Weaning puppies

[Hsaiotei]

I've got a litter of pups who will be 6 weeks old on Monday. I just got the mom in early November, was told she was just "a little out of condition" but nope, took her to the vet because I was suspicious and yes, pregnant. Yay.

Anyway, the pups are (of course) absolutely adorable, but mom seems to be losing interest in them and has even gotten a bit snappy when they try to nurse over the last few days. They are drinking plain water and eating puppy food (I got worried she wasn't feeding them enough, and they sure were enthusiastic about the food).

Mom is confined to a separate room with them because she was being a little aggressive with the other dogs and cats, but I really feel like she is about done. Is six weeks too early to wean?

[LAD85]

mom is teachng them. they should be starting to eat mashed up solid food now. they should stay with their mom and litter mates until at the vert least 8 weeks old, 10 is better

[Kapoohski]

It's not too early to wean them. As LAD85 said she is teaching them to be more independent. You can't blame her for getting a bit snappy. I wouldn't want 6 kids pawing at me all the time either!

[brandypup]

I agree let her teach the puppies on how to be dogs.
Breeding, Whelping, and Rearing Puppies

What are you going to do with them? You need to start potty training them, socialising them, and finding applicants for them. Make sure to have a spay contract.

[brandypup]

By the time a puppy is 12 weeks old, it should have :

(If your puppy is over 12 weeks start right away with this socialization guide.)

* Experienced 12 different surfaces: wood, woodchips, carpet, tile,
cement, linoleum, grass, wet grass, dirt, mud, puddles, deep pea
gravel, grates, uneven surfaces, on a table, on a chair, etc......

* Played with 12 different objects: fuzzy toys, big & small balls,
hard toys, funny sounding toys, wooden items, paper or cardboard
items, milk jugs, metal items, car keys, etc.......

* Experienced 12 different locations: front yard (daily), other
people's homes, school yard, lake, pond, river, boat, basement,
elevator, car, moving car, garage, laundry room, kennel, veterinarian
hospital (stop by sometimes just to say hi & visit, lots of cookies,
no vaccinations), grooming salon (just to say hi), etc....

* Met and played with 12 new people (outside of family): include
children, adults (mostly men), elderly adults, people in wheelchairs,
walkers, people with canes, crutches, hats, sunglasses, etc�.

* Exposed to 12 different noises (ALWAYS keep positive and watch
puppy's comfort level � we don't want the puppy scared): garage door
opening, doorbell, children playing, babies screaming, big trucks,
Harley motorcycles, skateboards, washing machine, shopping carts
rolling, power boat, clapping, loud singing, pan dropping, horses
neighing, vacuums, lawnmowers, birthday party, etc�

* Exposed to 12 fast moving objects (don't allow to chase):
skateboards, roller-skates, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, people
running, cats running, scooters, vacuums, children running, children
playing soccer, squirrels, cats, horses running, cows running, etc�

* Experienced 12 different challenges: climb on, in, off and around a
box, go through a cardboard tunnel, climb up and down steps, climb
over obstacles, play hide & seek, go in and out a doorway with a step
up or down, exposed to an electric sliding door, umbrella, balloons,
walk on a wobbly table (plank of wood with a small rock underneath),
jump over a broom, climb over a log, bathtub (and bath) etc....

* Handled by owner (& family) 12 times a week: hold under arm (like a
football), hold to chest, hold on floor near owner, hold in-between
owner's legs, hold head, look in ears, mouth, in-between toes, hold
and take temperature (ask veterinarian), hold like a baby, trim toe
nails, hold in lap, etc�

* Eaten from 12 different shaped containers: wobbly bowl, metal,
cardboard box, paper, coffee cup, china, pie plate, plastic, frying
pan, Kong, Treatball, Bustercube, spoon fed, paper bag, etc......

* Eaten in 12 different locations: back yard, front yard, crate,
kitchen, basement, laundry room, bathroom, friend's house, car, school
yard, bathtub, up high (on work bench), under umbrella, etc....

* Played with 12 different puppies (or safe adult dogs) as much as
possible. [This does NOT mean at the dog park.]

* Left alone safely, away from family & other animals (5-45 minutes)
12 times a week.

* Experienced a leash and collar 12 different times in 12 different locations

responsible breeder will have this done before going to a new home.
Early Neurological Stimulation for Newborn Puppies - Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia -

http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/achiever.html


Video Clips

Puppy Training

Early Neurological Stimulation for Newborn Puppies - Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia -