2nd Step made by Esbilac. The advantages are the nutrients are all there and when you make is less liquid you don't end up w/ constipated puppies (which happens when you decrease the liquid in the human baby cereal recipes). Once I start them on that they move quickly to a thicker "porridge" type meal that I have some ground up soaked puppy kibble in. As far as timing? Depends on the size of the litter. I am always in the box with them anyway, so if it is a large litter I'll start offering a little liquid formula to one puppy at a time at 2- 2 1/2 weeks, more or less to get their little noses in it. By three weeks they are all lapping from a puppy saucer but mom has access until they leave. Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions visit _http://www.pinehillgsds.com/_ (http://www.pinehillgsds.com/) In a message dated 12/21/2011 12:36:54 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Shepherds4us@xxxxxxx writes: what do most people find to be the optimum time to start weaning the babies? Any special recipe suggestions, anything but Science Diet,,,,please I am o;d fashioned, Gerber Rice cereal, Evaporated milk and Karo syrup. Todd,Joanie,Josh,Frank & Roberta Vigor Tonor German Shepherds Ch. Ken-Delaine's Buddie v Fran-Jo, TC, OFA ( Waiting at the Rainbow Bridge). RBIF, Tonor's Under Siege Zytut's Kilymoon Angel OFA Sunnydae Ivy v Tonor, OFA Sunnydae Hollywood v Tonor, OFA Ch. Caretti's Hell's Angel OFA "When Love and Skill Come Together, Expect A Masterpiece" ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================