Hi my puppies are now nearly three weeks old, and i am wondering when is the best time to start weaning, book of the bitch says 3/4 weeks, i have toy brees pups who are doing very well, growing and developing at pace! They have eyes open and srtarting to walk and play a littlw with one another and mum. They are still upstairs with me in the bedroom as mum is too protective around the other dogs but im hoping to move them down to the dining room in a puppy pen when i begin to wean, so mum can still access them and pups can see other dogs from a distance and vice versa. Is three weeks too early, and is soaking puppy food mixed with some whelpy suitable?

> is soaking puppy food mixed with some whelpy suitable?

That is what many of us who base their feeding on a good complete do.

It certainly be time in my breed, but your toys may be happy just on Mum for another week. 

Are they showing interest in her food?

i haven't tried them near her food, but when i have handled them they are licking my hand. I will maybe wait til 3 and a half weeks, i just want to make sure they are getting enough as mum is now leaving them for longer periods between feeds.

My toy breed bitches are always fed in the whelping box.  That way, I don't make the decision to wean - they do.

Mine are often licking mums dinner already at 3 weeks.  As mum is fed the same as pups anyway, I find that it is preferable for them to decide when they are ready.