Puppies Separated From Mother at 5 Weeks

[TomboyFemme]

So, we're looking for a lab puppy, I've done lots of research and we always had dogs when I was younger but this is my first dog as an adult!

I've just been to visit a litter of 5 week old pups. I'm definitely not taking one for a thousand reasons but I just wanted to check if it's common to separate the pups from the mother at 4 or 5 weeks and stop them feeding from her? They seemed to be giving the puppies formula to "let the mum dry up"?!

Why on earth would they do this? If the pups still need milk surely the mother is the best source?! Is there something I'm missing here? The pups were all out in a kennel and the mother wasn't allowed to spend time with them because they wanted her milk to dry up and if the puppies were feeding obviously she wouldn't. I had to dig my heels in to get them to bring the mother in so I could see them together.

Like I said, I won't take a puppy from these people as there were so many red flags despite them being KC assured, which is heartbreaking as you want to "rescue" the pups but I don't want to reward bad practice.

Would very much appreciate if anyone could enlighten me on the milk issue!

[bunnygeek]

That honestly sounds like a puppy farm tactic, the sooner poor mum has "dried up", the sooner she'll come into season probably.

Weaning doesn't mean remove mum completely, the pups learn to eat from her, and mum would do some of the weaning herself stopping them from feeding from her.

Just sounds like a dodgy breeder and I feel sorry for mum and pups!

[LochJessMonster]

It is actually a method used by quite a few breeders to wean puppies.

Starts at about 3-4 weeks where they remove puppies for a few hours at a time, then gradually longer as you supplement them with puppy food etc.

They should show you mum and puppies interacting so you can be sure that the litter is hers, but many are reluctant to, as the puppies will try to feed off mum and she won't appreciate it.

Naturally, wild canids wean at about 3 weeks anyway.

[fivedogstofeed]

They are taking them from the mum now so they are ready in time for Christmas
Puppies taken from their mum and littermates too young can have all kinds of behavioural problems, though obviously the people who breed them don't care about that.

[RedandYellowSunrise]

That or the puppies are stolen and it's not the mum.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Some times we wean the pups this early if the butch has severe mastitis. However, we don't advise removing Mum instead we suggest a body suit so she can continue to feed them without further trauma to her mammary glands.

[frostedviolets]

Sounds extremely dodgy to me.
When I got my pup at just under ten weeks old they all went crackers trying to suckle off mummy.
I would be beyond dubious about this breeder

[TomboyFemme]

That was my suspicion, bunnygeek, that they wanted her back in season ASAP.

Redandyellow, definitely her pups, one was trying to suckle and she was letting her (until the owners were removing it 😭) and she'd very clearly been feeding until recently.

Lonecat, having had mastitis myself I'm guessing the bitch would've been wincing or moving away when the pup suckled, there was none of that, and presumably they'd have said if it was that. It's the fact that the litter was just left alone, they need the mum to teach them how to be dogs!