My bitch has been great mom this is her second litter she doesn't seem to won't to feed pup now not sure if it cause they have teeth not and hurting her she doesn't go in whelping box unless we make her I've started weaning pups cause she not giving them much as any one got advice what I should do she Evan leaving them all night she manage to get out the whelping area open door and leave them we have to get up make sure she feed them she didn't do this with last litter she has 8 pups  all very good size and they are eating and drinking milk fine from me like they are starving

Weaning can/should be started by the end of week 3 going into week 4 depending on how well the puppies are doing.  By this age, their teeth should be coming through and for sure, once mum starts to feel them she won't want to be in there for more than comfort suckling, but this sholdn't be happening at 3 weeks only.   No two litters are the same however - we had one who was fine with her first, but quite different with her second to the point she couldn't stand them crawling around her head/face when their eyes weren't even open yet.  I had to watch her very carefully!!  And this was her last litter .......Her first was 5 male puppies so I bred her again and she gave me mainly males again, but at least once nice bitch to keep, along with one of the boys!

For now, although you can start the puppies, teaching them to lap - using warmed goats milk (be careful about how warm!) and holding each individually on your knee to encourage them to lap and doing this 4 times a day (we'd give our puppies a tiny amount of lean raw hamburger - mince - once a day too) most of their nourishment should still be coming from mum.    If she doesn't want to be in with them all the time, fair enough but she should be in with them when they shout to be fed.   And you should be sleeping in with her and the litter so you are right there to sort out over-night problems.  Like what's going on!!

I'd not shut her in with them overnight, but you do need to be there to get up and let her in when the puppies shout to be fed, for a while yet.  As you move on to adding a good quality puppy food to the goats milk or water, mixing it into a porridge, her input will become less to the point that my 6 weeks, weaning should be complete with her nowhere in with them.   Our weaning was 'relaxed', depending on how each litter was.   When we fed the puppes we had mum out of the box and only let her back in to clean up afterwards and check the puppies.   Likewise when she was fed, it was outside the box.

Thank you for your reply yes I have tryed putting mom with them today why they where feeding but then they wonted feed if mom she didn't like it one but she not nasty to pup but she won't let them suck I've been giving them royle canin powder milk making up for them and now started on puppy biscuit soaked they eating quit well with that just didn't now if was ok for mom stop feeding spoke to vet just she said to feed every 4 hr not to force mom to feed them but haven't kept mom away if she won't to be with them I let her but after few minit she can't wait get away she just keep walking of from them

In that case, if mum really won't at least stand to allow 'comfort suckling' then you'll just have to abandon any involvement on her part, keeping a close eye on her lactation/teats because if the milk isn't drawn off even for the short times they might nurse off her now, she could become clogged and run into mastitis.   This is why we do the weaning gradually.  Rather than be advised by a vet - how many KNOW about rearing a litter unless they happen to be breeders too - it would be better to either go by what's suggested here, where there are many knowledgeable breeders willing to help, or get back to the breeder of your bitch.

Rather than using Royal Canin milk replacer, I'd get some goats milk to teach them to lap.   And then, treating this situation as if mum has died and they are orphans, proceed to using a good quality puppy food mixed into a porridge.

Again the only problem with taking mum off the litter completely, is the risk of her continuing to lactate and risk her teats becoming clogged, as above.

Thank you so much for reply and you advise been real big help I will be keeping close eye on my pup am fine she not been with them all day but am happy in them self x

If she has been a good Mum until now and the pups are 4 weeks+ then her only popping in for short periods to suckle them WHEN SHE WANTS is absolutely normal/fine.

Pups should be on 4 meals a day.

Are they gaining weight well.

You'll be surprised how much they get from Mum in short sessions.

The bitch should. always be able to come and g from the pups as she wants and should never be  unable to get away from them once they are mobile.

I have found when the bitch decides it's time to start closing the milkbar. for a few days she will restrict their access quite seriously, and this causes the supply to reduce, and then suddenly she si back to being mumsy, and allowing them to suckle as and when she chooses.

Mine have all been like this but then continued in most cases to allow some feeding until pups leave, but the lesson pups learn is demand feeding is no longer acceptable.

Mamabas the pups are not 4pups of a week old, but 8 pups of 4  weeks old :)

Thanks for reply yes pup are a very good size all putting loads weight on they have been eatin every 3 to 4 hr today mom fed them this morning but hasent wonted to since I think puppy are quit big so hurting her as they can't get anoth milk so she gave up but they been feeding really well today with milk and soak biscuits so feel alit more relaxed just need to make sure they are fed through night so we are going get up to feed them if mom doesn't won't to

I have never needed to feed pups at night whether Mum chooses to go in with them or not.

I give first meal at 8am, and last at 10pm.

>  the pups are not 4pups of a week old, but 8 pups of 4  weeks old :)

I didn't see this question as that....... which is why I wrote about weaning ......

Bitches do vary a lot and wanting to let you take over is not unusual at all, you can't force her to feed them so better to let her choose what to do, as long as the puppies are growing and contented then they will be fine.  Try not to worry and I would not get up to feed them overnight, last feed at 11pm and then up at 6am they should do very well, just let her have access to them when she wants to. I guess you have checked her for sore teats or signs of mastitis but if that's all well then relax and enjoy them.

Hi thanks for advice I wasent sure if they could go that long been they was only 4 week they do cry a lot about 3 in morning that y we been feeding them

Try clipping their claws, can be painful for mum as well as the new teeth.

I agree, try clipping their nails. At 4 weeks though you can start weaning if she's completely lost interest in feeding.