How old must a puppy be?

You can start offering solid food at four weeks. I know a couple successful breeders who begin at three weeks, but I like to wait a little longer.

Weaning Puppies

From birth to age four weeks the whelps should be getting all their nutrition from mother. From age four weeks to age eight weeks, the puppies are slowly transitioned onto solid food with a mixture of solid food and warm puppy formula. Puppies are fed four times per day from age four weeks until age ten to twelve weeks. The “flying saucers” help keep the puppies from walking in their dinner, but any flat, low-sided pan may be used, such as a baking tray. Keep mom away from the food until the puppies are playing more than eating and then let her in to clean the dish and the pups.

If feeding a raw diet, the food will need to be ground for them before being mixed with puppy formula. The fineness of the grind can be reduced each week as their jaws gain strength. They will need thicker bones chopped for them up to age four months.

If feeding a commercial diet, then either soak the kibble or use a food processor to mix the kibble and puppy formula.

Week Four - a thick slurry, also known as “puppy smoothies”

Week Five - like cooked oatmeal, with little soft lumps

Week Six - has chunks in the “oatmeal”, dinner takes a few minutes longer because it now needs to be chewed instead of slurped

Week Seven - mostly solid pieces, just slightly softened, can sprinkle powdered formula over solid food and add warm water before serving

Week Eight - solid food with warm water added just before serving, the formula can be deleted

The momma dog will know when its time. Usually weaning starts four-five weeks and ends six-seven weeks. Weeks seven and eight are cruical socialization time between pup and mom where te mother teaches the pups the very basics of manners, like not biting.

About a month or a month and a half. Bassets are so cute! I DON'T feed my dog with bones EVER. Id say you shouldn't either. I do believe they do hurt their throat and stomach. And Im afraid they might choke... So yeah... that's about it.

Mine?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201209...

8 weeks. not any earlier or they dont learn from mommy can go longer up to 10 weeks,