Puppies Still Depend on Mother's Milk
Shitzu puppies will drink their mother's milk until they are between 6 and 8 weeks old. This means that they still depend on their mother's milk until the milk supply runs short. It may not make sense starting the weaning process as of yet because the mother may wean the puppies off the milk on her own.
Puppies Start to Explore
Puppies around 3 to 4 weeks of age will become more aware of their environment and will start to explore. This may be a good time to gradually introduce Shitzu puppies to some solid food. Use this exploration time to start the weaning process.
Bottom Line
It is best to start weaning Shitzu puppies around 3 to 4 weeks of age. The easiest way is to purchase a high-quality puppy kibble and soften it with hot water. As the puppies start eating on their own, the amount of water added should be decreased until they are eating dry food.
References
Photo Credits
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Two puppies of the spitz-dog in studio image by Ulf from Fotolia.com
Writer Bio
Adrienne Farricelli has been writing for magazines, books and online publications since 2005. She specializes in canine topics, previously working for the American Animal Hospital Association and receiving certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Her articles have appeared in "USA Today," "The APDT Chronicle of the Dog" and "Every Dog Magazine." She also contributed a chapter in the book " Puppy Socialization - An Insider's Guide to Dog Behavioral Fitness" by Caryl Wolff.
