Dog Owner's Manual › Chapter 7: Dog Growth & Development › Puppy Growth Stages ›

Puppies: Birth to 8 Weeks

The puppy is entirely dependent on its mother. Puppies are born with sealed eyes and ear canals. Walking begins at 16 days. Eyelids open at the age of 2 weeks, while ear canals open after approximately 17 days. Waste elimination without assistance from the mother (who licks the genital area to stimulate the process) begins at 23 days of age. At 25 days, puppies begin responding to sights and sounds. Baby teeth appear at 4 to 6 weeks; consumption of solid food begins at the same time.

Programming Milestones: Little true learning is possible at this time, though some rudimentary socialization can be accomplished. For instance, frequent, gentle handling will help the newborn become acclimated to people. Remember that the puppy must remain with its mother and littermates during this important period. Only they can help it download much of the programming necessary for proper dog behavior.

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Chapter 7: Dog Growth & Development

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JUS GOT A 4 WEEK OLD CHUAHUA DONT KNOW HOW 2 CARE 4 IT OR WHAT 2 FEED IT

barked by ANNITA WILLIAMS on Jun 19, 2009 AT 2:14 pm PDT
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for future reference, you can feed it esbilac a formula for puppies.

barked by ralynn rowe on Jul 27, 2009 AT 7:21 pm PDT
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Candy, foster, just gave birth to 10, About 2 weeks sooner than we guessed

barked by Roberta Allis on Oct 9, 2009 AT 5:29 am PDT
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Quirk BooksThe Dog Owner's Manual is a basic guide to dog care.
The book was written by a celebrated veterinarian and an acclaimed author. It provides dog owners with well-researched and helpful information presented in a lighthearted manner. The creators chose to write the book in a style similar to what you'd find in "operating instructions" for a car or computer. Of course they--and we--respect the fact that our beloved pets are not products or machines!