What Age Do Puppies Open Their Eyes?

Unlike humans, puppies are born blind, with their eyes completely closed. They're very fragile, unable to maintain their own body temperature, and rely solely on their sense of smell to find their mother and nurse.

But in a short time, they're able to see, move around, and become increasingly independent from their mother. Below, we go over the developmental milestones to make sure our puppy is growing properly.

Newborn Puppies

Once born, puppies are cleaned by their mother's tongue, which is also what breaks the amniotic sac, if needed, and bites through the umbilical cord. They can only lift their head — they can't walk — but they can crawl toward a nipple, guided by smell. Once there, they start suckling.

At first, they feed on colostrum, a fluid that comes before milk and is packed with antibodies, making it vital for strengthening the litter's immune system until they can receive their first vaccine. In their first days of life, they'll do nothing but eat and sleep.

Their mother helps them eliminate feces and urine by licking their genital area several times a day. This stimulates the elimination reflex. The puppies prepare their muscles for future mobility through the twitches and kicks that happen while they sleep, known as active sleep.

Puppies Open Their Eyes

Puppies are born with their eyes completely shut, as if they were always asleep. They also can't hear. It's not until 10-14 days that their eyes start to open and their ears begin registering sounds. That said, we should keep in mind they won't be able to properly navigate by sight and sound until around 25 days old.

Normal Temperature for Puppies

Younger puppies will be at the temperature of whatever environment they're in. They can maintain their own body temperature away from their mother only for brief periods. They're unable to retain heat.

Their body temperature dropping below 34.4°C (94°F) is very dangerous, since it causes their metabolism to slow down. That's why it's recommended to keep them in a heated space and regularly check their temperature.

The Best Way to Care for Newborn Puppies

In the earliest stage of their life, puppies get all the care they need from their mother. We should interfere as little as possible, only when we notice a problem with the puppies or the mother. As the little ones grow and become more independent, we'll have plenty of time to interact with them.

So, we don't need to do anything more than keep an eye on the family, keep them in a sheltered space away from stress, and provide the mother with quality food and water on demand. In the case of orphaned or motherless puppies, we should feed them with milk specially formulated for dogs and follow whatever care instructions our vet gives us.

At What Age Do Puppies Start Walking?

Once their eyes open and their sense of hearing kicks in, puppies start standing up. Within 2-3 weeks, they'll be able to walk — clumsily at first, but soon, with practice, they'll gain good mobility.

Weaning Puppies

Around three weeks old, puppies are already able to eat from a bowl, though it's best for them to keep nursing until at least two months old. To start them on solid food, we can use food specially formulated for puppies, with a soft texture.

It's also possible to choose kibble and soak it in warm water to form a paste. We'll let them keep nursing normally, and several times a day we'll offer them the bowl with solid food. Over time, without forcing them, they'll start eating more of it and drinking less milk. Throughout this process, their mother will also set the limits for them.