Registered: Nov 2003
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 569

?

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Your dog isn't as bad as you think, and their dog isn't as good as they say.

Last edited by Cheri Rice on 11-13-2004 at 03:30 AM

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Lumpkin, Ga
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when it's time. I do know where you're coming from on this.

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Johnny Williams

Last edited by Bluedogman on 12-18-2003 at 11:59 AM

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2967

Pups can be weaned when they start eating food you give them on their own. We start our puppies on gruel at 3 and 1/2 weeks and feed them soft puppy chow at 4 weeks. Around 5 weeks, we tie the mother out, only letting them nurse for a few minutes a couple times a day, mainly to keep the mother from gettting mastitous. By 6 weeks old, we completely wean them so that by 7 weeks, they are ready for their new owners.

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Registered: Jun 2003
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I use the same method as Redtick

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: vt
Posts: 1256

cheri ive read that the companion dog people get them at 49 days. i really dont think its as critical as these studies show. some times i wean them when mama is sick of them... i go more by how much dog food theyre eating. if i desperately need female to hunt , i can speed this up a little by working harder at feeding them younger.. i got a feeling they havent used hounds in their studies... pete

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 4324

As soon as the pups (sometimes as early as 2 1/2 weeks of age) start wanting to Mama's food I start them on very well soaked (ground in blender) Purina ONE puppy food laced with CANNED milk to make it soupy. They then progress to Puppy Chow soaked, then Puppy Chow dry. I've found that there is a difference in mamas as to how soon they get tired of dealing with their pups. Seven weeks is supposed to be the magic number, but my pups are usually "off Mama" by 6 1/2 weeks. I start just letting them snack on their mother to avoid mastitis when the weaning process is underway. Each litter is different & requires some understanding & close observation to keep the family happy, healthy & stress-free.

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The 49 day thing is when pups should be separated, not when they should be weaned. That study comes from the Seeing Eye Dog people.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Fl.
Posts: 1280

Similar to what has already been said. At about 3 weeks of age I get some Purina Puppy Chow along with some cheap canned puppy food. Depending on how many pups I use either one or two shallow feed pans. I mix the puppy chow and canned food together with some water and I may or may not add milk replacer with it depending on the pups and how they are doing. If I feel they need some extra intake then I add some powerded milk replacer. I feed them this way once per day and you will soon see how much they eat and how much to mix. In just a few days I call them as I start towards the pen with the food and you will be surprised how good a tool this is in teaching them to come when called. I also take them away from the mother when I am feeding them. The second thing accomplished is I am right there to nip any agression in the bud. Also by doing this I can tell right away if any choose not to eat and any health issues that might be causing this can be addressed. As far as when they are seperated from the mom in my opinion depends on the MOM. They are all a little different but you can tell when she has had enough. But by starting at about 3 weeks of age feeding them they are also prepared to leave mom when the time comes.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 4321

I start putting dry food out for pups at 3-4 weeks of age. They don't eat much at that age, but they will muzzle around in it. I fresh dry food out every day and give whats been left out to their mother so it doesn't go to waste. I think its better to have dry food out all the time than a moistened mixture out for short periods. By 4-5 weeks, they will be eating a little. Pups that are getting enough from their mother won't eat much but by this age, bigger litters might take to eating good. Regardless, at 5 weeks, the mother is taken away and neither mother or pups seem to even notice. The pups dig right in to the dry food like they've been doing it forever. I've never had any milk fever or pups suffer a setback from doing this.

As a former hog farmer, we didn't soak food for pigs or give them any special care. We put dry feed before them long enough that they knew what it was and where it was. When momma disappearred, they started hitting the feed in a big way.

I think folks baby their pups more than necessary as far as feeding. Maybe its done more for the owner than the pups and if you have that kind of time and want to do that, then thats great. Pups are not like human babies that have to have the food placed in their mouth. Pups are tougher and have more desire to eat than we give them credit for. If healthy pups aren't smart enough to eat when they are hungry, then they probably aren't smart enough to make a coondog, either.

Last edited by John D on 12-18-2003 at 03:45 PM

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