A week ago, these puppies entered the world. In seven short days, the rhythm of the whelping box has become familiar: the soft sounds of nursing, tiny paws pressing against Mom, and a warm pile of puppies sleeping together between meals.
From the outside, week one can look beautifully uneventful. The puppies mostly eat and sleep. Their eyes and ears are still closed, and they depend on their mother for warmth, food, and care. But for the breeder, this is a week of constant attention—and countless small milestones.
Days one and two: settling into life
The first priority is simple: keep Mom comfortable and make sure every puppy is warm, nursing, and able to rest. We check that each puppy finds a place to latch and that no one is getting pushed aside. We watch Mom, too. Her comfort and wellbeing shape the whole litter’s first days.
We weigh the puppies and follow their progress, change bedding, keep the whelping area clean, and pay attention to the details that a newborn cannot tell us in words. A content puppy after nursing, a full little belly, and steady growth are the kinds of signs we hope to see. When something seems off, we take it seriously and seek veterinary guidance as needed.
Day three: beginning ENS
On day three, we begin Early Neurological Stimulation, often called ENS. It is a short, structured series of gentle handling exercises done with each puppy individually during the early newborn period, typically once a day from days three through sixteen.
The exercises introduce brief changes in position, a light touch between the toes, and a moment of contact with a cool surface. Each part lasts only a few seconds. We handle each puppy carefully, keep the session brief, and return the puppy to Mom. It is a small part of the day, and it never replaces nursing, sleep, warmth, or ordinary gentle handling.
We include ENS as one piece of a thoughtful foundation. It does not guarantee a particular temperament or replace the social experiences, training, and family life that will come later. Those things continue to matter as the puppies grow.
Days four through seven: noticing the changes
By the end of the first week, the little differences become easier to see. We recognize who is quick to find Mom, who stretches out across the puppy pile, and who seems happiest tucked beneath a sibling. Their movements become more purposeful as they crawl toward warmth and milk. Their eyes are still closed, but they are already changing every day.
Our work remains steady: checking weights and nursing, watching each puppy’s condition, caring for Mom, refreshing the bedding, and continuing brief ENS sessions. Much of good care at this age is quiet and repetitive. It means noticing a small change early and making sure each puppy has what they need.
And then, in the middle of that routine, there are moments that stop us: a tiny paw resting on Mom, a puppy asleep with its nose against a sibling, or the whole litter settling at once after nursing.
One week old. Still so dependent, still so small, and already each one has a place in the story of this litter.
In the coming weeks, their eyes will open, their hearing will develop, and their world will grow beyond the warmth of the whelping box. For now, we are grateful for this beginning—and for the privilege of caring for them through every small step.
Learn more about the newborn period and ENS from the American Kennel Club.