These 2 puppies are 4 days old.
Puppies grow so much during the first 8 weeks. I am going to document week by week using the same puppy from our litter to give you a glimpse of their growth and my commitment to help insure a happy healthy puppy. My puppies are born in my home in a whelping box in my sun room. They are exposed to the sounds and smells of a home. I strive to give them exactly what they need to become wonderful, loving members of your family.
Once a female dog is bred she goes through many hormonal changes. During the 3rd and 4th week the small puppies (embyros) are developing the important organs. Mother dog may lose her appetite and or have morning sickness. At 4 weeks it is not uncommon for the mother dog to adopt a toy. The end of week four the development of the eyes and spinal cord begin and the faces start to take shape. The female dog will whelp her puppies between 58-68 days.
When a mother dogs begins labor she becomes restless and will move the bedding around in her whelping box, she will move around a lot, and pant heavily. She has been "nesting" for a few weeks now but will become increasingly restless. At this time the mother dog doesn't want other dogs around, her instincts are telling her to keep her litter away from the other pack, she does however like the comfort of having me around. Once the labor begins, the puppies will arrive usually between 20-60 minutes apart but can be longer or shorter. Generally the second puppy arrives between 45-60 minutes after the first one. However, this can be longer or shorter depending on the mother.
Puppies are Arriving!!
Puppies grow so much during the first 8 weeks. I am going to document week by week using the same puppy from our litter to give you a glimpse of their growth and my commitment to help insure a happy healthy puppy. My puppies are born in my home in a whelping box in my sun room. They are exposed to the sounds and smells of a home. I strive to give them exactly what they need to become wonderful, loving members of your family.
Once a female dog is bred she goes through many hormonal changes. During the 3rd and 4th week the small puppies (embyros) are developing the important organs. Mother dog may lose her appetite and or have morning sickness. At 4 weeks it is not uncommon for the mother dog to adopt a toy. The end of week four the development of the eyes and spinal cord begin and the faces start to take shape. The female dog will whelp her puppies between 58-68 days.
When a mother dogs begins labor she becomes restless and will move the bedding around in her whelping box, she will move around a lot, and pant heavily. She has been "nesting" for a few weeks now but will become increasingly restless. At this time the mother dog doesn't want other dogs around, her instincts are telling her to keep her litter away from the other pack, she does however like the comfort of having me around. Once the labor begins, the puppies will arrive usually between 20-60 minutes apart but can be longer or shorter. Generally the second puppy arrives between 45-60 minutes after the first one. However, this can be longer or shorter depending on the mother.
Puppies are Arriving!!
WEEK ONE
Puppies are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut. They will use their sense of smell and feel to guide them to their mothers nipples. They cannot walk however, their little legs are very strong and they are able to scoot and wiggle to find the warmth of their mother and siblings. By the 4th day they will have their tails docked and dew claws removed. The vet will also check everyone to make sure they are healthy. I personally like to do this on the third day to give them time to rest after the stress of birth. It is too early to tell what the puppy will look like. Puppies are born with pink noses. Their nose will get tiny spots and darken as they get older. We will know what color they are and pattern although some white spots on their back will get smaller and sometimes disappear altogether. The white blaze that goes up the face will get smaller and the white collar will also get a little smaller. I keep a very close eye on the puppies during the first week and am never too far from the whelping box. The mothers instincts are telling her to keep the puppies warm and clean. The mother also licks the puppy under the tail to help it go to the bathroom, she has a very hard job!
Puppies are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut. They will use their sense of smell and feel to guide them to their mothers nipples. They cannot walk however, their little legs are very strong and they are able to scoot and wiggle to find the warmth of their mother and siblings. By the 4th day they will have their tails docked and dew claws removed. The vet will also check everyone to make sure they are healthy. I personally like to do this on the third day to give them time to rest after the stress of birth. It is too early to tell what the puppy will look like. Puppies are born with pink noses. Their nose will get tiny spots and darken as they get older. We will know what color they are and pattern although some white spots on their back will get smaller and sometimes disappear altogether. The white blaze that goes up the face will get smaller and the white collar will also get a little smaller. I keep a very close eye on the puppies during the first week and am never too far from the whelping box. The mothers instincts are telling her to keep the puppies warm and clean. The mother also licks the puppy under the tail to help it go to the bathroom, she has a very hard job!
WEEK TWO
The puppy grows a lot in the first week, and almost doubles in size. The eyes and ears are still sealed shut but during the middle to end of the second week the eyes will begin to open. Puppies are still dependent on their sense of smell and feel to get by. Their legs are stronger and they try to pull themselves up. They move around a bit easier now and can get out of mommy's way. I can rest a bit now as mommy is busy doing most of the work.
The puppy grows a lot in the first week, and almost doubles in size. The eyes and ears are still sealed shut but during the middle to end of the second week the eyes will begin to open. Puppies are still dependent on their sense of smell and feel to get by. Their legs are stronger and they try to pull themselves up. They move around a bit easier now and can get out of mommy's way. I can rest a bit now as mommy is busy doing most of the work.
