...well these pups are officially driving me nuts! I have tried it all, and they are interested...but its like they know that if they wait the mom will come in and feed them...between the 9 of them they don't even eat 1/2cup per feeding. and I am waiting 4 hours to make them really hungry.
Thanks for all your advise but I dont' think these pups want anything but mom....and she is sick and tired of them I have to fight with her to lay in there with them.
Amanda

Oh dear, have you tried the smelly stuff, pups go nuts for tripe.
Debbie

Unfortunately I have tried it all...they are 4 weeks today....has this happened to anyone else? I wonder if I should just take her away and make them deal with it...and when they are hungry they will eat.
Or do you think they are still to young for that?
THANKS
Amanda

My most recent litter was like yours hardly eating between four of them more than a tablespoon of mushy food, and that was at four weeks also.  they were also the fastest weight gainers I had ever had!!!  Interestingly enough by 5 1/2 weeks Mum had totally stopped feeding them.

I have started puppies that seemsed hungry or interested in Mums food on sloppy solids as soon as their eyes are open, and usually aimed to start them at about 18 days regardless, as I liked them on solids prior to worming at 3 weeks.  These would take no more than a lick for over a week, and were only taking two meals a day at 4 weeks because they just were not interested, then suddenly they were eating rather than playing and at 4 1/2 weeks I had them on four meals, and as MUm shut up the milk bar it seemed with every meal they were eating twice what they had last time.

I always make upo more than they will eat and Mum (and several other vultures will finish off :D

You should not be forcing the bitch to be in with them, the natural way that pups are weaned is for Muy to decide when and if she will feed them, and if they are hungry they will eat what you offer.

The bitch should be able to get to them if she wants, but also be able to get away from them when she wants.  As long as the4y are gaining, and Mum is happy then you need to go at their pace.

Well I've had the opposite situation - Mum feeding all the pups until they went to their new homes, although they wolfed down their weaning food as well... :D :D :D. She's now at last stopped feeding the one we've kept - at 11 weeks!!!!
Cathy.

wow one extreme to another...

...unfortunately dont' have the set up where she can come and go. If I don't close the whelping box door the pups escape and can't get back in...and then when they are in the X pens they are closed in and she can't get in...So I have to put her in there..but I will try to let her wean them and see if they get hungrier...THANKS for the advise.

Amanda

Os there n9o way you can put a stool or box either side of the pen so she can jump in but it is too tall for them.  I use a baby gate actoss my kitchen, and a board across the door of my dog run whcih the adults cahn jump but pups can't.  That way the bitch can do as she likes and the pups have to lump it or like it.

Oh I have usually found that my bitches would give the odd comfort suck (as opposed to true feeding) tight up to about that age with a pup I have kept, and obviously with the others until they left home.

This particular bitch was the first I have had that completely cut her offspring off, even though she had been a super milker until only a week prior, and they didn't want or need much else.

Well I didn't force her to be with them last night and she let them go all night ( I left the box door open just in case) and they were barking for her at 6:30 and she wanted no part.
Anyhow the pups are devouring their food at this moment....so hopefully we have made some headway! I'll keep you updated.
Amanda