When do you start to wean and any good advice?

By bitch had a litter of 8 [small breed] Terrier pups 22 days ago and she is feeding her pups less and less each day. The pups are all fit and healthy. I was thinking about weaning sooner, though Eukanuba the intended feed recommend at 4 weeks. In the past with smaller litters I have always weaned at 28 days.

Cheers

I usually start weaning at about 21 days, with a little scraped raw beef - just a teaspoonful each (individually) once daily for the first couple of days.

> I usually start weaning at about 21 days, with a little scraped raw beef - just a teaspoonful each (individually) once daily for the first couple of days.

Same here on the whole, though I once started to wean one of our large breed litters at about 2 1/2 weeks. It was a large litter who looked like they needed it.  But my Toy litter weren't keen until more like 5 weeks. So I think you should go with what you think they look like they need. I always start with a little finely minced raw beef and add anything else once they get the hang of that.

Again a toy litter which dont want solids until beginning of the 5th week...
Boxers I started at 3 weeks on raw minced beef.

I wean at 21 days, though this time started a day or two early as it was a large litter and I felt my bitch was suffering from her over zealous pups

I wean at 21 days, though this time started a day or two early as it was a large litter and I felt my bitch was suffering from her over zealous pups

I never take the decision myself, I let them tell me.  As mum is fed in the whelping box, my pups start licking mums food when they decide to.

jean i do the same! let the pups tell you put mums soaked food in and see if they go for it and lick it ,then that will tell you :)

I usually start mien at 18 days with just a taste, then next day two tastes and then 3 and if they have the hang of it and seem to need ti four meals a day of inc reading amounts from 3 weeks.

I often feed Mum soaked puppy food in the whelping box so when they start trying to eat it I know they are ready.

I start mine off on soaked puppy food made into a gruel using Goats milk based puppy milk.

I add meat and other things from 4 weeks so they are used to mixed feeding so easily adapt to new owners prefered feeding methods.

Thanks for all of your replies.
My bitch made the decision for me at 25 days when she was going less and less into the welping box. She was no longer lying down to feed the pups. On checking the area her teats they were scratched and sore from the pups nails, these I had regularly cut  

Gosh poor girl, that was a bit late to start them.  Feeding Mum her food soaked in whelping box makes it easy as when they start trying her food (which is normally what they will be eating anyway) then you know it's time to start.

Remember that she will still be their main source of nourishment, but because of this may be a little reluctant to feed.

Allow one pup to the milk bar at a time until all our feeding so they don't pull her about so much.

My lot are now eating as much, each, as the adults (in 4 meals of course), plus Mum tops them up at least morning and night.

She has just had me up to let them into the puppy pen (which I am now closing at night as they can climb out of the door, even though I've raised the height of the opening another 4 inches).