Raising a puppy from birth is much like watching a child grow, in the sense that they get bigger every day and hit development milestones.
A California family that breeds English golden retrievers recently welcomed a new litter of 10 to the world in the middle of December. The different stages of raising a puppy on TikTok are shared with one of the breeders' 364,300 followers, but one of the favorite milestones is when the dog's ears are unsealed.
A puppy's ear canal will typically open up between weeks two and four. It truly can happen in the blink of an eye. One day you'll be talking to it with no response, as this breeder did, but the very next day the puppy heard her. As soon as she said hi in a calm, low voice, all the puppies' heads popped up and they started to vocalize.
"My guess is that they're not just responding to my voice but to each other's sounds," the breeder wrote in the video's text.
There are signs to know that a puppy's hearing is "coming online." For example, this breeder will look for a vocal response to a sound such as tapping. Once there is a response, she will start talking to the dog while letting it explore only on its terms.
The beautiful moment featuring the 3-week-old puppies was shared on Tuesday in a TikTok clip posted to the account @nicholberrygoldens. People are melting over it.
"This is the BEST way to start the New Year!" commented a viewer.
Another pointed out: "So little yet so vocal!"
The breeder regularly posts about the puppies' growth progression, starting with their birth and then their nursing, when the pigment starts showing and the unsealing of their eyes. Their ear canals finally opening up is just the latest in the series.
Puppy Growth Timeline
Raising a puppy is filled with plenty of emotions, including excitement, nervousness and curiosity. Not to mention the plenty of challenges along the way. But the good news is that puppies follow a general growth timeline, and if owners are prepared for it, the puppies will get the proper care to grow into happy and healthy adult dogs.
For about the first three weeks of a puppy's life, their senses have not started working, the American Kennel Club says. Most of their time is spent sleeping the day away. But by weeks two and four, their eyes will open up and other senses will develop.
At 4 weeks old, puppies will start to walk. Some might show off their voice by barking. Others may start wagging their tails. This is also the time when their razor-sharp teeth emerge.
The following four weeks are jam-packed with learning as the mother begins weaning the puppies and teaching them how to behave. The puppy siblings will play with each other and explore. By the eight-week mark, which always goes by too fast, the puppy is typically mature enough to go to a permanent home.
The rest of the timeline includes the fear period between eight and 12 weeks, pre-adolescence at 12 to 24 weeks and the teenage years at six to 12 months. Most dogs will reach majority at 12 months, officially marking their entrance into adulthood.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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