Start handling the puppies. By about three weeks of age, you can—and should! —begin gently handling the puppies1 for short periods for reasons other than basic health care. Once the puppies have their eyes open, you can try carefully picking them up, holding them for a bit, and placing them back in the box.
When can u touch a newborn puppy?
Once the puppies are about three weeks old, they will begin to move around on their own. This is when you can begin to pet them and interact with them more. You should only touch or pick up a newborn puppy if you observe that it is sick, if the mother abandons it, or in the case of orphaned puppies.
Is it OK to handle newborn puppies?
The handling of new puppies should be kept to a minimum, but it's not because it will cause the mother to reject them. In fact, veterinarians and their staff often have to handle puppies immediately after birth if the mother has complications or received a C-section.
Will my dog let me touch her puppies?
You may have heard the myth that you should not touch puppies when they're born because their mother might reject them. That is all that is – a myth.
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