hi i need advice first time for me and my bitch but learning fast lol.im reading and researching but have found your advice great so here goes.
all 7 pups are doing great we have a runt but gaining weight well and have no concerns,ive noticed the pups are now toiletting on there own they do a drunken walk to the newpaper which i think is great and sweet mum is still feeding them and still cleans well although does not spend a lot of time with them now,going by the book pups should start toiletting them selves when weaning starts (the book says 3 1/2 weeks ) are they advanced when do u advise weaning silly question but i have to asked

i carnt remember if you have a small breed? ive had med and have a large breed now and with both ive started weaning around day 17 to help mum alittle, i soak the puppy kibble with cooled boiled water and then add puppy milk or goats milk to it as kibble dont soak very well in milk alone, i old each pup to the food and drop a tiny bit fom a spoon into their mouths so they can just taste it i do this for the 1st day then 2nd day i pup each pup to the dish of food i use a frisby its great for them to get to the food when their so small,i watch them to see how much they eat and omg they love to roll init LOL but mum loves the cleaning up after ;) and will eat whats left i do give pups plenty of time to eat before mum comes in to finnish it all and clean them ,if you find some dont eat to start with dont worry they will, make sure mum hasnt just feed them before you try or they will be full and not want any food ,good luck i love this part with pups ,the mess they get in to is so funny!:) xx

In all my years with breeding, I have never decided to wean.

I allow nature to take its course.  Pups (approx) start to lick mums food around 3 weeks.  No two litters are the same though.

Mum is allowed to feed whenever she wants, and has free access to the pups.  She is always fed in the whelping box.

So I guess I let them decide when weaning starts.  As soon as they start eating mums dinner, I just up the quantities, as mum is on puppy food too. 

LOL jean i had a pup at 15 days old licking mums food :) only a very small litter too :-) xx

Puppies wouldn't get a chance to lick mum's food with my girl, she virtually inhales it!

With Lucy here -never had a bitch eat her food in less than 5 seconds flat, pups would not stand a chance!

I'm glad you said that Marianne, my girl was a superb mum both times round except for any hope of having her in the room while puppies were eating, in fact she is the same now and the puppy is 6 months old, she will also steal my other dog's food if not in a separate room, greedy little monster.