It is hard to believe that our puppies are already four weeks old. They have made so much progress in such a short time.
A lot has happened this past week! The puppies’ milk teeth have erupted, their hind leg have become stronger, and their awake time has increased. Although the puppies still sleep much of the day, they love socializing with their littermates through play while awake.
Moving To The Main Floor
On Wednesday, the puppies moved to the main floor. Now that they can hear, they are ready to experience the sounds of a busy household. We packed the puppies in a basket, carried them down, and returned them to their familiar whelping box. Notice that I started them in their potty box. They hesitated to go into the sleep/play area until I put their beds in, and Willow went in, too.
Potty Training
Because puppies instinctively move away from their sleeping area when they need to go, I want them to begin learning “where to go” before they start on solids.
Puppies must start learning that they cannot “go” anywhere. We teach them “there is an acceptable place to go potty”.
This week, we added an addition to the whelping box. Last year, we invested in a new whelping box system from Pet Tech. I love this system. It is made of food-grade plastic and is easy to clean and disinfect. The puppies are contained and safe as they move back and forth between the two areas.
It is always easier for the puppies to succeed when the area is small, but the puppies are doing well with the bigger area too. Some puppies are better than others, but all are progressing. Keep up the good work, puppies!
Starting Solids
Willow is a strict mama. As soon as her puppies turn three weeks old, she starts weaning them. On Saturday night, I found the evidence: She had regurgitated her food for her puppies to eat. This continued daily, so we started the puppies on solids on Wednesday. We make a mixture of watery puppy mush containing puppy formula, ground puppy food, and boiled water. We gradually thicken the mush until the puppies eat soft kibble; they will eat hard kibble by seven weeks old.
Milk Teeth
Friday, we noticed the puppies’ teeth are starting to come in
It isn’t easy getting the puppies to show off their new teeth.
Willow’s puppies Day 27
Exploring outside the whelping box.
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FIVE
- Mama will now add the invaluable teaching phase to her caring & protecting responsibilities over the following weeks.
- Puppies will continue learning to use the potty area.
- Awake time will increase.
- The puppies will continue to socialize with each other through play.
- Balance will continue to improve, and puppies will begin to run.
- Enlarging the puppy area, giving puppies room to play and explore
