Puppy Development - Week 3
Puppy Development Week 3 - Milestones, Teething & Weaning
Discover the major milestones of puppy development during week 3, including walking, teething, weaning, social interaction and what breeders should be observing
Puppy Development: Week 3
Week 3 is one of the most significant milestones in a puppy's development. In just a few days, puppies begin transitioning from completely dependent newborns into curious, active little explorers. Their bodies become stronger, their senses continue developing and they start interacting with both their littermates and the world around them.
This is also the week when several important developmental milestones begin to overlap. The first baby teeth usually appear, weaning can begin, puppies become more mobile and they start showing interest in food, water and their surroundings.
Understanding how these changes fit together helps breeders provide the right environment while recognising what is normal for a healthy litter.
If you've been following our puppy development series, this article continues on from Puppy Development: Week 2, where puppies first opened their eyes, responded more to sound and became increasingly aware of their surroundings.
Puppies Become More Mobile
One of the first things breeders notice during week 3 is the dramatic improvement in movement.
The belly crawling seen during the first two weeks gradually changes into short, wobbly walks. Balance is still developing, so puppies often wobble, stumble and occasionally topple over, but their confidence increases every day.
As mobility improves, puppies spend more time exploring the whelping box instead of remaining close together in a sleeping pile. They begin following their mother, investigating bedding and seeking out their littermates.
This increased movement makes secure footing even more important. Non-slip bedding helps puppies develop good coordination while supporting healthy joints and growing muscles.
Vision and Hearing Continue to Improve
Although puppies opened their eyes during the previous week, their vision is still developing.
During week 3 they become much more responsive to movement, light and activity around the whelping area. Their hearing also improves, and breeders often notice puppies reacting to familiar voices, their mother's movements or sounds within the room.
As their senses mature, puppies become increasingly curious. They spend more time awake, observe what's happening around them and begin exploring objects within their environment.
These experiences form an important foundation for the socialisation period that follows over the coming weeks.
The First Baby Teeth Begin to Erupt
Week 3 usually marks the beginning of teething.
The tiny incisors are generally the first teeth to appear, followed by the canine teeth and premolars over the following weeks. Although these teeth are small, they're extremely sharp, which is why many breeders refer to them as "needle teeth".
The eruption of baby teeth is closely linked with the next stage of development. As puppies become physically capable of chewing, they also become ready to begin the gradual transition to solid food.
For a complete teething timeline, including the order teeth erupt and when puppies lose their baby teeth, read our When Do Puppies Get Their Teeth? blog.
Weaning Begins
For many litters, week 3 is when weaning begins.
Puppies start showing interest in their mother's food and become capable of exploring soft puppy meals while continuing to nurse. This isn't a sudden change. Weaning is a gradual transition that usually takes several weeks, with puppies continuing to receive much of their nutrition from their mother while they learn to eat independently.
Every litter develops at its own pace. Some puppies are eager to investigate food as soon as it is offered, while others take a little longer before showing real interest.
If you're preparing to introduce solid food, our When to Start Weaning Puppies blog explains the developmental signs that indicate puppies are ready and how to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Fresh Water Is Introduced
Fresh drinking water can also be introduced during week 3 as part of weaning.
Don't expect puppies to drink large amounts immediately. At this stage, they continue receiving most of their hydration from their mother's milk and the moisture contained in their first puppy meals.
Many puppies simply investigate the bowl, take a few laps and move on. Over the following weeks, as solid food becomes a larger part of their diet, drinking water naturally becomes more important.
Play Begins to Develop
Week 3 is often when breeders see the first signs of genuine play.
Puppies begin climbing over one another, gently mouthing littermates, wagging their tails and engaging in short bursts of playful interaction before falling asleep again.
Although these play sessions are brief, they're much more than simple entertainment. Puppies are beginning to learn how to interact with one another, developing the foundations for communication, confidence and bite inhibition.
As their confidence grows, puppies also begin investigating safe objects within the whelping area. Soft, age-appropriate puppy toys can provide gentle enrichment and encourage exploration alongside interactions with their littermates.
Over the coming weeks these interactions become increasingly important as puppies continue learning from both their littermates and their mother.
Feeding and Weight Gain
Even though puppies are beginning weaning, nursing remains an important source of nutrition throughout week 3.
Healthy puppies should continue feeding enthusiastically, gaining weight consistently and becoming stronger each day.
Daily weighing remains one of the most valuable management tools available to breeders. Consistent weight gain provides reassurance that puppies are developing normally, while unexpected changes can be identified early.
Our range of digital puppy scales and free puppy weight charts can help breeders accurately monitor growth throughout the neonatal and weaning periods.
What Breeders Should Be Observing
Week 3 is less about making major changes and more about careful observation.
Healthy puppies should be
- Walking with increasing confidence.
- Responding to movement and sound.
- Beginning to interact with littermates.
- Developing their first baby teeth.
- Showing interest in solid food.
- Continuing to gain weight steadily.
The whelping environment should remain clean, warm and safe, while providing enough room for puppies to explore without becoming chilled or overwhelmed.
Good hygiene also becomes increasingly important as puppies begin eating solid food. A clean whelping area, fresh bedding and hygienic stainless steel multi puppy feeding pans all help provide a healthy environment as puppies begin weaning. Many breeders also introduce highly palatable & digestible first foods, such as Royal Canin Starter Mousse, to help make the transition from milk to solid food as gentle as possible.
Final Thoughts
Week 3 marks the beginning of an exciting new stage in puppy development. Increased mobility, improving senses, the arrival of baby teeth and the beginning of weaning all occur within a remarkably short period, setting the foundation for the weeks ahead.
Understanding how these milestones connect helps breeders support healthy development while recognising what is normal for a growing litter. From here, the focus shifts towards weaning, increasing independence and more advanced social development as puppies continue growing.