My 6 pups are 5 weeks and 2 days old. They are pretty much weaned although occasionally Mum still goes in to give them milk but very briefly. Some don't even realise until it is too late and she is off again much to their disappointment. They had their last feed about half an hour ago had been running about and all settled into the great big bed they are sharing with some soft toys. 
I have just fed Mum and she jumped in, started pawing at them, woke them all up, they got excited and out she came. I am aware about food regurgitation so watching out for that but that did not seem to be her plan. She is now standing outside the pen looking at them and they are left wondering whether she is going to come in whilst really being half asleep. She has run in and out twice while I have been typing but it was the fact she deliberately woke them up. Never seen that before.

Maybe she wants to play. Strange as it sounds, my girls love playing with their puppies.

I agree, as the milk has mostly gone and she isn't being mobbed now is the time she will start interacting with them purely as dogs, and they learn the vital canine communication.

I noticed with my first litter Mum would be quite rough with some of the opushier ones and really gentle with those a bit tentative.

Sadly some breeders will have removed pups from their Mum totally by now, and they miss out on this vital learning.

>Sadly some breeders will have removed pups from their Mum totally by now, and they miss out on this vital learning.

I totally agree with you Barbara.  I love to watch the way mum educates her pups.  It is a real eye opener watching canine behaviour.  And something that a lot of pet dog owners are not aware of.  I've had people try to break up a "fight" and told them to leave the dogs alone.  I have always allowed mum to teach pups their manners.

I had a litter and lost the mum when they were 10 days old  ,they were hand reared and I kept a pup from the litter but i'm sure she behaves a bit differently from my others.........they were too scared to go near the pups until they were about 12 weeks I feel they missed a lot not having mum around.