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🐶Raising Puppies: From Newborn to 2 Weeks!
Who doesn’t love baby puppies?! They’re squishy, wiggly, and honestly… borderline magical. But behind all that cuteness is a TON of work, especially in those first two weeks of life.
Right now, I’m in the thick of raising a litter, so let’s talk about what actually goes into caring for puppies from day 0–14!
They’re completely dependent
Newborn puppies can’t see, hear, regulate their body temperature, or even go to the bathroom on their own. Every single need is either met by mom… or carefully supported by us.Temperature is everything
Keeping puppies warm (but not too warm!) is critical. Too cold and they can’t digest food. Too hot and it’s just as dangerous. It’s a constant balancing act and yes, sometimes I’m left sweating because the house is so warm!Feeding + weight checks
Healthy puppies should be nursing regularly and gaining weight daily. We’re tracking weights, monitoring nursing, and stepping in if anyone needs extra support. This even means making sure that mom is doing well and looking out for a lack of calcium, giving her 24/7 access to a high quality diet and monitoring for mastitis!Cleanliness & care
Mom does a lot of the heavy lifting here (thank you, amazing mamas), but we’re still keeping bedding clean, watching for any concerns, and making sure everyone stays healthy. Mama dogs also typically will need to go potty every 2-3 hours. They’re eating and drinking a LOT extra to support the needs of their babies. This mama went from eating 2 cups of food a day, to 3 cups of normal food and 3 cups of puppy food daily!Minimal interference, maximum support
The goal isn’t to micromanage, it is to support mom and let her do what she’s biologically wired to do, while stepping in when needed. Early Neurological Stimulation is something that should be done daily for the puppies, as well as introducing them to new smells and textures. This helps give puppies a boost in socialization and can produce more resilient puppies!It’s exhausting, emotional, and incredibly rewarding all at once. These first two weeks lay the foundation for everything that comes next… and I feel so lucky to be part of it. Now tell me, what questions do YOU have about puppies?
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1 Reply
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Good golly these are beautiful and heartwarming puppies! Thank you for sharing!
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