tesslc Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Hi all As some of you know we have an SBT litter - two puppies who are five weeks and three days old. We are in the process of weaning them - they are eating three meals a day but still want mum whenever she is inside and still enough for them to have a drink. I figure this is natural but the girl is going to her new home next week after she has her first needle (before anyone comments about it being good early it's my brother and our breeder thinks it will be fine). So I'm worried about how much they are actually reliant on mums milk as opposed to solids. I don't see how I can keep them completely separate from mum for the next week. Any ideas?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 IME with shelter litters, as long as they are eating 3 meals a day of good quality solid food she should be ok. I would start feeding the pups their meals separately if you aren't already so you know that each of them is actually eating a sufficient amount of solid food and she isn't missing out to her brother and just being topped up by mum. She will probably be upset to be away from mum at first whether she's fully weaned or not so I'd suggest sending bedding that smells like mum with her, and warning your brother to be prepared for some crying :) But 6 week old + pups don't need milk anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Hi all As some of you know we have an SBT litter - two puppies who are five weeks and three days old. We are in the process of weaning them - they are eating three meals a day but still want mum whenever she is inside and still enough for them to have a drink. I figure this is natural but the girl is going to her new home next week after she has her first needle (before anyone comments about it being good early it's my brother and our breeder thinks it will be fine). So I'm worried about how much they are actually reliant on mums milk as opposed to solids. I don't see how I can keep them completely separate from mum for the next week. Any ideas?? Sometimes Momma will let them know she is not interested in being their milk supply. If she agrees, try keeping them apart. They should be looking at life outside the whelping box more & more. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Oh also, I wouldn't have her back for play dates with mum until mum's milk is well and truly dried up. If it isn't she'll still want to suckle and if mum lets her the milk will never dry up, and then she risks mastitis without full time pups to keep thing moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tesslc Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Thanks Simply Grand. I've been sitting with them while they eat so I'm confident she's getting a decent amount of food. Hopefully she'll be fine. I haven't been giving them puppy milk - should I start?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tesslc Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 They aren't in the whelping box anymore (they're in a room to themselves) but spend most of the time out with us when we're home (and our two dogs who predominantly live inside) I've been leaving mum outside as much as possible and she's not in the room at night or when we're at work but they chase her around when she's in the house with them and have a drink every time they get the chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Nope, they don't need puppy milk, water + good food is fine and you can even introduce bones, only with supervision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Hi all As some of you know we have an SBT litter - two puppies who are five weeks and three days old. We are in the process of weaning them - they are eating three meals a day but still want mum whenever she is inside and still enough for them to have a drink. I figure this is natural but the girl is going to her new home next week after she has her first needle (before anyone comments about it being good early it's my brother and our breeder thinks it will be fine). So I'm worried about how much they are actually reliant on mums milk as opposed to solids. I don't see how I can keep them completely separate from mum for the next week. Any ideas?? I suggest you do some research before you do this. Pups learn important socialisation lessons and bite inhibition by playing with litter mates. There is a reason it is law in a few states and in every Canine bodies Code of Ethics that pups must be 8 weeks old before they go to there new homes. If you are in QLD it is the law that if you give away or sell a pup it must be mircochipped too. Mum will start to tell them no when she does not want them to feed. You can also use a shirt or similar put on mum and stop pups getting to her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 I do have to agree with rallyvalley, they don't start the actual hard mouthing until 6-7 weeks and mum and siblings are best equipped to teach what's ok and what isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clover Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Sending a baby, especially a baby bull breed away before 8 weeks is just stupid . Please reconsider keeping her at least a couple more weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Harsh Clover. Tesslc is on a steep learning curve with this litter (there is a history you may or may not be aware of). She is trying hard to do things right and saying something she's doing is stupid doesn't help anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clover Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 How many pages upon pages of advice had already been given by experienced breeders? Surely that part had been covered or atleast looked into by the owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 I can't believe an ethical breeder would say it's ok to rehome a pup at 6 weeks. The vaccination won't have even had time to take effect let alone anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottalovealab Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Harsh Clover. Tesslc is on a steep learning curve with this litter (there is a history you may or may not be aware of). She is trying hard to do things right and saying something she's doing is stupid doesn't help anyone. Regardless of the history, I would still adivse to keep her for a couple of weeks longer. Unless there is a really good reason to be taking them away, it shouldn't be done period. Steep learning curve is right, but now that you have them you need to do it right, which is keeping them until 8 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Hmm not the right word "breeder" in this case to give such silly advice that if there registered goes against the COE they must abide by themselves & not sell any pup under 8 weeks .Poor pups & poor new owners irrespective of the breed . No history is an excuse for getting rid of pups at 6 weeks except for the convenience of the people with pups & yep im happy to be flamed . Yes microchipping must be done . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Maybe those experienced breeders could give some explanation about the reasoning behind keeping pups with mum until 8 weeks, that might be more helpful than just saying letting them go before then is the wrong thing to do, and would allow less experienced people to learn something, not just be told they are wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clover Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Also wasnt the owner of the dog and bitch going to desex the pups before rehoming them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Tess- where does teh time go! Wow! Did you vet explain about vaccinating while pups are still feeding/immunity levels etc ? And that vacc's take some time to work - or that so much education takes place in this vital 5-8 week period - education by Mum & littermates which go a long way in setting doggy manners, reactions to other dogs , and social behaviours. I am glad though that you have worked so hard to get them to this stage :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Mm mm definitely remember you saying the pups were going to be neutered before leaving home. Six weeks is too young to leave for a thousand reasons but especially when there's only two pups - the one left behind will have just about all the disadvantages of the one you're turfing out. Pups need to learn from mum AND their litter mates. No registered breeder worth the name would condone this so I do seriously wonder about the ethics of your advisor. Please reconsider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdie Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) . Edited June 24, 2014 by Purdie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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