Inside the Puppy Pen – Day 16

Today’s video captures a sweet moment as Dolly settles into the pen for her little ones. Even though the puppies’ eyes and ears are open now, their vision and hearing are still developing. They’re mostly relying on smell and touch to find their way to mom.

At first, there’s some confusion as they wobble around searching, but that challenge is so valuable. Every time they use their legs and their minds to figure it out, they’re building coordination, strength, and early problem-solving skills. Instead of us setting the puppies directly on Dolly, letting them work through the process exercises their mental capacity and helps them gain confidence.

Dolly is such a careful mama—she chooses a spot to lie down where she won’t risk laying on anyone, but still encourages them to come find her. Watching their determination and progress each day is such a joy!

Fun Fact: A puppy’s sense of smell is well developed even before their vision clears, and it’s their strongest tool at this stage. That early reliance on scent will later help them with training and socialization as they learn to explore the world.

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