This blog post will talk about the topic “Three Weeks Old German Shepherd Puppy”. It will also talk about the process of growth of a German Shepherd.
Three Weeks Old German Shepherd Puppy
Dogs are mammals, and one inherent phenomenon that all mammals experience is that the mama always takes good care of their babies. Humans, for example, are breastfed by their mamas to give them enough nourishment and nutrition when they grow up.
German Shepherds are no different. They will always try to stay with their mother while the mother feeds them. If nothing bad happens, the mama German Shepherd should be close to her puppies for at least 8 to 10 weeks and should not be separated from them for too long.
This is because every German Shepherd should get all the basic knowledge from their mother. The mother is responsible for training them and taking good care of them.
When the dog is three weeks old, it should have already advanced by a lot, relative to how it was during birth. They should already be able to walk confidently, and the information they have gotten from their mothers should already have increased drastically.
They are also expected to start socializing and learning the environment and all its details. They should already be more confident with their dog identity, with who they are, and what other species of animals there are, including and especially us, humans.
They are now exploring the world and learning how to make friends. They are curious and they can already start developing emotional reactions to things. Like when they hear an annoying whistle sound, they should feel annoyance and this is a development in feelings and the emotional aspect.
Although newborn puppies do not have teeth yet, the teeth of dogs who are three weeks old might just start growing and appearing. The growth of their teeth is an important stage in the life of a puppy. When the teeth have fully grown, feeding them with the mother’s breastfeed will not be necessary anymore. On the other hand, they will now require more serious meals.
As the puppies eat much more, the owner now has to provide more food because they now require more nutrition. Full grown teeth are formed around the fourth week of development. The dogs will also now gain around fifty grams, which is approximately two ounces of weight in one week. Their average weight should equal around 370 grams or 13 ounces. This depends on the weight, and has a plus minus of 125 grams or 5 ounces.
How German Shepherds grow
German Shepherds are born deaf, blind immobile, and completely dependent on their moms, just like typical mammals. After this, they will start to gain weight and develop physically and mentally very rapidly.
They will be ready to leave their mamas only after 8 weeks since their birth. At this age, they are expected to already weigh 13 to 15 pounds on average. They are also expected to already have learned lots of important social skills from mama German Shepherd.
Baby German Shepherds
German Shepherds are easily one of the most popular dog breeds out there. They have a huge number of devoted fans and some people would even save their money just so they could purchase a German Shepherd.
When they become adults, they can be large and imposing, but despite this, they still have a cute puppy phase that most people will really fall in love with.
However, most dogs are not sold in pet stores until after 8 to 12 weeks since their birth. This magical time of their lives is an absolutely lovely sight!
The Birth of a German Shepherd
A litter of a German Shepherd usually consists of around 4 to 8 puppies. When a German Shepherd is born, they will have an umbilical cord that is attached and may even be covered in amniotic fluid. Most of the time, the mama German Shepherd will chew off the umbilical cord. The mama German Shepherd will also spend the first few hours cleaning their pups by endlessly licking their faces.
The mom will also try to keep her newborn pups warm but also will try to allow them to nurse. The baby German Shepherds at this stage will just sleep and avoid spending their energy. Instead of running around the house like when they do when they are already adults, they will still frequently nurse from their mother.
They are completely dependent on their mother when they are first born. Their eyes and ears will both be closed and they will be unable to regulate their own body temperature efficiently. This is their mama’s job, and the mama will try its best to keep the little German Shepherds warm.
Of course they will lack teeth and will rely on their mother’s milk, which, during that time, should be their only source of nutrition. A newly born German Shepherd should have a coat and the color depends on the genes they have inherited from their parents. Black with tan markings is the most common color scheme for this dog breed.
Furthermore, newly born German Shepherds are relatively immobile. They will be unable to properly support their own weight. So to move around, they will have to crawl on their stomach, and not use their legs.
They are also not expected to do tasks like urinating and defecating because at this stage, they are still incapable of urinating or defecating on their own. Stimulation from their mother will be required to help them go to the toilet.
A one-week old baby German Shepherd
In the first week of a German Shepherd since its birth, they should bulk up significantly and have their weight almost doubled. Although, there will not be much change in their behavior as they will still be focused on nursing and sleeping which is a job mostly performed by their mamas.
They also need to keep themselves warm so they will endlessly cuddle close to each other, except for when they are already in a warm, and even hot environment.
During their first week as dogs, they will still be blind and deaf.
A two-week old baby German Shepherd
During their second week of life, the eyes of German Shepherd puppies will begin to open for the very first time. While they are still not expected to see very well because they are still basically blind, having their eyes open is already a big step in their growth.
Eyes should open for the first time between the tenth or the fourteenth day. These eyes will appear blue in color but this will change into brown as they continue to grow and develop.
They may become a little more inquisitive and curious about their surroundings with their new found eyesight. They may also begin to crawl around a little more. A five to 10 percent increase in body weight is expected during the second week, because they are continuously and rapidly growing and developing their bodies.
