Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Advice on puppies needed.

Here we are, they're gonna be three weeks old on Thursday.




So far momma has been taking care of everything and keeping the bed remarkably clean.

Pretty soon though they are gonna be peeing and crapping on their own. I ain't anxious to put 'em outside in the back yard on account of first shots don't come until six weeks and there's a lot of strays around here.

Fortunately I got linoleum tile floors everywhere, I'm just gonna remove the furniture, put down pee pads and newspaper, and give 'em that small room. That bed is a kiddie wading pool covered with a cheap old sleeping bag, I'm gonna cut an opening in the side so they can get in and out. This is a temporary thing, another month and they should all be adopted out.

Question:

When and how should I begin offering them food and water?

Chewy.com?

Once they start chewing everything in site get something to chew or they’ll find something on their own. They should be about ready to start on the food and water now...

No need to rush things unless your lactating has stopped.

Mike, what kind of mix are they?

I think I know someone looking for a cow dog type puppy.....

Get a BIG bag of rawhides! You are about to have a house full of little land sharks.

Yup!

Lay down a plastic tarp underneath the pee pads and newspaper.

At 3 weeks, I'd start soaking food with milk replacer now. Calf milk from the feed store works well. Still let her keep and feed them, but they will be lapping milk and eating softened feed pretty quick. I always felt it takes some of the stress off Momma. let her clean up what they don't eat.

Have had two litters of pups over the years, best I can recall began feeding food softened with powdered milk at around four weeks.

Tks, how do I give it to them?

free choice in a bowl. puppy chow in milk. just like your cornflakes.

adjust amount fed according to consumption

If you don't have one, get a wide bottomed dog food bowl that they can not tip over. usually stainless steel. I would be keeping water in front of them now also.

Maybe small, timid cows.

Father is a 25lb wire-haired congenial companion dog, kills rodents, chases cats, chases the FedEX truck. The mom is a 15lb porch yapper with an underbite....



If anyone could make cowdogs out of 'em you would be the guy.

Parvo in the summer is a very real threat to young pups and I have always considered it airborne.

Do not feed rawhide bones. If they swallow pieces or such, it can swell up and compact on the bowels,They can kill dog s. Ask any vet
I would not let them run free in the house.Crate train them and it will be easier to house breaking when the time comes.Every time they eat or drink,immediately take them outside.They will almost house break themselves,