Should all newborn puppies feed at the same time or can it vary?

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! New born puppies will need to eat every couple hours. You can wake them up, but keep in mind most healthy pups will wake up on their open when they are hungry! Best of luck!

Mom should have enough milk for all five puppies and you should not need to hand feed them formula. If you think they are not getting enough milk, have it verified by your vet. In that case you can supplement with puppy formula while they are still feeding from mom.

This one likely has a medical condition that is keeping him from being as strong as the others. The best thing to do is have him evaluated by a vet. There may be something that can be corrected. It's very important for them to have the mother's milk, so the best thing you can do is remove the bigger ones every three hours (day and night) to allow the little one to suckle. You should also get some milk replacer for dogs at the pet store. There is feeding guidelines on the box. Sometimes mom may be dry, so if the pup is suckling for a long time (over 5 minutes), then he's likely not getting enough milk from mom and you should offer the milk replacer. Feeding can be reduced to every four hours when he is four weeks, and transitioning to puppy food can happen at six weeks. I hope that helps and the pup turns-out OK.

They will make noise or wiggle when nursing. Especially if they aren't getting milk or are not positioned properly. Do not stress. Most bitches will nurse their litters uneventfully. You can monitor each puppy's weight to ensure adequate feeding and weight gain.

The length depends on how hungry they are and how much milk she has. If your puppies are not gaining weight and do not have round full bellies after nursing, she may not have enough milk for them and you may have to supplement them with puppy milk.

Hello. Just keep a close eye on everyone. Even the weaker puppies will fight for a nipple. As long as the puppies seem warm & content, & you see the mother dog cleaning up after the puppies, all will be well. Usually the only time you will need to supplement a puppy is if the mother dog is sick, or she has an extremely large litter. If you do find the need to help with supplemental feedings, make sure you use a puppy nursing formula like Esbilac. Take care.

3. Socializationperiod:threetotwelveweeksofage • A puppy’s sensory systems and learning abilities become more developed during this time. They begin to eat solid food and show more independence. Approximately two months of age is generally the ideal time to begin housetraining, although the earlier owner’s start the better! Some experts say that housetraining can be started as early as six weeks. See the housetraining handout for more tips on maximizing housetraining success. • Puppies are very interested in novel objects and interact with their littermates, mother, and environment at this time. They start to show predictable responses to a variety of stimuli and begin to form relationships with other animals. • At between two to three months of age puppies begin to show signs of fear. This is a critical time for owners to continue safely exposing their puppy to as many new sights, sounds, environments, animals, and activities as possible. These interactions must be made as positive as possible to decrease fear and increase confidence and pleasure in new situations. Please refer to the socialization handout. • The socialization period is also an ideal time to begin basic training to teach puppies good manners and boundaries. Using positive-reinforcement training techniques will make training fun and help form a healthy bond between owner and puppy. • Many veterinarians and dog trainers offer puppy socialization classes that are designed to introduce puppies to new sights, sounds, and smells in a safe and controlled manner. These classes alone will not provide enough socialization but they can be an excellent way for puppies to safely play with other healthy dogs, and for owners to have questions answered about puppy problems they encounter. It is important to make sure that these classes are run by experienced trainers who use lots of rewards and treats. 4. Juvenileperiod:twelveweektosexuallymaturity(6-7monthsofage) • Basic learning abilities are fully developed and the speed of learning decreases. • Puppies continue to explore new environments and objects but may show avoidance behaviors (such as avoiding new situations or people) if not adequately socialized. • As they approach sexual maturity, puppies may begin to show mating behaviors and an increased interest in the opposite sex. At this time owners should consider spaying or neutering their puppy if they have not already done so. 5. Adulthood:aftersexualmaturity • The onset of adulthood varies amongst puppies but is usually around 7 months in males and 6 months in females. At 18 months of age most dogs are considered to have reached sexual and social maturity. It is important to continue training using positive reinforcement techniques for rules and boundaries without developing fear or aggression. Owners can also use these positive reinforcement to teach their dog fun tricks, and can participate in exciting games with their dog, such as flyball, agility, tracking, and rally obedience. Raising a puppy is a fun and rewarding experience. It can also be confusing and frustrating if owners don’t know what to expect or how to handle normal puppy behaviors that are not appropriate in the household. It is important that puppies visit their veterinarian on a regular basis for checkups, necessary vaccines, and alteration. It is also crucial to make training a lifelong activity that the whole family participates in. When choosing a trainer, it is important to research the trainers in the area, sit in on a class, check credentials, and make sure that the trainer uses reward based methods. If you follow the above guidelines, you will be well on your way to raising a well behaved dog who is loved by your whole family.