My large breed puppies are going to be 2 weeks old tomorrow, ideally I wanted to wait until they are at least 2½ weeks old before I started to wean them.  However my female has just about had it with feeding them now and has to constantly be put in the whelping box to feed them - she has obviously got to the stage where she is sore and has had enough.  Do you think 2 weeks is too young to start whelping or should I keep persisting on the mother feeding them for a little while longer.
Amy

HI, have you clipped the puppies' claws as this can sometimes make the Mum sore and reluctant to feed them? If their nails have been clipped and Mum is still not keen on feeding them (would probably need some time for soreness to ease after cutting pups nails), then you could start to wean slowly.  Not that I am an expert though, but it is probably best to keep them feeding from Mum for a while longer if possible.  Someone with more experience should be along to help soon.

Good luck with your babies - what breed are they?

Fiona

Hi there!

My vet advised me to start weaning my litter at 2 weeks, as my bitch lost condition during her pregnancy.  I did this slowly, so that by 6 weeks they were completely weaned and Benny (my bitch) had dried up.  The puppies have suffered no ill effects and at 8 weeks the ones that I am keeping whilst people are on holiday are thriving :)