Instructions
Check the puppies when they are born to make sure the mother has removed the birth sac so the puppies can breathe. Make sure each puppy is nursing regularly and is gaining weight daily.
Prepare food for the puppies when they are three and a half weeks old. Blend a high quality puppy food with water in a blender, put it in a shallow pan and monitor the puppies while they eat the food. Feed the puppies three to four meals a day, gradually increasing the amount of food for the next three to four weeks. Change the mother's food back from the puppy formula so that her milk production goes down so the puppies are weaned.
Socialize your puppies from an early age. Puppies between three and 12 weeks old are more open to new experiences. Introduce your puppies to all possible things they will encounter in their lives such as children, other animals, loud noises and vehicles.
Play with your puppies, which helps to develop their minds, according to veterinarians. Playtime presents the puppies with new scenarios for which they need to find solutions.
Take the puppies to the veterinarian between six and seven weeks of age for a check up and for their first vaccination.
How to Care for Shichon Puppies
The Shichon, recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club as the Zuchon, is a cross between a Bichon Frise and a Shih-Tzu. The cross results in an independent, alert, intelligent, affectionate and lively dog. For the first few weeks of their lives, the mother does most of the work in caring for Shichon puppies. After that, caring for them is the same as caring for any puppies -- you need to feed them, exercise them, provide veterinary care, love them and socialize them.