Days 15–21 Key Puppy Behavior
Eyes open
Teeth begin to emerge
Stands on all fours and take a few steps
Begins to lap liquid
Defecates without the bitch’s stimulation
The puppy’s eyesight is dim, but he is ready for the next adventure. He
discovers that the other pups are more than just warm lumps to be crawled
over and slept on. He begins to stagger around on four legs, lifting himself
up first on his front legs, then on his hind legs as they become equally
strong. Activity periods are brief, followed by sleep to gather strength for
the next concentrated effort. By the end of this transitional period, the pup
can walk on four legs and lap milk or soft food in a fairly efficient manner
(although not very elegantly).
The puppy no longer needs constant care from the bitch and is beginning
to defecate without her stimulus. He starts to get interested in littermates.
The very beginnings of pack-oriented behavior, such as pawing at each
other’s faces and chewing on littermates’ ears, are seen at this stage.
