I have a litter of Lge.Munster pups aged 3 weeks 2days, have started weaning them onto Pedigree's weaning porridge. I have a littley who has been on the porridge for about a week longer than her siblings and she's come on well, but the other's seem halfhearted about eating and then screech their heads off when Mum comes in. I take her out for a walk and leave them with it so they've got no option but to eat the weaning food. My last two litters weren't this much hard work! Any advice?

Hi, Unless mum's milk is failing or she is losing condition badly, or the pups aren't gaining weight, I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to wean for a week or so yet. I offer food twice a day to 3 week pups - unless they seem to want more, but I dont worry if they dont eat it, if they dont and are plump and sleeping well, I dont worry about it. I concentrate on getting as much good food down the bitch that I can at this stage as she should be at the peak of her lactation for at least another week, maybe even 2 or 3 weeks. Is she still happy to nurse them ? If they are getting lots of milk and seem satisfied, I would just offer them food once a day, and the morning they gobble that up greedily offer more later in the day and build up slowly from there. If she's not having any, a calcium supplement will help her.

Thanks for your reply. Mum is still in good nick and obviously giving a Fresian herd a run for their money. The pups are all porkers just on her milk, bar my tiny girl who has been having weaning food for a week now and has come on in leaps and bounds with it-she took to it like a duck to water!
My first litter I started weaning at 2 weeks old as it was a huge litter (On veterinary advice) and they were quick on the uptake. Seem to be getting more dense, the more litters I breed (Pups and me probably!!!).
Thanks again. Most seem to have taken weaning food this morning going by the sticky heads!

Hi Lily,
I always thought it was best to wean when the mother decided enough is enough & started to do it herself. I guess this philosophy has changed then??
toodles

Hi Lily, if she is giving loads of milk still, let the pups have it and I would leave starting to wean a while yet - its still possible at this stage to bring on mastitis/discomfort in the bitch if the pups are'nt emptying her. Sounds like you have a lovely litter of fat little dumplings!! Congratulations.

if i left it till the bitch had lost interest they would still be feeding at 6 months she hates it when i start weaning them. I kept one out of her last litter and she still stands over her like she wants her to feed.. My pups start weaning at the age of about 3 weeks just little and often they love to swim round in there food to start with but they get there in the end

My Litters in the past have all been weaned onto Puppy food but they have also had Milk & Weetabix(or Ready Brek)meals too, but this Litter are not really interested in the Milk meals, don't know why. I know some Breeders frown on using milk etc when weaning. My Bitch has had enough nearly now at 5 weeks. :O
Sweep ;)

I'm trying to take the pressue of my bitch as her pups are enormous and are 2.5 weeks old. One cant get enough of it, one will have a nibble and the other things he's being poisoned!

Thanks for everybodies input into my question, it's all really appreciated :). The thing is, if I feed the dam in the whelping box whilst the pups are feeding from her, some wander off and try to eat her food! Much to her disgust! So to me it looks like they'd like to have a go at eating! Am going to try a little canned puppy food mashed through the weaning food to see if this makes it even more palatable. Anyone got any suggestions for getting rid of 'sticky-head syndrome' to make them look like chocolate box pups again?

To get the pups looking clean again put their mother back in with them!

Mum doesn't seem to be overly bothered about having 9 heads to clean up, more interested in what they've left! ;)

On my rottie pups I used to flannel them with hottish water with a drop of vinegar in it, works a treat for getting rid of porridge and leaves a lovely shine

Lorraine

Will try the vinegar and flannel, not that they need anymore shine on their coats! Am off to leave them abadoned again with a plate of Pedigree weaning food as temptation! :)

Lily I have always given my puppies a ball of good mince meat , you will see a difference in their approach then. it is like a frenzy when you give them raw mince I never bothered with the porridge. I soaked pedigree advance puppy and put the raw mince through it , that got gobbled in no time plus it is cleaner boiled pasta with mince ,brown rice and mince ,butchers tripe and veg , friskies foil meals, Linda had another food , she will tell you the name as i could not buy it here I think it was natures diet .also I give organic natural yogurt , for the immune system , gives it a good boost. Later on try and get a big leg bone and see the fun when they all want to carry it off for themselves Mari

Hi again. I feed my bitches seperately from the puppies at this stage, and keep her away from them for half an hour or so, as much to stop her bringing it back for them as well as preventing the puppies from eating it as I dont feed the mums and pups the same food. That's a great tip - the water and vinegar, I shall try it on my next bunch.

You really are a marvellous bunch :)

Miranda would never ever give up her grub to regurgitate to her pups, she loves her food too much!!! I dolloped a can of Ambrosia Creamed Rice in a dish this teatime, didn't touch the sides with the pups! I had a very bad experience with raw mince and my littlest pup on Monday evening, so am off raw mince for life now! She choked on it and 'died' for several seconds before I manage to get her around again. Weaning food it is then onto Nutro. Nutro suits LM's 99%, I've converted so many people to it.

Thanks again, all help is gratefully received.

lily , im shocked , how did that happen poor puppy and poor you , I hope all is well , was that the small one . It must have went against its breath , this is common with small ones to begin with but dont worry the small one will grow on and eat all in front of him. the small one I had is now pure show quality , and guess what Lily I did not keep him he is in a pet home . I am asking if i can borrow him next year he is a cracker ask Leigh . Next time I have a weenie im hanging on to it for awhile. Mari

Yep, he's a lovely dog Mari, you can be very proud of him :-)

Lil' I agree with Mari .....keep the tiny one. We'll have the chunky one :D

Glad you opted for Nutro too, told yer it was good gear ;-)

The tiny one is cute but she's like a baby bird, my sis' calls her 'Birdy'! She is strikingly marked and will be quite white with solid black head BUT you know what judges are like with white Munsters? They'll put up the black Flatcoat ones but not the correctly marked 'white with black patches' ones!!!
I'm actually really taking a shine to the white dog, he's so cocky, chunky and a nice shape, no doubt I'll be corrected in a week's time!!!!

I think Nutro is terrific have kept Mia on it since she was weaned onto it as a baby with her bruvs and sisters. Think their Breeder scheme stinks though-having to pay for puppy packs. Look what Beta give you and all for nothing, not even the price of a stamp! I sent off my card to Beta on a Tueday, had all the puppy packs and food by Friday morning. That's service, pity I don't rate the food much!!!! Mine 'blew' all night on it!

Have put the cooking juice off the mince into the Pedigree weaning porridge and it doesn't touch the sides. So far, I've got two meals down them today and they are sleeping better after that, than a drink off mum now, obviously they need a bit more substance in their diet.

I hadn't had a bad experience from raw mince until Monday night. It was shocking to see how quickly a pup could 'die' from maybe choking on something so small and squidgy. She is fine now and hopefully when she goes at 8 weeks, she'll be catching up on the rest size-wise.

Just as a footnote as this topic seems to have shutdown. The babies are on 3 meals a day of Pedigree weaning food. Got them to take it with ease after I poured some of the juices from mince I was cooking for the adult dogs, into the weaning food. Wolfed it down, little porkers!!! :) Next week, they'll get their taste of Nutro!