Welcome to the World Puppies

Welcome to the world puppies 🥰

Winnie’s pups arrived on Sunday, October 26th. She surprised us by coming a couple of days early, but everything went perfectly.

She was scanned for eight, and sure enough, eight gorgeous little red pups made their debut. The first pup, a boy, was born at 8.45 a.m and the last, a girl, at 3.19 p.m a lovely daytime whelp for once (usually they like to keep me up all night). We have three boys and five girls, all doing brilliantly.

Winnie is doing an amazing job, she’s such a loving, attentive mum, and both she and her pups are doing wonderfully.

When puppies are born, they enter the world incredibly fragile and completely dependent on Winnie for everything.

At one week old:

• Their eyes and ears are closed, so they can’t see or hear yet.

• They rely entirely on smell and touch to find warmth and Winnie's milk.

• Their little bodies are soft, wobbly, and not yet able to walk, just adorable wiggles and tiny crawls.

• They sleep almost all day and night, building strength and growing with each nap.

It may seem like not much is happening, but inside, their bodies are developing at an incredible pace.

Feeding and Growing Fast

Puppies nurse every couple of hours, and Winnie's milk gives them everything they need -hydration, nutrients, and antibodies that help protect them from illness.

By the end of their first week, most puppies will have doubled their birth weight. I carefully keep track of each puppy’s weight to make sure everyone is growing steadily.

The Importance of Warmth and Comfort

At this age, puppies can’t control their own body temperature, so staying warm is crucial. Winnie provides the perfect heat source, and I make sure the whelping area is cozy — around 29–30°C for the first few days.

When you see a litter of newborns, you’ll notice they’re always snuggled up together. That’s not just cute — it’s essential for their survival and comfort.

Cleanliness and Care

Puppies this young can’t even go to the bathroom on their own. Winnie gently licks them to help with digestion and elimination, and she keeps their space clean and dry.

Keeping the whelping box spotless and sanitised is part of daily care, it helps prevent infections and keeps the pups healthy.

Early Development Behind the Scenes

Even though 1 week old puppies can’t play yet, their little brains are busy forming connections that will shape their future personalities and abilities.

I gently handle the puppies for short periods each day. This helps the puppies get used to human touch early on, a small step that makes a big difference in helping them grow into well adjusted, confident dogs.

Sleep, Growth, and Quiet Moments

If you’ve ever seen a newborn puppy, you’ll know they spend nearly all their time sleeping. This isn’t laziness, it’s growth time. During sleep, their bodies are developing muscles, organs, and nervous systems.

Quiet, restful sleep is one of the best indicators of a healthy, content puppy.