How Old Does a Dog Have to Be Before Giving Them Puppy Food?

Puppies can be introduced to puppy food between 4 and 5 weeks of age. Weaning puppies from their mother is a process that takes three to four weeks. Puppies should be weaned gradually to allow their digestive systems to develop and make it easier for the mother dog, who will continue to produce milk as long as her puppies are nursing.

  1. Beginning to Wean

    • Puppies rely on their mother as the only source of nutrition for about the first month of their lives. Mother dogs spend nearly all their time with the litter during that period, with breaks only for meals and to go outside. When you are ready to start weaning your litter, begin to extend the periods of separation between the mother dog and puppies. Give her a few hours a day out of the whelping box, but keep her with the litter overnight.

    Early Feeding

    • At about 3 weeks of age, introduce the puppies to a dish of puppy formula. Use a formula mix made for puppies or puppy milk replacer rather than cow's milk, which can give puppies diarrhea. Teach the puppies to drink from the dish by dipping your finger in the formula and allowing each puppy to lick it. Next, mix some baby cereal flakes with the formula. Warm the mix to room temperature. Gradually thicken the mix over several feedings until the puppies are eating this several times a day. Continue to allow them to nurse from their mother during this time. They will nurse less so she will produce less milk, allowing her body to adjust.

    Add Puppy Food

    • Puppies should be weaned between 6 and 7 weeks of age.

      Around 5 weeks of age, replace the baby cereal with a high-quality puppy kibble. Start slowly, using just a bit of kibble. Warm the formula and allow the kibble to soak until it's mush before you offer it to the puppies. Choose a puppy kibble that you plan to continue feeding the puppies once they are weaned. Offer this mix to the litter three to four times a day. Be prepared to clean them up with a warm washcloth after feedings. Keep them warm and dry and out of drafts. In between feedings, allow them to continue to nurse, but extend the amount of time you allow the mother dog out of the pen. By this time, your puppies' teeth will be growing and she will be happy to turn their care over to you.

    Puppy Food

    • By 6 weeks of age, your puppies will be eating four meals a day of either dry puppy kibble mixed with warm water or canned puppy food. If you feed dry puppy kibble, offer a dish with a small amount of dry kibble in their pen between regular feedings. They will scatter it around, but they will quickly learn to chew and crunch the kibble. At 6 weeks of age, their nursing time should be limited to a few brief times during the day and overnight to allow their mother's milk to safely dry up. By 7 weeks old, the puppies should be spending nights without their mother.