PASSIONATE BREEDERS
ARE ALWAYS LEARNING.

Weaning Sporting Dogs

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WEANING THE FIELD BRED PUPPY

Russ L. Kelley, MS
Presented 2002

INTRODUCTION

The rearing of replacement puppies is a crucial part of any sporting dog breeding program. After carefully planned matings, the whelping process, the nurturing of the newborns, the weaning process can be very gratifying as the new pups acquire a personality and begin to eat on their own.

Fortunately for breeders, the weaning process is a naturally-occurring event. Regardless of whether puppies are reared by the bitch or hand raised, the process will be similar although there will be slight differences in the timing. The weaning process can begin anytime after three weeks of age when the puppies are able to stand and walk. However, the 3-week timeframe is usually implemented only on hand-raised puppies or litters where the bitch is experiencing problems with milk production.

A more practical time to begin the weaning process in bitch-reared litters would normally be around 4 weeks of age. By this time, the puppies will be more active and have higher caloric needs, thus a greater desire to utilize an alternative to their dam's milk. The process itself is not difficult, but there are a few management practices that will make it easier on the puppies, the bitch, and the breeder.

THE WEANING PROCESS

As mentioned earlier, the weaning process is natural and will occur with or without breeder intervention. Wild canid bitches stimulate the weaning behavior by regurgitating partially digested meals after returning from a successful hunt. However, most (but not all) domesticated bitches appear to have lost that instinct or simply do not perceive the need to provide this stimulation under modern management practices.

Breeders have long mimicked this behavior by offering a gruel to the puppies. This gruel can be prepared by mixing some of the bitch's formula (preferably a performance or growth formula) with warm water. Alternatively, there are specially designed formulas for the weaning process. One such formula, Eukanuba® Weaning Formula, is a nutritionally balanced, calorie-dense formula that has been pre-ground to allow easy mixing with warm water.

Initially, the gruel should be semi-liquid (65-70% water) so the puppies can lap the mixture. The percentage of solids can be increased as the puppies grow more accustomed to the routine. It is also helpful to begin to add a few whole kibbles to the gruel after a week or so. This will help the puppies become familiar with the food texture and by 6 to 7 weeks of age, most puppies will freely consume dry kibbles.

MANAGING THE WEANING PROCESS

There are no hard rules for managing the weaning process; some litters will be easy while some will be challenging. There are a few steps that will help in most cases. First, always remove the bitch from the whelping area an hour or so before offering the puppies the gruel mixture. This will help ensure that the puppies are hungry and will keep the bitch from eating the mixture. Secondly, don't get too concerned with the mess. The first few days, the puppies will walk in, lie in, play in, and actually might eat some of the gruel. They will get better with each passing day. The bitch will clean the puppies as she has done since their birth when she returns. The type of pan will also contribute to the extent of the "mess". A large muffin pan works well for most puppies. The muffin bowls will help contain the gruel, which will help the puppies when lapping. Lastly, use the puppies' actions as a progression guide. Don't be too eager to change the gruel mixture if all the puppies have not mastered the routine. The information in the below provides a good rule of thumb for weaning.

NUTRITION FOR THE DAM

The suggestions above will help with the puppies, but what about the bitch? It is critical that the bitch also be managed through the weaning process. We have already mentioned one key point earlier; remove the bitch for an hour or so prior to offering the puppies their gruel mixture. Most bitches will welcome a short break from the litter by week 4 of lactation.

Around the fifth week of lactation, the breeder will also need to begin decreasing the bitch's caloric intake to around 250% of maintenance with further decreases every week thereafter until the puppies are completely weaned. A good target would be 125% of maintenance for the bitch by week 8 post-whelping. This decrease will help reduce the milk production by the bitch, thus encouraging the puppies to seek an alternative nutrient source and making it easier to dry off (stop milk production) the bitch after weaning.

Once the breeder has decided to completely wean the litter, keep the bitch separated from the puppies for at least a 3-day period.

On a closing note, if for some reason the litter has to be weaned abruptly, it is a good idea to drastically reduce the bitch's intake for the first 24 hours and then slowly bring her back up to maintenance levels over 3 to 4 days. This will greatly reduce her milk production and hopefully avoid any complications with her mammary glands.

CONCLUSION

As the bitch spends less time with the puppies, breeders need to spend more time. This is a time for bonding and introducing puppies to the human world. Extra effort during the weaning process and in the weeks afterward will pay dividends as the pups mature into bold, easily trained hunting or field trial dogs.