Suggestions, please, on how I dry Loki's milk up! Her pups are 6 weeks old on Tuesday, they are feeding very well (very well!!) and I'm keeping Loki away from them for longer and longer periods of time - but she wants to be in with them.

She is still producing milk, and obviously wants to be relieved of it, but I know that that if I do allow her to feed them, then she is just stimulated to produce more - what do YOU do?

Margot

Over the years I have always let my bitches decide how long to feed their puppies - one usually stops at 5 weeks, then starts again at 6 weeks when the pups have grown that bit bigger and don't drag on her so much with their teeth (OUCH!!!!). (After about 4 weeks she insists on standing up to feed them). Then at 7 weeks she stops completely, and everyone seems happy.

I've had bitches still giving one feed at day at 8 weeks, once the pups start going to their new homes this will stop, are you making sure the pups have enough food and water for themselves, or are they always hungry, do they need wormed again, I'm sure you have done all this. Good luck with the next few weeks, its lovely to have pups, especially when they are getting into everything!!!!

Yesthey've been wormed (twice now), and they are getting enough food - they now have it dry, if you please!!! They are also drinking well, and they all enjoy their spoonful of live yoghurt at breakfast time.

We've just put them all in a crate whilst the floor in the porch has had a good scrub (I've just down the sitting room floor as well and 7 pups, 3 kittens & 5 cats underfoot in the kitchen as well as 1 elderly lab and Loki are just TOO much). They are all moaning like mad about it - and the kittens are teasing them by patting their paws inside - madhouse or what!!

sounds daft but ive sen it done-put an old tshirt on loki!! tied below

Hi, as long as Loki is not losing too much condition I wouldn't worry. What I do is take mum away from pups for a walk/groom/time out for an hour or so, feed the puppies, then let her in to feed them as soon as they have finished. If they only feed from her - except overnight - when they are full of grub they will probably take less from her. I also keep the mum away from the pups for an hour or so after she has eaten so she doesn't bring it back up for them and deplete herself further - so basically I feed mum and pups at the same time but seperately, and keep her away from them for a while. You could try having her sleep overnight seperately to discourage milk supply, but she will stay fullish for a few days, and you will get an early dawn chorus if you dont already. You can also take her away from them when they have suckled for a little while but not until she is empty. It depends how much stress it causes her, if she really wants to be with them, I'd let her!! Be thankful you have such a good mum!! If she is still suckling them well as they are ready to go to new homes , stagger their departures if poss, over a week or so, rather than them all go on the same day.

I agree mostly with WestieLover - let Loki stay with the pups as much as she wants to except when you are feeding them. She will wean them eventually and she will also teach them, whilst weaning them what she means by "NO". The pups learn a lot from their mum as she weans them and I hate to hear of people taking bitches away from their pups before the dam is ready - they are her children after all :-)

Christine

I agree, have never stopped Mum being with pups, except at their meal times. Otherwise she has free access to them, but always an escape route, so it is her choice. When the pups go to their new homes one by one the milk will gradually dry up. Have never had any trouble with them getting their figures back, no matter how long they chose to still comfort nurse their remaining pup.

Just realised I contrdicted myself!! I feed the pups, let them suckle then take the mum away, feed her and keep her away from them for a while. :-)

Thanks for your input - I think we'll put the stairgate on the porch - she can then hop in and out as she wants - I don't think they'll manage that yet!!!