Inside the Puppy Pen - Day 17

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, which is wonderful for overall health, but those extra rolls do make coordination a little more challenging at first. Those back legs have a lot of puppy to lift.

Even so, they are making great progress. Instead of just scooting and crawling, they are starting to push up, stabilize, and briefly get up on all fours. The movements are still wobbly and uncoordinated, but each day you can see more strength and confidence building. Watching them toddle across the pen, pause, regroup, and try again is genuinely adorable.

From a developmental standpoint, this stage is exactly where they should be. Around 2 to 3 weeks of age, puppies begin transitioning from reflex driven movement to purposeful motion. Their muscles are strengthening, their balance is improving, and their nervous systems are learning how to coordinate movement. Chunkier puppies may take an extra day or two to really get those back feet working efficiently, but that is completely normal and not a concern.

This phase is important because early movement helps build muscle tone, joint awareness, and coordination that they will continue to refine over the coming weeks. Every little wobble and attempt is laying the groundwork for confident walking, playing, and eventually running.

For now, we are enjoying every awkward step.