WEEK THREE
All of the puppies senses are fully functioning now as the ears and eyes are open! They may still be sensitive to touch behind their ears and this will be for another week or so. They can detect movement now and will respond to loud noises. They can move on all fours albeit a little wobbly and clumsy. They wag their tails, play, and try to wrestle with their siblings. By the end of the third week puppies begin to have gruel ( Primal raw mixed with Kefir). The puppies are not ready to be weaned yet but this takes some of the load off mommy and gets their digestive system ready for puppy food. It can be a very messy time as they like to crawl around in the food. This is also the time I introduce small toys for the puppies to chew on and play with. This is the week I begin litter box training. By the end of the third week I move the puppies from the whelping box to the playpen in the sun room. This is a big step for the puppies as they are now able to see more of their surroundings, and the other adult dogs are introduced to the puppies through the pen. The puppies that are on the waiting list will be introduced to their eagerly waiting new owners, but they must wait another 5-7 weeks to bring their new family member home. The puppies still have a lot of growing and learning to do!
All of the puppies senses are fully functioning now as the ears and eyes are open! They may still be sensitive to touch behind their ears and this will be for another week or so. They can detect movement now and will respond to loud noises. They can move on all fours albeit a little wobbly and clumsy. They wag their tails, play, and try to wrestle with their siblings. By the end of the third week puppies begin to have gruel ( Primal raw mixed with Kefir). The puppies are not ready to be weaned yet but this takes some of the load off mommy and gets their digestive system ready for puppy food. It can be a very messy time as they like to crawl around in the food. This is also the time I introduce small toys for the puppies to chew on and play with. This is the week I begin litter box training. By the end of the third week I move the puppies from the whelping box to the playpen in the sun room. This is a big step for the puppies as they are now able to see more of their surroundings, and the other adult dogs are introduced to the puppies through the pen. The puppies that are on the waiting list will be introduced to their eagerly waiting new owners, but they must wait another 5-7 weeks to bring their new family member home. The puppies still have a lot of growing and learning to do!
WEEK FOUR Puppies are very active and responsive now. You can hear their puppy growls and barking which makes you laugh to watch. This is one of my favorite times and never grow tired of watching them. As they wrestle they learn the difference between hard and soft biting. Mommy will step in if the play gets too rough, sometimes you can hear her growl to restrain the mischievious pup. This is a very important learning time for the puppies. If they aren't properly socialized they can have a problem with other dogs and humans later in life. Agility equipment is introduced as well as musical toys. I start taking the puppies out every two hours to begin their potty training at this time. They MAY still have accidents in their playpen. By the end of the 4th week I hook the playpen up to a crate to begin crate training. Mom is still able to get in and out of the playpen, but spends less time with the puppies. During this time I also introduce some of the other adult dogs to play with the puppies on our potty breaks.
WEEK FIVE
At this time I start spending some one on one time each each puppy, they are learning stay and sit. My granddaughter and kids start playing with individual puppies. this is important to get them used to other humans. Potty training ad litter box training is getting better and mostly the accidents are the wet ones. Puppies are also starting to ring the bell when they need to go out to potty. Puppies are introduced to some ground up kibble mixed with their raw food, they still try to nurse on mommy but she will stop them. I close them into the kennel for an hour or two during the day so they don't have access to the playpen to further their crate and potty training.
At this time I start spending some one on one time each each puppy, they are learning stay and sit. My granddaughter and kids start playing with individual puppies. this is important to get them used to other humans. Potty training ad litter box training is getting better and mostly the accidents are the wet ones. Puppies are also starting to ring the bell when they need to go out to potty. Puppies are introduced to some ground up kibble mixed with their raw food, they still try to nurse on mommy but she will stop them. I close them into the kennel for an hour or two during the day so they don't have access to the playpen to further their crate and potty training.
WEEK SIX
This is a very fun age! Puppies have very sharp teeth so I give them carrot sticks, pig snouts, and a lot of chew toys, They have access to all the puppy agility equipment and musical toys. They are still getting different sounds and stimulation toys. I have so much fun watching the puppies play. They are very curious and eager to learn. I am reinforcing commands. Watching how each puppy responds. At this time they are 95-100% litter box trained and 90% potty trained. At this time they are sleeping through the night in their individual kennel.
This is a very fun age! Puppies have very sharp teeth so I give them carrot sticks, pig snouts, and a lot of chew toys, They have access to all the puppy agility equipment and musical toys. They are still getting different sounds and stimulation toys. I have so much fun watching the puppies play. They are very curious and eager to learn. I am reinforcing commands. Watching how each puppy responds. At this time they are 95-100% litter box trained and 90% potty trained. At this time they are sleeping through the night in their individual kennel.
WEEKS SEVEN TO TEN
Puppies are almost ready to go to their new homes. They are still eating three times a day but transitioning to two with many treats during training sessions, and are on either kibble, kibble and raw, or raw, depending on the families choice. I prefer raw. Puppies are now sleeping through the night in their individual kennels in the sun room. Still working on individual obedience training and beginning leash training. Puppies will start wearing a collar during this time but not while in the playpen or kennel.
Puppies are almost ready to go to their new homes. They are still eating three times a day but transitioning to two with many treats during training sessions, and are on either kibble, kibble and raw, or raw, depending on the families choice. I prefer raw. Puppies are now sleeping through the night in their individual kennels in the sun room. Still working on individual obedience training and beginning leash training. Puppies will start wearing a collar during this time but not while in the playpen or kennel.
WEEK EIGHT TO TEN
And now you have seen one of our past puppies grow from birth to 8 weeks. Its so hard to believe how much they grow in just 2 short months!
And now you have seen one of our past puppies grow from birth to 8 weeks. Its so hard to believe how much they grow in just 2 short months!