A three-week old baby German Shepherd
At three weeks of age, we enter a period of rapid change within the baby German Shepherds. We can expect to see them make some big steps at this stage.
Firstly, at around 14-18 days old, their ears should begin to open for the first time. They should now be able to both see and hear, though not too clearly.
Their senses will continue to develop over the coming weeks. It’s worth noting that this is around the time their eyes will begin to transition from the cloudy blue color to brown.
They will begin to be able to stand and support their own weight. Walking may still be tough, though! They will likely be pretty wobbly.
You can also expect to see their baby teeth come in at around this time. While they still get the majority of their nutrition from their mother, they will begin to show interest in solid food.
They will begin to become more independent at this age, being able to urinate and defecate on their own.
The growth of a German Shepherd is further elaborated by The Happy Puppy Site in this article.
Conclusion
This blog post talked about the topic “Three Weeks Old German Shepherd Puppy”. It also talked about the process of growth of a German Shepherd.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Three Weeks Old German Shepherd Puppy
How much should a three week old German Shepherd puppy weigh?
Normal weight for a newborn German Shepherd puppy ranges from 370g to 600g (0.8 lbs – 1.3 lbs), with the average being around 1 lb.
How long do German Shepherds carry their babies?
The normal gestation period in dogs is approximately 63 days from conception, although this can vary by several days.
When should German Shepherd puppies be weaned?
As a general guideline, most German Shepherd breeders wean their puppies gradually onto solid foods over a period of about 3 weeks, beginning when the German Shepherd puppies are around 3 1/2 – 4 weeks of age.
How many puppies do German Shepherds usually have?
Their usual litter size is around 8 puppies. The majority of German Shepherd puppies born, the first pup will be a male (typical male always impatient). Puppies start to be weaned around 3-4 weeks of age.
How will I know when my dog is ready to have her puppies?
You should begin to take your dog’s rectal temperature once or twice a day as her due date approaches. Normal body temperature is about 100-102°F. When the rectal temperature drops below 100°F this is a good sign that labor will begin within about 24 hours.
How do I know when my German Shepherd is ready to give birth?
Many pregnant dogs start to pant heavily, and her temperature will drop from a normal temperature (100-to-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit) to 99 degrees or even lower shortly before going into labor. Approximately 24 hours after this temperature drop, she will whelp, and you will be the proud owner of a new litter of puppies.
When can you separate puppies from mom?
While some breeders feel that it is all right to release a pup from its mother at eight weeks, most professional breeders strongly recommend that a puppy should be separated from its dam and litter at 12 weeks of age. By this time, a puppy will have been accustomed to feeding and grooming itself.
Can I give milk to my German Shepherd puppy?
The veterinarian should set the appropriate feed intake, quantity and type of feed for the German Shepherd puppy. Milk should be removed from your diet, as it will cause diarrhea. It is vital that puppies have clean water and enough to drink at all times.
References
“3 Week Old German Shepherd Puppies: Care, Food and Training.” 1001doggycom 3 Week Old German Shepherd Puppies Care Food and Training Comments, 1001doggy.com/3-week-old-german-shepherd-puppies-care-food-and-training/.
Jones, Ryan, et al. “Baby German Shepherd – How Your Tiny Puppy Will Grow.” The Happy Puppy Site, 23 Jan. 2020, thehappypuppysite.com/baby-german-shepherd/.
“German Shepherd Puppies: German Shepherd: German Shepherd Puppy.” German Shepherd Puppies | German Shepherd | German Shepherd Puppy, www.vonlotta.com/german-shepherd-puppies.html.
Burke, Anna. “Gestation Period: How Long Are Dogs Pregnant?” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 14 Mar. 2018, www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/how-long-are-dogs-pregnant/.
Weaning GSD Puppies – Weaning German Shepherd Puppies, www.total-german-shepherd.com/WeaningGSDpuppies.html.
Sharon. “About The German Shepherd.” German Shepherd World, German Shepherd Puppy Breeder, Old Style German Shepherds Australia, germanshepherdworld.com.au/about-the-german-shepherd.
Jenna Stregowski, RVT. “How to Help Your Dog Have Her Puppies.” The Spruce Pets, www.thesprucepets.com/whelping-canine-labor-and-delivery-1117846.
Burke, Anna. “Dog Pregnancy: Signs, Care, and Preparation.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 24 Oct. 2017, www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-pregnancy-care-prep/.
Admin. “When’s the Best Time to Separate a Puppy from Its Mother?” Allivet Pet Care Blog, 4 Mar. 2016, www.allivet.com/blog/whens-the-best-time-to-separate-a-puppy-from-its-mother/.
Universum, Dog. “Feeding a German Shepherd Puppy.” Medium, Medium, 11 Oct. 2018, medium.com/@chienmag/feeding-a-german-shepherd-puppy-2105626b161e.
