When to start feeding puppies?

Usually Mom starts wanting to wean them about now. So it would be fine to get them started on very soft puppy food. Do not give it to them dry as their little teeth are not that developed yet. Depending on how may pups you have, you can get some shallow pans such as the ones they have at Wal Mart. Put your puppy food in it and mix with warm water until it is soft. They will love it, and when they are that young, it is so much fun to watch them start eating. Much luck to you and your puppies.

I myself wouldn't sell a dog at 6 weeks (8 weeks should be the minimum). But too late, you have a dog, he's 6 weeks, and you don't have a time machine. Don't give dogs milk products ever. Secondly he's going to be a big dog, puppy chow causes large breeds to gain weight/grow too fast which in turn causes about half of the cases of hip dysplasia. Poor genetics + poor diet + over exercise as a puppy = Guaranteed hip dysplasia. Don't do much more than a short walk with him until he's 6 or 7 months old, and then don't do more than a medium walk until he's over 18 months old. Keep him thin so he doesn't have extra weight on his soft, developing bones/joints. So quick summary. Food: Raw human grade meat products = best food on Earth to feed a dog, period. If you can't or won't do it for whatever silly reason adult dog food is much better than puppy chow for large breeds (even pedigree acknowledges that now and sells large breed food they say is supposed to be fed to large breed puppies and large breed adults). Exercise: Nice slow walks, that means no 12k runs until he's 18+ months old please. Conclusion: Do these things and you'll have a happy healthy puppy who'll grow into a happy healthy dog.

Hi,

As "Shadows Melon" stated, most first time breeders do have a mentor. Who is the breeder that you bought your dog from. I would contact that breeder and see what they recommend. Deciding to breed a litter of great danes is a big deal, as it is for any pure bred puppy. As most reputible breeders have a goal in mind, and that is to better the breed,not just breeding to sell puppies. Now I am not saying that is what you are doing, so dont get me wrong. However if you dont have the breeder of your female or male behind you, then it leads one to wonder. There are too many Great Danes in this world that are being bred by backyard breeders who have no real idea what it is to breed for the betterment of the breed. I know you didnt want a lecture etc, but when you post something like this, you do leave yourself open to those of us that take the Dane world very seriously, and we dont like to see no thought going into the reproduction of danes. As I stated earlier, contact the breeder you purchased your danes off, if you are unable to do that, contact your local Dane club and they may be able to put you in contact with a breeder that can mentor you through this puppy rearing time.

If you breed you should really have all the info to hand by now, they should start by having small meals 4 times per day and initially the food should be diluted, sloppy til they get to grips with it. Are the pups satisfied by mums milk at the moment? When my dog had a litter I started them eating at 4 weeks.

How much should a 3 week to 4 week great dane pup eat at a time?

NO, I would actually wait. Start mixing soft food with water or formula, do that for a week and slowly add less liquid. By the time they are 7 weeks you should have them on dry food.

Left it a bit late to be doing your research, huh?

I start my pups on puppy mush at 3 weeks.

The end of the week will be fine, moisten the food with warm water first. Just remember some will take to it day one, others may take some time, good luck!

Reputable first time breeders have MENTORS they ask these sort of questions.... where is yours?

three weeks