Hi have my first unexpected litter and the pups are 2 1/2 weeks old now and already grown more than I expected.  Mum is trying to stay out of the box alot now and noly goes in to feed after 10 mins of whining from pups.  I have asked a few people of the best time to wean and been given loads of different times and what to feed.  What is your experience ie age of when you try them with food and also what type, how oftern etc

hope you can help

I base my choice on the pups behaviour.  I feed my bitches in the whelping box ands pups will often start to try and get into Mums bowl.  Also I weigh my pups and if the rate of weight gain bottoms out rather than increasing it is time to help Mum out.

I start mine off on puppy food well soaked before hadn with hot (not boiling) water and add this to puppy milk formula to make a runny gruel.  Plain puppy milk tends to make them choke.

As pups get older the mix gets to be more and more puppy food and thicker.  They need to have access to a shallow pan for drinking water once on solids properly.

They should also have their first worming about this time, but I prefer to be sure that they have eaten wel to reduce any tummy upset.

As for the length of time Mum stays with them, pups can get all they need pretty quickly, but once they are less hungry she will be happy to stay with them more as they won't be harassing ehr so much.

Mu should be getting at least 4 times her normal amount of food at this time, (basicaly as much food as she wants) but once they are eating a lot her appetite shoudol reduce. 

I do not diet Mum if she has got fat until after the post partum moult.  If you have never expereinced it at 8 to 12 weeks after pups birth she will loose her coat, all of it to practically bare skin, and look awful. 

This is normal and I keep my bitches on puppy food until they have finished this moult and started to grow thei coats back, only then do I see if they need trimming down in weight.

its not unusual for mum to be ignoring for a short period at this point she needs a break definetly start weaning them by 4 weeks but unless there is a problem with your bitch dont completely cut them off they still do need a little of her milkalot of there whining is just because they can smell mum and possibly by now there eyes are completely open and they can see her your bitch know the different whines you know just when they are grizzling for no reason when the are hungry when they are cold when they are hot or when one of the other pups is to rough trust her instincts but it wouldnt be bad to start on a little puppy food and take 1 or 2 feeds from mum away as brainless said get mum to eat in the box and if pups want it theyll get in and if mum wants them having eat she will let them eat it some bitches are really attached to their pups and dont like them starting on solids they prefer to keep feeding them if that is the case seperate mum for 15 - 30 mins let the pups eat and then bring mum back in try teaching them to drink water because they shouldnt be on solids for to long without knowing and usually they just copy mum i find its the best way to teach them to drink

I used to start my litters (Labradors) on a mash of solid food at between 3-4 weeks old and tried to have them fully weaned by 5-6 weeks. Mom seemed to be fed up with the whole process of caring for the pups by then and it gave me extra time to mother my babes.

Then I read a study where another breeder was asked to not "wean" her pups at all and let the mother's instincts take over the process. The instructions were to simply keep the mother's food bowl filled and just clean up after and socialize the puppies. She was amazed to see her dam vomit up food for the puppies at around 4 weeks old (her own way of giving them a mash of solid food) and then by 5 weeks she was bringing them mouthfuls of food and dropping it in their bed. She dried up her own milk at 8 weeks and the puppies thrived.

I decided to try this myself for my litter this past summer. Being a Labrador, my girl didn't do too well with the never ending supply of food... she emptied her bowl over and over and just got too fat. :) I ended up settling on a 4X her daily ration amount of food and followed the rest of the process. She didn't vomit up any food for her pups but she did bring them food and allow them to eat from her food dish before she would dig in. By about six weeks she was spending less time with the puppies but definitely went in and let them suckle a little throughout the day. They were still getting a cuddle and some milk right up until they left us at eight weeks and mom always put them to bed herself when they had a nap. The results (for the puppies) were amazing. This was the most loving, well adjusted, happy litter I have ever raised. The bite inhibition was far better than I have ever seen and these puppies were so calm and settled. I will never "wean" a litter again. I will introduce food at 4 weeks or so but there is no way I am ever pulling mom out from her puppies. I would highly recommend this system to anyone who is wondering when to wean... it just isn't necessary. If mom wants them weaned, she can do that herself. Good luck. :)

I have never ad would never take a bitch away from her pups.  Weaning does not been that to me and most other people that I know.

It means helping Mum out by supplementing the pups neds so that Mum isn't forced to regurgitate for them. 

This can be a real nuisance, bitches can loose condition, and you never know who has had what.

I have started pups off on semi solids any time after their eyes open (if weight gain slowing), but certainly by 18 days so that they are eating before I worm them.

I agree - my bitches always have free access to their litter - they're far better at rearing puppies than any human.
:)

Same here.  my pups (kept 2) will be 12 weeks old tomorrow and Emma is still giving them a little comfort suckle...same with last litter. But were started on fresh meat at just over 2.5weeks...mum needs all the nourishment from her own food

sneaks in on mini-hijacking mission :D

Kayc get thyself on the norty step for keeping two!  I'd have kept em all :P

It was very nearly 3 Teri But I know I could not have done them all justice.. I desperately wanted to keep the little black girl...she stole my heart...I held out for a fantastic home for her, (3 homes to choose from)  and when I did the home visit....The couple were waiting with baited breath....they are going to show her :D (preference to a fantastic pet home rather than mediocre show home) and when I agreed they could have her, Husband visibly let out his breath and wife had tears in her eyes...That makes it all worthwhile ;)

sorry, mini-hijacking over :)