Weaning a puppy means it is time for them to move on from their mama’s milk and care. This process should start no sooner than 3 to 4 weeks and can take a few weeks to fully complete the process. To make the process easier always keep the puppies clean dry and warm during and after feedings and keep your patience.

Have you ever weaned a small pup? About how long did it take?

Here are some more details about this whole process:

How Do I Wean a Litter of Puppies?Start by separating the mother from her litter for a few hours at a time. While separated, introduce the puppies to eating from a pan. This time apart will reduce the pups’ dependency on their mother’s milk and overall presence. The amount of food and the frequency and length of separation can gradually be increased. As the puppies become independent and self-confident, they can spend more and more time away from their mother until they are completely weaned.What Should I Feed Puppies During the Weaning Process?During the weaning process, it’s a good idea to feed puppies the same high-quality puppy food they’ll eat throughout their growth period right from the start. Be sure to moisten the food with warm water to create a soupy gruel that’s appealing to their sensitive palates.

For the first few feedings, pups may need encouragement to eat. For example, puppies may be allowed to lick gruel from a finger dipped into the pan. Most puppies will quickly learn to feed from the bowl. Always have fresh water available.

How Should I Care for the Mother During the Weaning Process?

To prevent the mother from overproducing milk, which can lead to painful, engorged mammary glands, it is important to observe a feeding and separation schedule both for her and the puppies. This should be discussed with your veterinarian to ensure that the puppies are receiving adequate nutrition, and that the mother’s food intake is being adjusted properly when she is no longer nursing her litter.

What if the Puppies Are Orphans?

If you stumble across a litter of orphaned puppies or you’re volunteering at a shelter, you can start the weaning process as early as three to four weeks of age. In conjunction with bottle-feeding, provide the wee ones with canine milk replacer in a shallow bowl. (If they hesitate to drink, dip your finger in the milk replacer and let them lick it, but never force their noses into the bowl.)

The puppies should soon be off the bottle and introduced to moistened dog food. If they enjoy their new gruel, you can complete the weaning process with regular dry or canned food as described above.