Devon & Freddie's Pups - 4 Weeks Old

Did You Know? Life at Four Weeks Old

By four weeks old, these puppies are unrecognisable from the tiny, helpless newborns Devon brought into the world. They are running, playing, exploring, and making their personalities very loudly known. Week four is pure joy, curious, bouncy, and utterly full of life. Here are some amazing facts about what's happening right now.

Did you know… they are fully mobile for the first time?

Those wobbly first steps from week two and three have transformed into something much more confident. By four weeks, puppies are running, tumbling, and charging around the whelping area with real purpose. Watching a Cockapoo puppy discover its legs properly for the first time is one of the most entertaining things I get to experience as a breeder.

Did you know… weaning is well underway?

With the puppies' baby teeth now coming through and feeding becoming more demanding on Devon, I begin introducing softened puppy food this week. Weaning is a gradual process , Devon's milk remains the foundation of their diet but those first explorations of solid food are an important step toward independence.

Did you know… play is now a serious business?

What started as clumsy pawing at littermates in week three has evolved into full play sessions by week four. Puppies are chasing, wrestling, pouncing, and play-biting each other constantly. This isn't just entertainment, through play they are learning bite inhibition, reading body language, and developing the social skills they'll rely on for life.

Did you know… they are forming their first bonds with people?

Week four is when puppies really begin to notice and respond to the humans around them. They will approach, investigate, and interact with people in a way that simply wasn't possible before. For Cockapoos, a breed bred specifically for human companionship this is a beautiful moment. I make sure every puppy gets plenty of gentle one-to-one time with me this week, and I can confirm the puppy kisses are already coming in thick and fast!

Did you know… their immune system is at its most vulnerable?

The antibodies Devon passed through her milk begin to decline around this point, and the puppies' own immune systems are not yet strong enough to fully take over. This makes week four an important time to be careful about hygiene and who comes into contact with the litter. Vaccinations won't come until later, so I take every precaution to keep the puppies safe and healthy.

Did you know… their bark is finding its voice?

Those early yips and squeaks from week three are developing into something that sounds much more like a proper bark. Cockapoos are expressive little dogs, and by four weeks the puppies are vocalising with real intent barking at each other during play, calling out when they want attention, and responding to Devon's sounds. The whelping room is considerably noisier this week.

Did you know… they are learning to lap water?

Alongside the introduction of solid food, I offer a shallow dish of fresh water this week. Learning to lap is a new skill it takes a little practice and results in quite a lot of splashing but it's an important step toward independence. Staying well hydrated becomes increasingly important as their diet begins to shift away from milk.

Did you know… their Cockapoo coat is starting to show?

By four weeks, the soft puppy fluff is giving way to the first hints of what that Cockapoo coat will become, whether wavy, curly, or somewhere in between.

Did you know… the socialisation window is wide open?

Behaviourists consider the period between three and twelve weeks to be the single most important socialisation window in a dog's life. At four weeks, we are right in the heart of it. Every positive experience a puppy has now with sounds, surfaces, people, and handling shapes how they respond to the world as an adult.

Did you know… their individual personalities are now impossible to miss?

By four weeks there is no question each puppy is a distinct individual. The bold one, the gentle one, the cheeky one, the snuggly one. Devon watches over all of them with the same quiet pride she has shown since day one, and I couldn't agree with her more.

Four weeks in, and this litter has already come so far. The real adventure for the puppies, for Devon, and for the lucky families waiting for them is only just beginning.

Subject to viewings, all of our puppies have found their forever homes!