends on the pups but about 3 weeks - start with one meal and perhaps milk and just build from there... I treat each litter individually so wouldn't say there was a set plan.  As you say, now your work really starts :-)

Mine went straight onto tiny chunks of chicken and beef mince, they didn't like puppy porridge or soaked puppy food at all. I didn't discourage mum from feeding, but when it got to the stage where she didn't really want to, but was being dragged to a standstill by 2 hulking puppies latching on, I put a babygro on her for a few hours at a time, which gave her some peace and also meant they built up a little appetite.

I soak the puppy food, and then add Puppy milk (it won't soak properly in milk) to make a porridge, adn start at 18 days with just a taste for each pup, then two tastes the second day, then onto four tiny meals by 3 weeks at which time I also worm.

I add other foods that require some chewing at 4 weeks.

> Also, do you discourage the bitch from feeding the pups sometimes in the process or do you naturally let that diminish slowly with no input from yourself?

Weaning is bitch led, and I only keep bitch away from pups when first offering other food for say half an hour before I try them, after that only when they have food down, and once they are finished Mum cleans up and finishes what's left.

I always give a bit more than the pups will  eat at a sitting.  Mine are on four meals startign 8am, then Luchtime, then teatime and last one at 10pm, adn Mum tops them up.

Pups are almost 4 weeks now and I am giving them 4 meals a day of JWB soaked in dilute puppy milk, with a scrambled egg meal once every other day. I've forgotten at what stage puppies can have JWB without being soaked, so just kibble and I have failed to find out this info online. Anyone else wean puppies on JWB? I'm keeping Mum out of the puppy pen for an hour before each meal but otherwise she has free access.

ive used JWB for weaning before but if i remember right the litter wouldnt eat it no matter what!! but my daughters bichon was weaned on it and still loves her food at 5moths old not once has she kocked her nose up and walked away, i still give it her soaked too!

at 4weeks old i wouldnt give it dry i dont give dry food til 6/7 weeks old BUT thats just abit while the food is soaking lol i think they need far to much water if its not been soaked and its alot for their tiny bellys

ditto white lilly.

Mine get is soaked right up to leaving (greater to lesser extent) with just a bit dry put down to crunch on after.  Though by the time they are 6 weeks I am using cold water to soak so it isn't sloppy, adn soak for less time.

yes i do it the same way!! with cold water it still has a bit of a crunch in the middle lol (not that ive tried it)!!
and the bit of dry food they get ,its like a game they love playing and chaseing it.