my litter are now 5 weeks old and i started weaning them at 3 1/2 weeks the first morning meal they wolf down but the other 3 they eat hardly anything also the littlest one and 2 others just wont chew they nibble then spit it back out i have tried them 3 with very milky (evaporated milk) weetabix but are these to heavy for them if you get me or am i ok to give them this any advice would be great as they are due to go to there homes in 3 weeks and need to be fully weaned before then also BOTB says its best for pups to go to their new homes at 7 weeks as they adjust better what does evryone think about this

Have you tried them with anything else?  I use Royal Canin puppy food - initially is whizz it into almost powder and add water to make it fairly runny and make it thicker as they get used to it.  Also, as many other recommend on CD - try giving them some mince - must have previously been frozen though.  I also give mine Butchers canned puppy food with small wholemeal mixer which they also love.
Perhaps you could also keep mum away from them say for an hour before you intend to feed them, so they are ready for a meal.

I do the same.  A complete puppy food initially pureed with puppy milk and gradually reduced in fluid to dry by about 6 weeks.  By now they should be on a more balanced diet than wheatabix, what else are they getting?

i had them on royal canin starter and it was fantastic but started having problems with delivery and although i was ordering well before i ran out it wasnt getting here on time so now they are on eukanuba but i find it dosnt soften as much and isnt as mushy but i have to get something that is available from a pet shop or PAH so if i ever run out i can pop out and get some does anyone have any ideas on what is the best for them as i believe they should only have the very best i have been recomended PAH own brand but i find it to powdery if you get me and the bits are to big and dont soften
and mum isnt feeding them alot anymore maybe 3 times a day but they seem fine with this and because there are alot of them she is still making plenty of milk
other than this they are a joy the one were keeping is a right rascal and 2 of the boys wich are practicly identical are little bullys and if there is fighting you can gaurantee they are in the middle of it and the girls are so sweet and placid although they have thier moments and they will pull on,pounce on, attack anything that is still long enough and especially like my fucsia coloured pj bottoms to play tug with lol they now have tiny holes all round the bottoms ohh the joys eh all of you that have litters will know exactly what i mean lol

if you look under the feeding thread, on page 2, puppy porridge, it tells you how to make your own puppy porridge.

I used Eukanuba for one litter and did find it harder to mix but not too bad if you use a hand blender.  I tend to make it in good time which makes it softer but mine would have been having it "lumpy" by 5 weeks anyway.

I also used Eukanuba, I used to soak it well in advance, then mash with a potato masher.

thnks for tht will try blending it

i had them on royal canin starter and it was fantastic but started having problems with delivery and although i was ordering well before i ran out it wasnt getting here on time so now they are on eukanuba but i find it dosnt soften as much and isnt as mushy but i have to get something that is available from a pet shop or PAH so if i ever run out i can pop out and get some does anyone have any ideas on what is the best for them as i believe they should only have the very best i have been recomended PAH own brand but i find it to powdery if you get me and the bits are to big and dont soften


You started having problems with delivery in the last 2 weeks? Probably daft saying this now but It may have been wise with having the pups to buy a big bag. Chopping and changing the food in my opinion isn't the best method for their little tummies. Try and stick to one food from now on and let them settle on it. 

If you buy from www.Petplanet.co.uk  they do next day delivery and a lot of companies do.

I personally also would be keeping the pups past 7 weeks even if only 4 or 5 day. In my experience that last week is a great time to spend socialising them and starting their training.  This period is the hardest but often the most rewarding.     The new owner benefits I think from you as the breeder putting that extra bit of hard work in at this time. Just my thoughts though. It works for me.  I generally have min after 8 weeks anyway as can never decide what I am keeping.

Mine are on puppy porridge morn & night and JWB (softened with wated & puppy milk) in afternoon.  Did try with a few lumps but they spat them out!! will today restart 2 JWB meals but last week they wernt interested in 4 meals aday (they turned 4 weeks on sat)
My baby's staying with me till at least 8 weeks and maybe longer

Mine wouldn't touch puppy porridge, or weetabix and puppy milk, or softened or pureed puppy kibble, or even minced beef or chicken. They only wanted chunks of chicken! Eventually persuaded them to drink goats milk which they loved, and by mixing in the puppy kibble (unsoftened as they wouldn't touch softened!) and the chicken or beef we got them eating fairly well in the end. Haven't heard any complaints about eating habits from the new owners anyway! Re the age to let them go, I have a toy breed and most people sell them at 10 weeks, but I think the bigger breeds are more often 8 weeks.

I know it's a bit off topic, but why do toy breeds tend to stay with the breeder for longer?

Have you ever seen the (lack of) size and fragility of them?

> I know it's a bit off topic, but why do toy breeds tend to stay with the breeder for longer?

One of my toy breeds often has to stay longer than that.  If they don't weigh 2lbs at 8 weeks (and they often don't), then they stay until I'm happy for them to go.  New owners are often impatient, and I have had them get narky - but I do make it quite clear when they ask to reserve a pup. 

Have you ever seen the (lack of) size and fragility of them?

No I haven't, I can't imagine how small they must be!:-)

>I can't imagine how small they must be!

My friend's 9 week old toy poodle puppies were smaller than my newborn dalmatians!

One of my toy breeds often has to stay longer than that.  If they don't weigh 2lbs at 8 weeks (and they often don't), then they stay until I'm happy for them to go.  New owners are often impatient, and I have had them get narky - but I do make it quite clear when they ask to reserve a pup.

Just wondering which toy breed you wait until they are 2lbs?

Hi there, I had the exact same problem with our litter - I used to wonder how people got their pups to eat 4 meals a day!  But following advice on this forum I fed them slightly less at each meal and added extras on top of the mushed down puppy food eg tuna in spring water, cheese, scrambled egg etc.  That soon sorted them out!  I hope this helps!