Very young puppies -- ages 1 to 3 weeks -- require much more hands-on attention and care than older puppies. During the first four days of life, the environmental temperature where the puppies are kept should be maintained at 85 -90°F (29.5-32 ° C). So at that point, punishing the puppy might promote some anxiety and stress for the puppy. Since most, if not all, of your precious litter will probably be in new homes after this time frame, it is extremely important that you see to it that they are given the best possible start in life! To help the puppy grow into a well-adjusted dog, Siracusa says it’s important to start to expose him or her to stimulation, under the careful supervision of mom. Newborn pups should be kept in a whelping box for the first two weeks of their life A whelping box will keep the puppies warm and protected. Young puppies need special care. Exploratory behavior is important right now and all a part of the learning process. The greatest growth rate is between newborn and 8 weeks of age. And most puppies are standing and taking their first wobbly steps by the end of the third week of life. Take them out when you anticipate that they are going to go potty, usually every two to three hours, definitely after meals and when they’re excited or when they wake up. “When the dog goes to the vet for its first vaccines, then it should be exposed to positive things,” he says. The second thing which would need preparing would be the milk bottle to be used as a replacement if the mothers milk is not sufficient. Before anything else, there are two things which you would need to prepare for and what you should know about them. “Tactile stimulation is something that should happen,” Siracusa says, adding that there should always be respect for the puppies’ mother. In the first three to four weeks, the dam will totally care for the puppies. Setting up a clean environment for the mother dog before the puppies are born will be a good step to start from. There are important goings-ons between mother, puppy and siblings — strengthening the case for puppies staying with their mothers as long as possible early on. Crate training can also start during this stage and can help with potty training and separation anxiety. “Puppies and dogs, in general, are much more likely to listen to us if we use a happy tone of voice. You should weigh them every day for the next two weeks. Very young puppies are the same, because Mother Nature keeps this threshold for fear high, so the puppy can be exposed to the stimuli that would be part of the normal environment. Talk with your vet about timing. If you’re really in on all the action from day one, you’ll watch in awe as they open their eyes, carefully (and sometimes not so carefully) explore the environment around them with their nose and gradually grow into those oversized paws. Puppy development week by week starts as soon as your puppy is born. Although puppies are cute and cuddly, there is a lot of care that goes into their development in the first couple of weeks. Care.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment or engage in any conduct that requires a professional license. You won’t actually be training this adorable ball of fluff for many, many weeks, but there are ways you can set puppies up for success, specifically by exposing them to background sounds that are typical of their environment. “The dog should not be locked in the crate and left alone, because the dog will not associate the crate with a fun place,” Siracusa says. Care.com provides information and tools to help care seekers and care providers connect and make informed decisions. Negative experiences might even leave a more profound impression. Week 1. After the puppies are born, you should weigh them. 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