3 week old puppies feeding

by William Simmons
(St Louis, Mo USA)

When is it normal for the mother dog to stop milking/ feeding the puppies?

We have 3 week old puppies that are teething and the mother dog isn't feeding them much , if any at all.

What should we feed the puppies so they don't go hungry?


Hi William
When the puppies are somewhere around 3 or 4 weeks old the momma naturally begins to wean them herself. She will nurse them for shorter periods only, and will often remain standing so that they can't get too comfortable!

In the wild, the momma wolves regurgitate some of their food to give to their puppies, as a sort of 'starter food', and some domestic dogs do this too.

As your dog has started to wean these pups, they need additional nutrition to stay healthy and strong. I would suggest you find a good quality, dry puppy food and start them on that.

I'd recommend soaking it in hot water for 10 - 15 minutes before giving it to them (obviously let it cool to room temperature before allowing them to touch it). This helps to soften the food and make it easier for them to chew and digest.

Also offer them water in a bowl to lap. They don't need any extra milk at this age. Their momma is giving them enough, and they've already received the maximum benefits from nursing.

Expect them to be pretty messy with their food and water at first. They often end up with more of it ON them, than actually IN them, but they quickly get the hang of it.

Best of luck!