How to Wean Puppies to Dry Food

If you're new to pet care and aren't sure what weaning is, it's the process where puppies start to consume food other than their mother's milk or milk formula. There is no quick way to get your puppies to wean. Most wild puppies do this naturally as their mother's milk production decreases and they become more interested in solid foods their parents bring home. However, weaning your puppies will take a bit more effort.

Things You'll Need

  • Dry puppy food
  • Liquid puppy milk replacer
  • Blender
  • Hot water
  • Bowl
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Instructions

    • 1

      Know when to start the weaning process. Many experienced dog breeders start the weaning process when a puppy is three to four weeks old. In most kennels, weaning starts when puppies reach three and half weeks of age. Doctor Race Foster, of the Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education website, guarantees that dogs of any breed are capable of consuming food by themselves at three and half weeks old.

    • 2

      Prepare puppy mush. Stick with the brand of dry food that you fed the puppies' mother. Put two cups of dry puppy food in a blender. Pour 12.5 oz of puppy milk replacer into the blender. Pour in enough hot water to fill the blender. Blend the mixture until it resembles a soft mush.

    • 3

      Transfer the food to a bowl to feed the puppies. This preparation feeds six to eight puppies. Let them eat as much as they want. Their mother will finish what's left in the bowl afterward. Initially, feed your puppies this meal three to four times a day.

    • 4

      Increase the quantity of food every week, but decrease the amount of milk replacer and water and the blending time each week. This way, the puppies become accustomed to drier food each week. As they start consuming more solid food, they'll nurse less often. With this process, your puppies should be completely weaned to dry food in seven weeks.