Freda’s six puppies turned two weeks old this week, and the difference from last week is hard to miss. Our 2 week old German Shepherd puppies are bigger, stronger, and for the first time they are starting to notice the world around them. Freda is still doing a wonderful job as a mom, and every puppy is nursing well and gaining steadily.
This litter is out of Freda Von Stephanitz and sired by Ledger Bei Mackenzie Von Franzosisches Haus, and puppies go home around November 16th. Below are the five biggest changes we see at this age, followed by new photos of all six puppies.
1. Their eyes are starting to open
Newborn German Shepherd puppies are born with their eyes sealed shut. Somewhere between ten and fourteen days, they begin to open, usually a small slit at first and not always at the same time on both sides. Puppies in the same litter open their eyes on slightly different days, so do not be surprised if one looks wide awake while a sibling is still squinting.
What they see at first is blurry. Vision keeps sharpening for several more weeks, so for now they are mostly detecting light, movement, and shapes. It is still a big step, and it is the point where each puppy’s personality begins to show.
2. Their ears are opening up too
Puppies are born deaf. Their ear canals open gradually, typically between about two and three weeks of age, and hearing improves from there. You will start to see a startle response to loud sounds, which is the first sign they can hear.
This is also why we keep the whelping area in the middle of our normal household, not tucked away in a silent room. Everyday sounds are the beginning of a confident dog. We cover why that matters in our guide to early puppy socialization.
3. They are moving more and crawling with purpose
At one week, German Shepherd puppies mostly scoot and root toward their mother. At two weeks, they push up on their legs, wobble, and often fall over. Wobbly first steps are normal and are the start of coordination that gets much stronger over the next two weeks.
They still cannot fully regulate their own body temperature, which does not develop until around four weeks. That is why puppies this young still pile up next to Freda and each other, and why we keep the whelping box warm and draft free.
4. They have grown fast
Most puppies roughly double their birth weight within the first one to two weeks, and then keep gaining steadily every day. At this stage, Freda’s milk is the only food they need. Nursing, sleeping, and growing is the entire job, and healthy two week old puppies are round, warm, and quiet when they are full.
Breed-specific growth is one reason health and structure matter so much in a working line program. If you want to know what we test for in the parents before every litter, read about the five clearances that protect your puppy.
5. Early neurological stimulation is in full swing
We follow the Puppy Culture program in our home, which includes early neurological stimulation from days 3 through 16. These are brief, gentle exercises that help a young puppy’s nervous system handle small amounts of stress and recover from it. This litter is right in the middle of that window.
It is one of the quiet reasons our puppies go home ready to learn. For the full picture of what comes next, our week by week guide to German Shepherd puppy development walks through birth to eight weeks.
What happens after two weeks
Over the next two weeks, the puppies will become noticeably more alert, start to play with each other, and grow their first baby teeth. Weaning to solid food usually begins around three to four weeks, and we will share photos when it does.
Availability
We have 1 male and 1 female still available. If you have been hoping for a Pine Hill puppy, apply on our Reserve A Puppy page or send us a message. If you are new to the process, here is exactly how it works when you reserve a German Shepherd puppy with us.
Meet the 2 week old puppies
Arko (male, green collar)
Alk (male, red collar)
Astor (male, brown collar)
Ando (male, blue collar)
Ada (female, pink collar)
Aika (female, purple collar)
Watching 2 week old German Shepherd puppies start to see and hear is one of our favorite parts of every litter. We will post an update every week as they grow, so follow along on Facebook, and reach out any time with questions about this litter. If you are preparing for a puppy, our German Shepherd puppy checklist is a good place to start.