Today we are starting to see the very first signs of playfulness. The puppies are beginning to gently wrestle with one another, testing movements, bumping noses, and learning how their little bodies work together. Everything is still very wobbly and uncoordinated at this age, so their play is soft, slow, and brief, but this marks the beginning of true social interaction. At around this stage, puppies start learning early communication skills through play, such as how to appro

This is one of those stages that never gets old. This is the age when I really love watching them, because their eyes are open, their little faces have so much more expression, and their bodies are starting to figure out how all the pieces work together. Right now, all five puppies are learning how to get their feet underneath them. They have been a bit chunkier than some litters, simply because there are fewer puppies sharing mom. Smaller litters often gain weight faster, wh

1. Eyes and Ears Fully Open: By two weeks old, most puppies have their eyes open, but by Day 16, they’re beginning to really see and hear the world around them. Their vision is still a little blurry, but they’re starting to respond to light, shadows, and sounds. 2. Building Strength and Coordination: Their front legs are getting stronger, and they’re starting to lift their bellies off the ground for a few steps at a time. It’s an important stage between “army crawling” and wa