In a perfect world, a mother dog would care for her puppies until well after they were weaned at about six weeks. For the optimum well-adjusted dog, the ideal mother would keep her puppies with her until at least eight weeks of age -- and 10 weeks would be better (in order to teach them proper dog-to-dog manners). Sadly, no one lives in a perfect world; breeders and animal rescue volunteers know all to well that sometimes the mother can't or won't care for her babies.
Instructions
1. Start the transition to solid food. At four weeks, a puppy is ready to start exploring more solid food. You will need to make a "gruel" of puppy formula and canned puppy food (or dry puppy food that has been soaking in formula until it's mushy). Blend this "puppy milk shake" in a blender or food processor, and pour into a solid dish, like a pie tin. First-time eaters are messy eaters, so have the warm water and towel handy for afterward. The puppy will need it, and so will the floor.
2. Enrich his environment. This is the best thing you can do for a young puppy. Get him outside (unless it's below freezing) and let him experience walking on grass, your wooden deck, and your cement sidewalk. A wire exercise pen (x-pen) will help keep the puppy confined to a certain area. You can also start to introduce toys to the puppy when he's indoors.
3. Socialize your puppy. Now is also a good time to start introducing him to a select few people. Neighborhood kids, of course, will be attracted to the puppy when he's outside, so let them gently pet and play with him -- under your supervision, of course. Invite close friends who are dog-savvy to your home and introduce them to your puppy. A puppy that meets a large variety of people (young, old, male, female, people of different races) at an early age makes for a well-adjusted adult dog.
Until your puppy has been appropriately vaccinated, however, it's best to avoid socializing him with other dogs. Your veterinarian will let you know when dog-dog interaction is safe.
Your puppy's ears also unfold at about four weeks of age, and he will start to hear the normal sounds of life in the house. Other than keeping loud music to a minimum, go about your business (dishwasher, radio, television, ringing phone) and let your puppy get used to house sounds.
4. Don't have unrealistic expectations. At this age, your puppy can probably start the basics of housetraining, but cannot be expected to master the art of always eliminating outside. Take him out after every nap and meal and praise him if he does "go" in the yard, but expect more accidents than successes. A supply of old newspapers will come in very handy at this stage.
5. Start basic training. A four-week-old puppy is too young to learn "sit," but he can learn that chewing on you is forbidden. When he starts to gnaw on your fingers, give a high-pitched yelp and turn away. He'll quickly figure out that you in his mouth means the fun stops. Make sure your teething baby has plenty of appropriate things to chew on.
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