Coco and Marley’s puppies have reached one of the most exciting milestones in their development—their eyes are beginning to open!
At around 10 to 14 days of age, most puppies start opening their eyes and ears for the first time. Until this point, they have relied almost entirely on touch, scent and warmth to navigate their world. As their eyes and ears begin to develop, puppies enter a new stage of learning and discovery.
In the video below, you can see our puppies just starting to open their eyes while also participating in our Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI) program.
When Do Puppies Open Their Eyes?
Most puppies begin opening their eyes between 10 and 14 days of age. However, every puppy develops at their own pace, so some may open their eyes a little earlier or later than others.
When puppies first open their eyes, their vision is still very blurry. They can detect light, movement and shapes, but their eyesight will continue developing over the following weeks.
This is often the first time families start to see little glimpses of the puppies’ emerging personalities.
When Do Puppies Start Hearing?
A puppy’s ear canals are typically closed at birth and begin opening around the same time as their eyes.
As their hearing develops, puppies gradually become aware of sounds in their environment. Over the coming weeks they will begin responding to voices, household noises and interactions with their littermates.
This marks the beginning of an important socialisation period as puppies become increasingly aware of the world around them.
What Is Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS)?
At Harley & Co Cavoodles, we perform Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) exercises during the critical developmental window between 3 and 16 days of age.
ENS consists of a series of brief, carefully controlled exercises designed to provide mild neurological stimulation during a period of rapid brain development.
Benefits commonly associated with ENS include:
- Improved resilience and stress tolerance
- Enhanced adaptability to new environments
- Greater confidence when faced with novel experiences
- Stronger coping skills throughout life
The exercises take only a few seconds and are always conducted safely and gently with the puppies’ wellbeing as the priority.
What Is Early Scent Introduction (ESI)?
Dogs experience the world primarily through their noses, which is why we also incorporate Early Scent Introduction (ESI) into our puppy development program.
Each day, puppies are introduced to a different scent, such as herbs, flowers, spices or natural materials. These early scent experiences encourage puppies to engage their developing olfactory system during a key stage of neurological growth.
The goal is not to teach specific scent recognition but to promote curiosity, confidence and healthy sensory development.
Why Do We Use ENS and ESI?
Our goal is to raise confident, adaptable family companions.
ENS and ESI are just two components of our comprehensive puppy enrichment program. Combined with age-appropriate socialisation, handling, sound exposure, enrichment activities and positive human interaction, these experiences help prepare puppies for life with their future families.
While no breeder can guarantee temperament, providing thoughtful early experiences helps create strong foundations during a puppy’s most important developmental stages.
Watching the World Come Alive
The next few weeks will bring remarkable changes for Coco and Marley’s puppies. As their vision and hearing continue to develop, they will become more mobile, more curious and more interactive with their littermates and people.
For now, we’re enjoying this special stage as six tiny puppies begin experiencing the world in entirely new ways.
We look forward to sharing more of their journey as they continue to grow, learn and thrive.
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