Quickly gaining strength and coordination, the puppy begins to respond to his environment. He can bark, stand, walk, run, even pounce. His mother teaches him to eliminate away from his sleeping area.
He learns to play by wrestling with his littermates. When he's nipped too hard or is batted back by a defensive sibling, he learns the difference between hard and soft biting. At this point, puppies are forever testing their limits and take turns sleeping at the top and bottom of the sibling pile. Hunting and chasing instincts kick in, so this is a good time to introduce your pup to toys.
The mother dog referees when playtime gets too rough. She may nudge or restrain an errant pup, or she may growl at him, teaching the puppy discipline and acclimating him to the process of training. If they're not properly socialized, orphaned dogs raised without a mother and littermates may have a hard time relating to their human leaders, and to other dogs, as well.
Toward the end of this period, it's time for the caretaker's family to become more involved with the young dog. This familiarizes him with the everyday smells and sounds of a modern household, including appliances, children and assorted adults. Since he's cutting his first teeth, his mother begins to wean him. She might chew her food and then regurgitate it for her puppies to eat.
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WEANING:
About 3 weeks after birth, mom begins evading puppies and discouraging nursing. The puppies naturally begin to show a decline in the length of time they nurse. More of their time is spent exploring their new world.
It is time to start offering food for the puppies to sample. Increased gentle human handling can improve the puppy's physical and social development, and make them more accepting of people.
At 21 days, begin offering food (canned, semi-moist or even dry puppy food moistened with water) to the puppies. Some people use cookie sheets and let the puppies learn. It will be a big mess at first.
Offer the food several times a day, for 30 minutes at a time. When they seem no longer interested, take away food and clean them up. Mom should be outside, taking a break, while they try to learn to eat on their own.
Weaning should progress slowly to reduce incidence of anxiety ad mammary gland inflammation in the mother.
Several times a day, remove the babies for 1 to 2 hours at a time. Food should only be offered for short period of times but keeping puppies separate from mom can encourage natural weaning.
By the time of 8 weeks of age, puppies should be eating solid food and no longer nursing.
March 9, 2009 (21 days old)
Nursing / Food Schedule:
Midnight
2am - Found Rottie OUTSIDE the pool! - he finally succeeded at climbing out) (2 hours)
6am -Found ALL puppies except 4 small ones, outside the pool nursing on Maggie!) (4 hours)
After nursing they were still screaming, so I fed them canned Puppy Food
1 small can Puppy Food (Science Diet Savory Chicken)
10am - Still Sleeping! (I'm thinking Food is the answer to having them sleep through the
night!!!)
11am - Nursed (they made it 5 hours!)
3pm - Nursed (4 hours)
6pm - Nursed (3 hours)
930pm - Nursed & Fed 1 can puppy food (3.5 hours)
*GOAL = Feed at 11pm and they sleep until 6am
(1) DEWORMED (New Schedule: Weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
Although deworming should start at 14 days old, I held off until 21 days old since they were so low in weight (mom gave birth being underweight herself).
-Parasites can be acquired at birth. Many puppies are born with intestinal parasites (usually roundworms) that have been passed from the mother, where the parasite was in an encysted, quiet state.
Today dewormed all puppies & Mom. 1cc (or 1ml) per 10 pounds of pup / Mom's weight:3# 0.3oz - Black M, Red Ribbon (.3cc)
3# 0.0oz - Black F, White Ribbon (.3cc)
2# 15.0oz - Black M, Green Ribbon (.3cc)
2# 13.7oz - Rottie M (.3cc)
2# 10.8oz - Black M, Yellow Ribbon (.3cc)
2# 10.2oz - Black M, Blue Ribbon (.3cc)
2# 7.0oz - Black F, Pink Ribbon (.25cc)
2# 4.3oz - YM (.2cc)
2# 1.7oz - YF (.2cc)
57# Mom (6cc)
(2) CLIPPED NAILS
(3) CHECKED RIBBONS AROUND NECK (to make sure not too tight)
(4) ADDED TOYS TO THEIR AREA
The pups interacted with their dogs, especially Einstein (Black M, Red Ribbon).
(5) 1st FEEDING - WEANING BEGINS!
Science Diet Savory Chicken Canned Puppy Food (small can)
I put puppy food onto a tray, inside the pool. The puppies had a field day! There was zero hesitation. They ate right away. I found that they immediately slept longer and didn't require nursing from Mom as soon as they had been. I guess the food has filled those little tummies. TIP: Offer food 3 times a day, 30 minutes at a time.
First Meal!
(6) REPLACEMENT MILK - Finally all the puppies can lap the milk from a saucer. TIP - Boil water in a 2 cup measuring cup in the microwave. Place milk into plastic bottle (1 or 2 tablespoons). Place bottle into measuring cup that has hot water to get it to warmer than room temperature. Pour into saucer. Let puppies lap it up. TIP - the Powdered Replacement Milk is much less expensive than the prepared formula in cans. I only use Replacement Milk when the puppies are screaming at the top of their lungs for Mom and she refuses to nurse them.
(7) HABITAT CHANGE - Since the majority climbed out of the pool last night, I have removed the pool, and set up the Exercise Pen. I put Mom's dog bed inside the ex pen area, and the puppies have claimed it! They LOVE sleeping on it.
March 11, 2009 (23 days old)
Nursing / Feeding Schedule:
I am feeding 5.8 ounce can of Puppy Food in the am and the pm. (Science Diet Savory Chicken for Puppies). I place the food on a dinner plate, mix in a little bit of water, then spread it on the edges of the plate. The puppies love it. I then let Mom into the ex-pen and let her clean up!
I am providing a can of Replacement Milk once a day. I pour it onto a dinner plate and let them lick up! Again, I let Mom in at the end to clean up the puppies and the mess!
Mom is still eating 9 cups dry and 3 cans adult dog food a day. Still has discharge.
During the day, the pups want Mom about every 2 to 4 hours. When they cry, I put Mom into the ex pen with the pups. At night (10pm - 6am) Mom is in the ex-pen with the pups, and doesn't have access to get out. We are finally sleeping all the way through the night!!! No more 2am, 4am wake up calls from the pups and begging Mom to get in the pool with them. Mom doesn't have a choice but to nurse them! Wish I had figured this out sooner!!!
6am: Let Mom out of the ex-pen. She eats her breakfast and takes a potty break. At the same time, I put down a plate of food for the pups in the ex-pen. Then I let Mom back into the ex-pen to 'clean up' and begin nursing the pups. While she nurses, I clean out the linens in the ex-pen.
830am: I go into the ex-pen and sit. Mom is on the outside of the pen. The puppies swarm me and I spend quality one-on-one time with them, making sure to pick up, pet and love on each one. Back to sleep they go.
March 13, 2009 (25 days old)
Diet: Puppies are getting 3 - 4 cans of puppy food a day. Mom still eating 9 cups dry, 3 cups wet. Puppies still nursing from Mom. I haven't provided 'water in bowl' to puppies just yet. I am still trying to find a puppy pan that they can't swim in or spill!
Medical: All their teeth showed up this week! Mom is standing or sitting up to nurse.
Behavior: Lots of puppy 'fighting'. Also a few 'fear' responses when they are startled (I am surprised - I thought they were in the 'fearless' state). I have set up my Ipod speakers in the Puppy Room and I am playing classical music nonstop. That's my contribution to helping them excel neurologically since I didn't do the Neuro Super Stimulation excercises from Day 1 to 17. Oops.
Laundry: Using 3 quarts of bleach & a bottle of laundry detergent a week! Waiting for the exercise pen flooring to arrive today. I am hoping that cuts down on the number of loads I am doing every day!
