Your female German Shepherd dog just gave birth to a litter of puppies, and you’re eager to see their little faces. Your mind is already racing with questions. How big will they be? Will they have spots? And when do German Shepherd puppies’ eyes open?
Generally, puppies are born blind and deaf, with their eyes and ears tightly shut. For the first few weeks of their lives, they rely on their sense of smell and touch to navigate the world. But around two weeks of age, puppies’ eyes begin to open.
Read on for a more detailed look at when German Shepherd puppies’ eyes open, as well as what you can expect to see during this exciting time.
When Do German Shepherd Puppies’ Eyes Open?
When they are around ten to fourteen days old, German Shepherd pups typically open their eyes for the first time.
When puppies are born, their eyes are completely shut since their eyes aren’t developed enough to take in everything the outside world has to offer just yet. There is a type of neuron in the eye of every dog that is sensitive to light and relays information about the environment to the brain.
However, because the nerves in the eyes of a newborn puppy are not fully formed and are therefore more sensitive, the eyelids remain closed to protect the eyes. When the puppy is prepared, it will start opening her eyes eventually, although she may only open one eye at a time at first.
The eyesight of a newborn puppy is not very sharp, even after its eyes have opened. The retinas and optic nerves will continue to mature over the next several weeks, which will result in the continued development of their eyesight. Soon, it will be able to notice things moving and objects around them.
Senses Development at the First 3 Months of GSD Puppy
Here’s a breakdown of when you can expect your German Shepherd pup’s senses to develop:
1 Month
This stage is mainly for development and growth. The majority of a puppy’s time is spent sleeping. When it’s awake, it’ll typically be feeding or trying to move around, but it won’t be able to walk yet as its muscles are still growing.
During this period, the puppies go through a variety of changes, including:
- Eyes and ears open, allowing them to recognize other dogs and humans.
- Pups will gradually go from grunting to mild growling and barking.
- They grow increasingly self-reliant and begin to interact with their littermates.
2 Months
This is the time when a puppy starts to develop connections and grows mentally at a fast speed. Around this time, some puppies go through a fear reaction stage, which means they are frightened of many new objects in their environment. A puppy begins to show evidence of adult brain waves around the 50th day.
As a result, it’s important that the puppy learns things like bite control (biting with a soft mouth that doesn’t hurt), safe dog-human socialization, and general canine behavior.
3 Months
Upon bringing a German Shepherd puppy into the house for the first time, it would be approximately 6 to 8 weeks old and have just started teething.
The front teeth of a German Shepherd puppy normally appear at about three months, while the whole set of adult teeth appears at six months.
For a puppy, teething is similar to puberty. There are a few things you’ll notice when your puppy matures at three months, including:
- Before resting in one position, the ears move up and down multiple times.
- While teething, the puppy would go through a biting and mouthing period.
You’ll need to potty train your German Shepherd puppy though they could already be potty trained, and, if necessary, cage train them in order to have a puppy that matures into a well-mannered dog.
It’s crucial to be consistent with following between the ages of 8 weeks and six months; this is the moment when you can really recognize negative behaviors before they become a habit if you want your puppy to have good manners as an adult dog.
Final Thoughts
So, when do German Shepherd puppies’ eyes open? As detailed above, German Shepherd puppies open their eyes for the first time when they’re about two weeks old. As a new owner, it’s your responsibility to provide socialization and basic training for your German Shepherd puppy during this stage. Happy training!
