How To Take Care of a 6 Week Old Puppy

At 6 weeks old, a puppy is still too young to be taken from its mother. Ideally, a puppy should be taken from its mother after 8 weeks. However, in rare circumstances where a puppy is weaned at 6 weeks, these tips below will help you care for a 6-week-old puppy.

How much should a 6 week old puppy eat?

Puppies cannot consume large quantities of food like larger dogs. So be sure to feed the puppy small portions of food. You should also stay close when feeding the pup to prevent overeating.

Puppies can eat raw food or pup food. Milk or similar supplements are not needed at this time. When the pup is up to 8 weeks old, the food intake can increase. However, you still should not overfeed the pup.

Good puppy foods must contain protein or meat as the main ingredient. You can also add foods with fruit, vegetables, minerals, and added vitamins.

It is important to note that puppy breeds differ, so this is why Pitbull puppies need different types of food from Chihuahuas. If you aren’t sure about what to feed the puppy, contact a vet to get the best information about your puppy’s nutrition.

Can 6 week old puppies drink milk?

Milk is great for humans as it provides energy. However, it is unsafe to feed a dog milk from a cow. This is because cow milk causes diarrhea for dogs. If you must give the puppy milk, then opt for goat milk. You can also hand feed your puppy soft foods that are pup friendly.

While you give the puppy goat milk, remember that the puppy needs water for hydration. Give him water often to keep him healthy and hydrated. The water can also come in handy when the pup has diarrhea. Keep a clean bowl of water for the puppy.

6 week old puppy feeding schedule

Normally, a puppy should be fed at least four times a day. Smaller meals are recommended because they are a lot easier to digest. It also gives the puppy perfect energy levels for the day. When your pup is about six months old, you can reduce feeding to twice a day. However, if the dog is a large mixed breed, you can stick to the original feeding pattern to reduce the risk of illness.

Remember to move on from feeding the dog puppy food as he grows. Puppy food has high calories, so you need to make the switch before the puppy becomes an adult dog. Vets do not recommend any set age to switch because breeds and individuality differ in dogs.

Generally, when a dog is smaller, he reaches maturity faster. Smaller breeds that weigh up to 30 pounds may mature at 10 to 12 months. Other smaller breeds mature waster too. Dogs weighing 80 pounds mature at 12 to 16 months while larger dogs take up to two years.

As you switch to adult dog food. Take up to a week or more to complete the training. Start by mixing small to large amounts of adult dog food with the puppy food. Remember to reduce the quantity to prevent a gastric upset.

6 week old puppy training

You must train your puppy on how to behave, toilet habits and more. Your pup also learns by playing with you. However, you should try to do this without touching the pup because the puppy may not like this. The touching can also make the puppy aggressive later in his life.

While playing, you can begin to teach your dog some commands such as sitting and standing. To teach the puppy, repeat the words severally until he begins to respond. Ensure that you have some treats nearby to appreciate the pup’s hard work. This training is important while the pup is young as it helps the dog to grow up well behaved.

You should train your dog not to bite humans. Puppies often bite as a form of play but as he grows, it can become a habit. Teach the puppy not to bite anyone using different tricks. Be attentive towards the pup so you can tell if he bites people around.

When it comes to toilet training, it can be stressful to train the puppy. But it is necessary to prevent bad toilet habits when the puppy is grown. Start the training with a newspaper.

Start by laying the newspaper in the puppy’s house and teaching him that he should use that newspaper whenever they need to answer nature’s call. The training can be hectic and requires lots of patience.

It is better to schedule a time for the puppy to ease himself. A two-hour interval may be ideal. After giving the puppy water, you may also take him out to pee.

Also, you can reduce water intake for the pup before bedtime to prevent messes. Also, don’t forget to take the pup out when he wakes up so he can ease himself.

Using the same spot for the training is important. It helps the pup to recognize the specific spot when he wants to pee.

Praising your pup is also important. it makes it fun for the pup and doesn’t seem like a form of punishment. Tie a small bell on the doorknob to train the puppy on how to send a message to you that he has to go.

Ringing the bell before taking your pup out will teach the puppy to do the same. It may take a while to get used to, but he will learn to be patient.

At 6 weeks old, a pup isn’t aware of social skills and you need to train him on how to interact with people and other animals. The puppy has to learn proper interaction with humans being and animals. A park is a suitable spot for this exercise. If you have any friends with experience in dog training, you can also invite them over to help the pup get used to other people.

Your puppy should also have adequate training on how to be home alone. If this training isn’t done, the dog may become hyper when no one is home and go on a rampage. The pup can begin to chew on items in the house and create a mess.

To train the pup in this aspect, place the crate in one spot with water, a food bowl and some newspapers. Allow the pup to stay there alone for a short while. This training can be started in one week. It may take some time and the pup may be aggressive at the start but will calm down later on. If the pup’s behavior improves, be sure to give him a treat.

What to do with 6 week old puppy crying at night

Puppies cry when they need to alert their owners of a problem. During the first few days with you, a puppy may cry instinctively to tell you that he is afraid, in pain, hungry or just needs to pee. Giving the puppy attention will help reassure him that he is not alone. it could stop the crying at night.

How to handle a 6 week old puppy with fleas

If your pup has fleas, you need to groom him using a flea comb. You can also pick the fleas off using a tweezer. After doing this, wash the pup’s bedding, clean the surrounding areas and treat the other pets in the house for fleas.

What to do if your 6 week old puppy sleeps a lot

Puppies sleep a lot so you should not worry when your pup sleeps a lot. However, you need to check the sleeping schedule of the pup to ensure that he gets enough sleep.

Your pup should get at least 18 hours of sleep daily like a newborn child. So, ensure that the pup has a comfortable spot to sleep in.

Sleeping is crucial as it helps develop the immune system of the pup. It also helps your pup to rest well and have more energy to play.

Why does my 6 week old puppy have diarrhea?

Diarrhea in puppies can be a sign of parasites, worms or even a change in diet. You need to monitor your pup closely. What seems like a stomach bug may be fatal for pups who have underdeveloped immune systems. Take the pup to the vet if you notice diarrhea.

Conclusion

Having a six week old puppy under your care is like caring for a newborn human. You need to be very patient with your pet. You also need to ensure that you give the pup attention as you teach him different life skills. Your friends and family can help you train the pup as well. To help the pup socialize better, you can throw parties for puppies so the pup can blend in with other pets in the house.

Taking care of your 6 week old pup is no easy task, but following these simple steps, you can train a healthy adult dog.