When puppies are born what do they eat?

Puppies can generally start to "lap" other liquids besides mother's milk at around 4 weeks of age. You can offer them a small amount of water in a flat pan to help get them used to the idea of a going somewhere else for nourishment.

Weaning age is between six and eight weeks. Start by offering them small amounts of a good quality canned puppy food mixed with enough of either water or puppy milk replacer to make a gruel. Put this in a flat pan like a cookie sheet and place the puppies around it. Be prepared for a big mess! They will scooch their little bodies and faces through it until they have filled their tummies.

Over several weeks, add less and less water/milk replacer until they are eating solid food only. I prefer to let them continue to nurse on the mom and let her gradually wean them herself during this process, but some people will go ahead and start to separate the puppies from the bitch themselves. You can also make the gruel from dry puppy food, but it takes more time and effort than if you start from canned. If you want them to eat dry food just start adding a few kibbles to the gruel mix as you decrease the liquid, then start decreasing the canned and adding more dry kibble, eventually ending up with all dry.

Good luck and Have fun!