How can you tell newborn puppies apart? A Step-by-Step Guide

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Michel Berner of Mira Vizslas crochets daisy chains and ties those on for collars to keep her Vizsla puppies apart.

How on earth does a breeder distinguish look-alike puppies in a litter? In breeds that are all the same color, or have only slight color variations without unique markings, it can seem impossible. To track puppies’ growth and manage care, it’s critical to be able to tell them apart from each other. AKC asked these Breeders of Merit what they do to keep track of their babies.

On new-born puppies, I use wool thread in different colors. As they grow up, I change to Velcro bands and later I use cats’ collars with a safe lock.

As soon as puppies arrive, they must be identified. The main reason to do so is to monitor their development. I check their weight every 12 hours for the first two weeks and sometimes longer. They should gain weight every day. If a puppy does not gain weight, I will watch him for the next 12 hours and never miss an opportunity to help him thrive. It is very important for me to keep an individual health record for each puppy before they leave me.

Find Rocknrolla Poodles on the AKC Marketplace.

Determining Your Puppy’s Sex

  • Question I want to make sure my tiny Shih Tzu is a girl, as some people say its a boy. How can I check? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer For a puppy, follow the information in the guide above. If the dog is adult things get a lot easier. Boys have some distinctive habits and anatomy, which should make it fairly obvious if hes male. Slide your hands between the dogs back legs and feel for the presence of two testicles in a scrotum. Does the dog cock his leg to urinate, as this is something female dogs dont do. Where is the location of the orifice from which he passes urine? For a boy (even a neutered male) this is the penis which is located underneath on his belly, whilst for the girls it is between the back legs.

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    Why You Should Use Color-Coded Puppy Litter Identification Collars

    Using identification bands is a very common practice in telling apart the litter of newborn pups. The collars you see pictured above can be bought in a pack of 12, with all varying colors.

    Since most litters are usually smaller than 12, you may end up with a few spare colors to choose from. This review on Amazon shows a litter wearing these bands to showcase what they look like.

    Newborn Puppies: Birth to 2 Weeks