If you’ve found an orphan puppy, you won’t know exactly how old he is.
But you need to make an educated guess so you can determine the kind of care he’ll need. A two-day old puppy needs a completely different of care than a three week old. Once you’ve figured out his age, you’ll know if you need to stimulate him to potty or start housebreaking him.
Please remember that this chart is only general guide. Every puppy matures at a different rate. Larger breed dogs tend to mature earlier than small dogs.
Newborn
through
Day 7 |
- Is blind and deaf
- Can smell well enough to find mother
- Sleeps 90% of the time and eats the other 10%
- Room should be 85°
Fed 6 to 8 times a day
- Can’t go to the bathroom on his own.
He requires external stimulation of private parts to help him eliminate.
- Needs only minimal handling
|
| Newborn |
- Body temperature is 94°F
- Umbilical cord still attached
|
| Day 2 |
- Body temperature between
95° and 97° F
|
| Day 3 |
Umbilical cord falls off |
| Day 5 |
Begins to crawl around |
| Day 7 |
- Puppy crawling more easily
- Should be cuddled only a few minutes a day
|
Days
7 to 14 |
- Room should be kept at 80° to 85°F
- Eyes and ears open
- Stands wobbly
|
| Day 14 |
- Stands up and crawls around
- Eyes focusing
|
Days
14 to 17 |
Begins walking wobbly |
Days
14 to 21 |
- Starts to explore his surroundings
- Milk teeth (baby incisors or front teeth) emerge
- Touching objects with his paws
|
Days
17 to 21 |
- Poops and pees without assistance
- Interacts with littermates
- Tail wags
|
| Day 21 |
- Critical Socialization Period-need for human socialization and introduction to other species begins
- Begins to explore his surroundings
- Body temperature reaches 98° to 100°
- Weaning begins for large sized puppies
- Really walking
- Playing with siblings (biting on ears, tails and paws)
|
Days
21 to 28 |
- Lapping formula from a bowl
- Eye color changes
- Starts to groom himself
- Feed 4 times a day
|
| Day 28 |
- Room should be no cooler than 75° F
- Small sized puppies begins to wean
- Have full set of baby teeth
- Eating soft food
- First vaccinations for orphans
- Playing with littermates
|
| 5 weeks |
Should receive gentle human handling |
4 to 5
weeks |
Housetraining begins |
5 to 7
weeks |
- Forms relationships with people
- Moves around the room freely
- Play mounting
- Eats four times a day
- Actively eating dry food
|
| Week 6 |
- Greets littermates with nose and tail sniffing
- Eats three times a day
|
| Day 45 |
Should have 28 puppy teeth |
8 to 9
weeks |
- Puppies can be spayed or neutered when they reach 2 pounds
- Dry food three times a day
|
8 to 10
weeks |
- Puppies with mothers are fully weaned
- Puppy can be rehomed
|
8 to 11
weeks |
Fear imprint period – traumatic events will
likely cause fear for life |
| Week 12 |
Chasing things |
| Week 14 |
Adolescence begins |
2 to 5
months |
Permanent front teeth emerge |
4 to 5
months |
Permanent first premolars emerge |
| Month 5 |
Permanent canines (fangs) emerge |
5 to 6
months |
- Males reach sexual maturity
- First permanent molars appear
|
5 to 18
months |
Females have their first heat |
| Month 6 |
Permanent second premolars emerge |
6 to 7
months |
Permanent second and third molars appear |
6 to 14
months |
Males lift leg to pee |
| Month 7 |
Cutting permanent teeth |
| 36 months |
Large breeds considered mature |
