As stated, I have an only puppy aged 5 weeks. She is the only one left from a litter of 6. We lost 3 at birth and 2 at 2 weeks old (that's me finished with breeding this breed as I cannot cope with the heartbreak). She is a healthy girl, good weight and mum is perfect with her, although she did look for her missing puppies for a while. My concern, as I have never had a singleton before, is the weaning. At 5 weeks, she is not really interested in solid food, she will eat small amounts if handfed but relies on mum all the time and mum obliges. She is well socialised as she is with us throughout the day, getting used to all of our household noises and she plays with mum. She welcomes us with a waggy tail and loves attention, she is getting used to her name and responds well to our voices. I am just concerned about the solid food bit. Any advice will be welcome.

Are you keeping her? And if so can't you let mum lead the weaning when she decides to?

Perfectly normal for pups in small or singleton litters not to be too bothered about new foods. 

They will all be fully weaned by 8 weeks o just offer it 4 times a day in a dish, and she will eat the amount she wants/needs.

Many thanks for your replies. Not keeping her, she is going to a home that has two of our puppes already( not for breeding I hasten to add) . That's me finished , too much heartbreak.

Sorry about your sadness. Xx

>Many thanks for your replies. Not keeping her, she is going to a home that has two of our puppes already( not for breeding I hasten to add) . That's me finished , too much heartbreak.

Dear Lynneb, I know the heartbreak you are experiencing, and I know the firm decision one makes at the time never EVER to breed again.  These losses just hurt soooo much!   Again:  This is why I have said that only another breeder can truly understand what a breeder goes through.

But if you are "bitten by the bug", fascinated by bringing new, healthy, happy life into the world and through that making people happy as well, you may change your mind and try again.  Don't decide now.  Give it a chance...

Thanks for your post Nimue. Had a couple of wobbles but the decision is made. I do have another breed that I will carry on showing and maybe have a couple of litters but cannot take any more heartbreak with my toy breed. Was cuddling the puppy last night thinking she would be my last toy puppy and was quite emotional but I think I have made the right decision. Not getting any younger either so I will quit while I'm behind ( not ahead) lol.

Just fed mum and she has stepped back to let puppy eat it.  I was worried about having. Singleton  but no worries now

I have been very lucky with weaning etc.  Mum does it!!  I thought it was a one off with the first litter but she did the same again with the second.  She quite literally weans them off HER after the first couple of weeks!  She will go into the pen to make sure they're clean etc and let them suckle a while but gradually, she spends more time out of the pen but lying outside watching what's going on and going back in if she feels she needs to sort them out or whatever!  Its quite fascinating to watch her, she seems to have this puppy game worked right out!!  I offer mushed down food after around 2 weeks and that's when Flops starts to withdraw.  Amazing how nature works isn't it?