Nearly everyone has experienced caring for a puppy. But what if your own dog has pups of her own? This article is concerned primarily with the proper feeding and care of newborn puppies and the mother dog. Below is an average time-line that you can use to better care for new pups (and, of course, the mother dog).

1st day. Newborn pups are born. (It's a good idea to be present during the actual birthing process.) The sucking reflex of the newborn pups will allow the babies to feed from their mother.

Normally, newborn pups feed every three hours. If your pups appear firm and full of milk, your pups are doing well. Weight gain will occur in the coming weeks, although it's normal for pups to lose weight the first few days after birth. The weight loss should be no more than ten percent of the pups' original body weights.

2nd day - 3rd day. The mother dog (or "bitch") will be ready to feed. During this time, you must not give your dog regular dog kibble or canned food. What your dog needs is nutrient-rich food designed for puppies or pregnant dogs.

Choose mash or puppy food that has a high fat, protein, and carbohydrate content. Food for puppies from large breeds should not be given to dogs who have just given birth because these dog foods have generally lower nutrient content.

3rd week. The puppies will begin to pay attention to what the mother dog eats and drinks. Add a small bowl or pan of water in the box. Do not leave the pan or bowl in the box; monitor if the pups will pay any attention to it, and remove it after the pups have had their fill of water.

You can also begin feeding the pups special puppy food on the third week. You can prepare a special mash for your three-week old pups by combining dry puppy food with a dog milk replacement formula. Prepare the formula beforehand and combine it with the dry puppy food using a blender. Blend the two ingredients until you get a fine, smooth consistency.

6th week - 7th week. Puppies are usually weaned off the milk of the mother dog after 1