As Maya started taking breaks away from the litter last week, the puppies went from snuggling in small groups to conglomeration into large dog piles
Their eyes started cracking open but it takes many days to fully open. We can see them look at us and other things, blink, etc. They become more playful with one another as they see each other, sometimes licking or mouthing their litter mates. At two weeks their ears remain closed and soundproof. We know this because when I popped bubble wrap in the room, looking for a startle reflex, they all slept right through it. The kids typically enjoy doing these tests! Ears should be going live soon.
In week one the puppies most ate and slept. Maya was Almost continually with them. Now that she leaves for periods of time and comes back at regular intervals to feed and clean the puppies, they are beginning to develop more of a sleep, awaken, eat, explore pattern. There is beginning to be fierce competition when it’s time to eat and puppies can push and shove heavily like any siblings. Once the Belly is full, puppies are now taking more interest in trying new skills and exploring. They crawl, they chew each other, some are beginning to climb. As their eyes ooen more and more they show curiosity about things. Here, a puppy took interest in looking at the faux fireplace flames:
We’ve continued ENS and ESI and that should wrap up in the coming week.
For novelty’s sake, different things are placed in the whelping box by me or Maya, usually each day. Maya likes to drop alternating favorite toys in for them, which is always fun for me to see what she chooses. I like to put in things with different textures or shapes, or change the location of things in the box.
The puppies are up and crawling, moving faster on their feet, albeit wobbly.
They still need mom to stimulate them to go potty but soon they will start to go on their own and that’s when we’ll introduce them to a potty area.
At two weeks old the puppies weigh 1 3/4 - 2 3/4 pounds. All puppies doubled their weight by 10 days & some have already tripled their birthweight.
In the week ahead as they start hearing, we will start noise habituation and desensitization.
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