pup diet

Question
hello, our lab pups will be turning 2 months in about a week, (9 of them), its our first litter and we're not sure what to feed them with, right now their diet consists of a half cup of milk and a bit of dogfood (3x a day per pup). is that ok? Do you recommend letting all the pups eat at the same time in a single bowl or should i feed them seperately.

-Chester

Answer
Hi Chester,
Your pups should be on a diet of puppy food, preferably that for a large breed puppy, soaked in hot water until soft, then blended with more hot water to the consistency of gruel (thin oatmeal).  You can add some plain yogurt (NOT non- or low-fat as the artificial sweeteners are NOT good for dogs, let alone puppies!), and goats milk, or evaporated milk.  This consistency should be that of gruel for the first week, then you can start making it thicker.  You will know if the pups are not tolerating it because their stools will get very loose.  If that is the case, try adding a bit more yogurt and less milk.  They should be eating barely softened kibble in a couple weeks, then small, dry kibble by the time they go to their new homes.  
(We generally do not let pups go to their new homes until they are eight weeks of age, sometimes nine.)  
You can let the pups eat out of a single dish, just make sure that all are getting enough.  If one seems to be not getting enough, then let that one eat first by his or her self for a couple minutes, then let the others in.
Hope this helps, and good luck placing your pups into loving, caring homes!