Cross Breeds

I have 5 boxer puppies that are 3 weeks old and still nursing. When should I start them on soft puppy food?

The puppies have been developing normally and are doing great...very active and vocal. Should I start them on soft puppy food soon? What is the normal timeline? Thanks for any info anyone may have!!

Public Comments

1. They shouldn't start on solids until 4-5 weeks, and should continue to nurse until 6-8 weeks as they transition to solid food.
2. You should really call your local veteranarian and ask. they will know when it is best and the best puppy food to give them. good luck
3. The mother will do it herself(she'll start to regurgitate food). Or you can do it yourself and be stuck picking up the poop sooner then you need to be. Also i don't mean to sound like an ass but if you don't know you shouldn't be breeding. Breeding for money puts more dogs in shelters (for more reasons then you think) and degrates the breed. If your going to breed then OFA certified hips and joints and a blood scan for both parents should be bare minimum. A rock solid boxer personality and conformation titles should be next on the list.
4. 6-8 weeks
5. 4-5 weeks it should take them about 1.5 weeks until they are on solid food :P yummy! (i dont eat dog food)
6. I usually wait til 4-4.5 weeks then start them on soaked puppy kibble. Do not seperate them from thier mother until at least 8 weks of age.
7. around 4 to 6 weeks. Around 4 weeks if the mother is ignoring them frequently you can put a bowl of dry puppy food that is softened (let it soak until it becomes soft~ about 15 to 10 minutes) As the puppies get bigger you can limit the amount of water you add to the food and eventually they will be able to eat it on their own. :) Have fun!
8. At around 4-5 weeks you can introduce soft food. With my puppies I just spread some food out on a baking sheet and let them rummage around. It took them a few minutes to figure it out and it was cute to watch. I'd suggest putting the food somewhere easy to clean. I also suggest timing it when you have enough time to give them all their first bath! They'll continue to nurse from their mother until she tells them she's had enough (those little needle teeth must hurt SO bad!)
9. I always start weaning at 4 weeks. At four weeks the pups have TEETH. Mom may start to snap if they bite down on the faucets too hard. Get a good milk replacer like Esblac and mix according to directions. Keep it chilled until you use it. Warm one cup at a time in microwave. Warm NOT hot. Mix with Gerber's Rice Cereal until it is a soupy consistency. (Option, use a tiny amount of raw hamberger and sprinkle across the the top...pups are drawn to the smell, but you need only do this for a couple of days.) You may have to start the pups by placing a little on your finger and rubbing on their mouth. Stay close, you will have to "direct traffic", as some will lag back and others may wind up standing in the middle of it. Use a low plate, like a pie pan. In about a week gradually add softened puppy chow instead of the Rice cereal, mash it up good. Increase the puppy chow mixture and decrease the milk over a three week period. They should be eating solid at eight weeks. Once you start this, pups MUST be fed at least four times a day; first thing in morning, noon, dinner time and just before you go to bed. They can make it overnight without feeding. Also, once weaning begins water MUST be available at all times (bowl on floor they can reach). Do NOT take Mom completely out of the picture, but once you start weaning, she should NOT have to feed them again and she should NOT have to sleep with them, because they will not leave her alone. I allow Mom to play with pups frequently all day and evening; but I usually wrap her tummy lightly to make it harder for the land sharks to find the faucets. Trust me, Mom is ready for all the help you can give her. This is the exciting time! You're going to have lots of fun now, more interaction between you and babies. Never let them go before eight to ten weeks, they still need Mom to instill good manners. Good luck.
10. At 4 weeks. You're on the right track by saying 'soft' puppy food. I use Canidae. You'll also need milk replacer for the transition. I also add Dr. Schulzes Intestinal Formula #2 or Sonne's #9. And don't think tap water is ok for moistening. Get some pure water. It's very messy when they first start, so be prepared. You can keep them on mom for another week or so, but you don't really need to. Best advice I can give you is deworm, deworm, deworm. Puppies are influenced by the mother dog between 2 & 4 weeks, then by the pack for a little longer. They can go to new homes at 7 weeks. If you wait until 10 or 12 weeks, you give the new owners almost no time to take their new puppy through a program of socialization.
11. 4-5 is the norm for starting on solid foods. Mix in some puppy formula with the food, more formula then actual food. Gradually put less and less formula and more and more food until they are accustomed. Don't go too fast though. Transition from liquid to solid should take about 10 to 14 days and even then soak the food in water so it isn't too hard on the puppies teeth.