my pups are 2 weeks old and crying alot they seem to be needing fed ever 1 to 1 1/2 hours. they are a large breed of dog (mastiff) i feel as though they are humgry all the time, mum has got milk but the pups seem to only go to the back 4 teats, i was just wondering whens the best time to wean them? and whats the best food to wean them on? i feed all my other dog's on beta mixed with minced meat. Thanks Wendy

There's nothing to prevent you giving them some semi-solids now Wendy.  What you choose to feed them on is strictly personal.  I used soaked puppy food of the brand I intended to fully wean them on to - I soaked it thoroughly, pureed it in a blender and added some Carnation milk to make it even more runny.  I then gradually offered a thicker and more textured feed until by around 5.5 weeks they were eating it dry.  Some people like to feed scraped meat at the beginning - they just need about the tip of a teaspoon each to fill them at first :) 

Don't expect them to eat anything you offer them if they've just fed off mum - wait until they've had a sleep, take her out of the whelping box and then offer them your diet of choice.   HTH, Teri :) 

Pedigree do a puppy porridge and although I have not used it not having had any puppies my friend used it for her weaning her last litter and thought it was great.

Pedigree puppy porridge is quite difficult to get hold of, but like Teri said, use a good brand of complete puppy food soak it, blend it add carnation or welpi, I always start my pups on this at 2 weeks old, by the time their teeth are through completely they are happy on their solids rather than poor mum.

If you are registered with Pedigree, puppy porridge can be collected from your local pick up point.

My closest pick up point was 30 miles away, so not so good.  But it isn't very cheap, £12 a tub and to be honest we were told all it was was Pedigree puppy complete blended to a powder then welpi added, so you had might as well make it yourself.