Puppies are born with eyes and ear closed. They find their mothers teat by scent. The umbilical cord normally falls off within 2-3 days of birth. Puppies normally twitch and jerk while sleeping. This helps with the development of their nerves and muscles.

A healthy puppy is firm, plump, and vigorous. Puppies should nurse every 2 hours or so. If they nurse until their stomachs appear round and they sleep quietly, they are eating enough. If they are crying and moving a lot, they are not eating enough. A puppy may lose weight in the first 24 hours (less than 10% of birth weight), but after that, the weight should increase steadily. Their weight should double in the first 7-10 days. Before, during, and after nursing, the mother dog will lick the stomach and perineal area to stimulate urination and defecation. She will continue to do this for 2-3 weeks.

Puppies should gain 1-2 grams/day/pound of anticipated adult weight. Weigh the puppy daily for the first 2 weeks, then weigh at least weekly.

Second Week
of Life with Puppies

It is during this time that the eyes and ears open. The puppies' eyes will open around 12-15 days of age. The retina matures around 21 days of age. Puppies should see clearly by 4 weeks of age. Do not pry open the lids for any reason, as the immature eye is not yet ready to handle light. Some puppies will take a day to open the eyes while others will take 3-4 days. The eyes will have a bluish color to them at first and then change to their adult color over time. This is a very important time for the pup to develop human bonding, when they can first see you.

The puppies crawl well by 7-14 days, walk at 16 days, and have a normal gait at 21 days. They need to be on footing that offers traction.

Puppies are born without teeth. The deciduous (baby) teeth start to erupt at 2-4 weeks of age. All of the deciduous teeth are usually present by 8 weeks of age.

Strategic deworming is a practice recommended by the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists (AAVP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They recommend puppy deworming for roundworms and hookworms start at 2 weeks of age and be repeated at 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. Thereafter, use a heartworm preventive medication that is also effective against hookworms and roundworms. Owners of newly acquired puppies should obtain the deworming history of their new pup and contact their veterinarian to determine if additional deworming is needed. The mother dog should be dewormed at the same time as the puppies.

Third Week
of Life with Puppies

Puppies have a normal gait at 21 days.

The ears open at 14-17 days of age.

At about 3 weeks of age, the puppies will begin to imitate their mother eating and drinking. A secure shallow water dish should now be available at least part of the day. At 3½ weeks of age, the puppies can start receiving puppy mush. Puppy pad potty training is started now.

Fourth Week
of Life with Puppies

By 4 weeks of age, the puppies follow each other and carry toys in their mouths. The puppies start to get coordination and eyes darken in color.

The pup's personality is continuing to develop and play emerges. They will play-fight with each other and learn how to inhibit their bites. If a puppy bites a littermate too hard, the littermate will yelp and stop playing with him. If the puppy is allowed to bite humans, he will not learn to inhibit his bite. It may be cute as a 7-week old, but it will not be as a 7-year old.

At about 4 weeks of age, the puppies will begin to imitate their mother eating and drinking. A secure shallow water dish should now be available at least part of the day. At 4 weeks of age, the puppies can start receiving puppy mush. It is also time for the second deworming. The first bath will soon be necessary.

Sixth Week
of Life with Puppies

By 6 yo 7 weeks of age puppies are eating half wet, half dry puppy food. This is a stressful time for puppies and they need extra bonding from humans. Playing and interacting with litter-mates and humans continues. Puppies usually are using a puppy pee pad to relive themselves.

Vaccinations are started at 6-7 weeks of age. A health check done by a veterinarian at 6-7 weeks of age before the puppies head for new homes should include checks for heart murmurs, hernias, cryptochidism, demodectic mange, other parasites, eye disorders, etc.

By 7 to 8 weeks of age, the puppies are eating dry food. Once they are on dry food, it may be left in with the puppies (when the mother dog is out of the box) or the meal times can continue. As the puppies eat more solid food, the mom may be left away from the puppies for an ever longer period of time.

By the time the puppies are 7 to 8 weeks of age, they should be fully weaned from the mother's milk, eating dry food, and drinking water. If the weaning is not rushed, she will naturally start decreasing milk production, as the puppies increase their intake of solid food.

Ninth Week
of Life with Puppies

The mother dog is teaching manners, such as bite inhibition, and socialization during this important stage. Then time to leave for the puppies' Forever Homes.

At 10 weeks the puppies can be weighed. The weight can be doubled to determine approximate adult weight.

At 12 weeks puppies get their second shot (DHPP)

At 16 weeks they get their third and last shot of DHPP. Puppy will need this shot again in one year from this date. Their rabies shot can be given at any time after 4 months. Heartworm medication (like Interceptor or Heartguard Plus) should be started now as a monthly preventative. Puppies go through several coat changes--puppy coat, adult coat at 12 to 18 months (this is the time you REALLY need to be brushing constantly as it can mat) and then get silkier at age 2 to 3 years, and things get easier.