3 Week Old Pitbull

Are they growing at a steady rate? How much should they be eating? Are they reaching their developmental milestones?

If these are the questions that plague you, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to cover everything you need to know about your Pitbull puppy’s growth and development below!

Mom May Want More Alone Time

Mom will still be willing to clean up well after the pups poop, and there will still be tiny puddles of urine.

She will want more time away from them beginning this week. She will enjoy some more time alone, and it is as early as the second week when some Dams begin to show signs that they may try to wean too early.

Try to make sure that mom feeds them every four hours or so. If you do not encourage her, later feeds will cause them to munch more furiously, which can cause scratching and pulling on already sensitive nipples. She will naturally want to avoid this, but unless you are prepared to bottle feed an entire litter, several times per day for another two weeks, make her feed them regularly.

Fun Fact

The pit bull was so popular in the early 1900s that they were our mascot not only in World War I, but also in World War II.

As the third week begins, there will be many more waking hours than sleeping hours, as opposed to the last two weeks. Most pups will have their eyes mostly open, although none can see too well, but they will start to recognize the smell of mom when shes close, and of people visiting their box or enclosure.

When we retrieved a riding lawnmower box from a local store, the mom actually jumped for joy several times in the air as I began placing them in the new blanket-filled box. Seriously, do both of you a favor and get them enclosed ASAP if not done so already by this week.

Get an Enclosure

If you havent put them in an enclosure, you are likely half-mad and a bit crazy. Do this immediately! An old playpen is an excellent idea for the next couple of weeks. A huge box even better. Without those things, youll have mass chaos and a mother who may be a bit edgy that her pups arent gathered in a neat area for check-ups.

By the end of the third week, there will be no doubt that living in a box with so many of your siblings can be really hard. Many mini growls and burks (not quite barks) are heard coming from the box at all hours. Closer observation reveals a painfully slow (at least from their point-of-view) process of growing, fighting, eating, and yes, pooping.

Mom may not be so happy about cleaning up after the pups, as big as they are getting. This week will likely find you washing and rewashing box blankets, pillows, and other paraphernalia. Often.

They have become the worlds most ferocious eaters. Watching them at this point makes me think that they closely resemble a pack of wolverines nursing. You may have to begin preparing a puppy cereal for them to eat soon.

Puppy Gruel

Purchase a good quality puppy chow and run it through the blender, add puppy formula or goats milk, baby rice cereal and baby strained chicken. Mix until its fairly thick. After they have mastered that for a few days, start adding softened puppy kibble.

You may need some tips on how to do this, and it does get nasty. Personally, I have what I consider a fairly strong stomach, but the results of nine pit bull pups moshing, rolling, and rooting around in a pile of gooey mess still required me to give it a good strong swallow or two while watching.

Whatever You Do, Make Sure Mom Is Relaxed

Stressing the mother out can cause her milk production to slow. With that in mind, I can tell you one thing for certain: bully pups are no small eaters. They eat vigorously and often. Anything that slows that process will cause the mothers metabolism to work overtime to produce enough milk. You may want to invest in a high protein food for the mom while she is nursing.

If you feel like your nursing mother is overly stressed, consult with a vet on a natural remedy to relax her. The coming weeks are going to be highly taxing on her body. She will need all of the help she can get to reduce fat-burning anxiety.

Remember

Bully pups are no small eaters. They eat vigorously and often. Anything that slows that process will cause the mothers metabolism to work overtime to produce enough milk. You may want to invest in a high-protein food for the mom while she is nursing.

If the mom was overexcited or overprotective initially, some of that will begin to die down by the end of this first week. However, this does not mean that its time to invite over all of the small children in the family to maul the pups in front of her.

Give them another week to grow used to simple survival while the mother can grow used to managing her protective instincts against the noise and chaos of the home, even if minor.

The second week will not differ much from the first with the exception of the pups spending a bit more time awake and a little less time eating (but theyll also have more vigorous eating habits). Pups are already starting to battle at this point, albeit with closed eyes, for the best position on the teats when mom jumps in the box.

Pit Bull Breeding and Adoption Tips

Please take the time to read over the following set of tips before you allow your female pit to be bred.

Never, EVER breed an aggressive animal. Just like people, character traits are passed on from parents, and although you may think its humorous that your 70-pound pit bull female viciously attacks the vacuum cleaner each time you run it, it is not a sign of quality temperament. Please—for the sake of this breed—do what you can do help breed aggressiveness out, not in.

FAQ

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