Between 1-8 weeks old, puppies will be very dependent on their mother as they need special care to be nourished and grown. The mother will provide her puppies with the nutrients they need until they are fully weaned and less dependent on the mother for survival. Over the next few weeks, the puppy will grow from infancy to a young puppy. Once they are physically able to do this, they begin to socialize in their environment. From littermates to human interaction, 4 to 7 weeks is the ideal time to introduce your puppy to the many people who will treat them with tenderness.
1. Physical development
At one week of physical development, the puppy’s eyes are still closed. Their eyes will begin to open in the second week of life, usually between 10 and 16 days. However, they couldn’t see clearly at first. The eyes will gradually widen, revealing gray-blue eyes that look hazy. Puppies’ eyes will continue to develop over the next few weeks, reaching full vision at eight weeks of age. A puppy’s ears start to open when the eyes are open, usually around 12 to 14 days old. Their hearing will continue to develop until the puppies are about five weeks old. Newborn puppies cannot fully support their weight for the first two weeks of life, so they crawl around on their stomachs, paddling and pushing with their legs to build up their strength. Most puppies are able to stand up on their front legs at around 5 to 6 days and start using their hind legs around two weeks of age. They usually start walking with a wobbly gait around 18 to 21 days. Puppies need to be stimulated to urinate and defecate during the first few weeks of life. Mom does this by licking the anal and genital area. If you are raising an orphan puppy, you can stimulate the area with a warm damp cloth or cotton ball. Puppies gradually develop the ability to urinate and defecate on their own at 3 to 4 weeks of age. Puppies are born without teeth. Their baby teeth will start appearing between 3 and 4 weeks old and continue to develop until about 8 weeks old.
2. Behavior change
For newborn puppies, the first two weeks of life are all about sleeping and eating. After 14 days, the physical changes opened up a whole new world. They start to see, hear and walk. By day 21, they are exploring the world and learning how to be a dog. This is also when the socialization process begins. Puppies learn how to interact with other dogs by interacting with their mother and littermates. Human socialization with gentle handling is also important at this time. Around seven to eight weeks of age, the first “fear period” will begin. This is when most puppies seem to be afraid of new things. Anything you can introduce to them before then may help make the fear period go more smoothly.
3. Health and Nursing
The mother will still take care of most of the puppies until they are fully weaned between 5 and 8 weeks of age. However, after three to four weeks of age, her puppies will become less and less dependent on her. You may find puppies coming out of their little “dens” to try and see more houses. When you’re not at home, it’s best to keep mom and puppy in a separate area where they can exercise and practice, so you can avoid unnecessary losses at home. The first few weeks of life are a vulnerable time for puppies. If a puppy is growing at a different rate than its littermates, see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Also, any signs of illness, no matter how subtle, should be taken seriously.
4. Food and Nutrition
Nutrition and Food Requirements During the first three weeks of life, puppies get the nutrients they need from breast milk. If the puppy is orphaned or needs supplemental nutrition, puppy formula can provide the necessary nutrients. After the baby teeth have erupted, at about three weeks of age, the puppy may be ready to start weaning. Mom may start the process naturally because she feels those puppy teeth gnashing at her nipples. A great way to transition your puppy to dog food is to get out some canned puppy food or softened puppy kibble (use warm formula or water to soften the kibble). Be sure to choose a dog food that is suitable for growth. You can encourage them to eat by offering the taste of your fingers. As puppies get used to puppy food, they will gradually reduce breastfeeding. Most puppies are completely weaned at six to eight weeks of age.
5. Training and socialization
Puppies between one and three weeks of socialization are too young to respond to training or socialization. At three to four weeks, they are able to see, hear, walk, and urinate/defecate on their own. Although their brains are still developing, they are able to learn something. Of course, it is still important for these pups to stay with their mother and littermates until they are 8 to 12 weeks old. As early as 3 to 4 weeks old, it is possible to start introducing the dog crate and begin some basic potty training. Even when puppies come home between 8 and 12 weeks old, they can start laying the groundwork for training. The time between 4 and 7 weeks of age is an early socialization window. While the puppy must stay with its mother, it is now ready to be exposed to new sights and sounds. It should start meeting people of all ages. This includes children who know how to act around dogs and will handle puppies gently.
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