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Days One and Two
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Puppies' eyes and ears are closed for the first weeks after birth. Keep an eye on the puppies to make sure that they are nursing heartily. If a puppy is not, consult your vet immediately. Give the new family privacy and resist handling the puppies unless you are guiding them to nurse. Elevate the mother's water bowl to prevent accidental drowning.
Keep track of the puppies' daily weight. This will help you notice if one is not gaining. If one puppy is being pushed aside during nursing, give him time alone with his mother to ensure that he gets the necessary nutrients.
Week One
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Trim the puppies' nails to protect their mother and themselves from injury. Handle the puppies for longer periods, but be careful that the mother does not feel threatened. It is still too early for outside visitors. The puppies should gain weight steadily and be more active in the box. They use smell to navigate at this stage, and food, sleep and warmth are their only priorities.
Ask your veterinarian for guidance on trimming nails. Trimming should begin this week and continue weekly while the puppies grow. This will help prevent injury.
Week Two
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The puppies' eyes and ears will open in the second week. Eyes and ears will open and some puppies will go to the bathroom on their own. The litter will be more active and take an interest in their surroundings. The puppies will not nurse as frequently as the first week, but should be draining the mother's teats. Keep the mother with them as much as possible, even if she is restless.
Week Three
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Your puppies will be showing an interest in solid food. The puppies will be growing more vocal and independent. Give them an area with newspapers away from but connected to their birthing box to use as a restroom. This will make cleaning easier.
At the end of week three, the puppies will be ready for their first solid food. Consult your veterinarian on what to feed them. Provide water to the puppies in a very shallow cake pan.
Week Four
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The mother can leave her puppies for a few hours at a time now. Keep the puppy area clean with frequent paper changes and washings. Bigger puppies and solid food mean a lot more mess. Keep water and clean towels handy to wipe paws and tail areas before they make a bigger mess. The puppies can do without their mother for a few hours, so let her take breaks.
Week Five
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Your vet will have suggestions on what to feed the litter. The mother will still nurse, but may want to sleep away from her puppies. This is normal behavior as she encourages their independence. She also may throw up partially digested food for them to eat. Allow the puppies to eat it. This is part of the transition from nursing.
Week Six
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This week your puppies will be ready to meet new people. Take the puppies outside 10 minutes after eating to relieve themselves. This will provide outdoor play time and begin house-training.
Set up the puppy pen in a central area of your house so the puppies can play with new people and be introduced to prospective owners. If the mother is nervous, remove her while people are visiting. Do not allow the puppies to have contact with other dogs.
Week Seven
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The mother dog will need time away from her young. Wean your puppies from their mother. It's important to keep her away so her milk dries up. Ask your veterinarian for a humane schedule to follow so she's not in pain from excess milk but can still socialize with the litter.
Week Eight
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At 8 weeks old, your puppy is ready for a new home. Take your puppies for check-ups and immunizations. Once they're cleared by the veterinarian, the puppies are ready to go to their new homes.
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Guide to Raising Newborn Puppies
Whether you've planned it or it comes as a surprise, finding yourself in charge of a litter of squirming puppies can be daunting. When puppies are born, their eyes and ears are sealed, and the mother will be their primary source of care. She will clean them, stimulate them to use the bathroom, and provide valuable antibodies through her colostrum and milk. However, there is still a lot for you to do.