Did you know puppies are born deaf? Hear when they start

Most dog lovers know puppies are born blind because their eyelids are sealed with a thin skin membrane, which breaks during their second week allowing their eyes to open. Meanwhile, their mother lovingly licks their faces and eyes, stimulating circulation, cleanliness, and encouraging their eyes to open.

What is less known is that puppies are also born deaf, with their ear canals closed at birth just like their eyes, rendering them effectively deaf until about two to three weeks old.

This article explains why puppies cannot hear at birth, how their hearing develops, how to check it, and when they normally start hearing properly.

Why can’t newborn puppies hear?

At birth, puppy ear canals are closed and only open naturally as they develop. During this early stage, puppies perceive sounds vaguely, similar to how we might hear muffled sounds underwater.

Their ears gradually open toward the end of the second week, enabling incremental hearing ability until reaching full natural sensitivity around three weeks of age.

This temporary deafness is a natural protective mechanism. Puppies need a quiet environment during this critical phase so their delicate inner ear structures can develop unimpeded without exposure to potentially painful or damaging loud noises.

The ear canals remain closed until the ears are mature enough to safely process sound. Premature noise exposure might cause discomfort or harm to developing ear drums and inner ear parts, potentially impairing adult hearing.

Therefore, providing a calm, quiet space for the dam and pups is essential for healthy auditory development and lifelong hearing.

Gestation, delivery and early puppy development explained

A dog's gestation lasts around 62-63 days, comparatively short among mammals. Due to this, significant sensory and motor development happens post-birth.

Unlike some prey animals where newborns are mobile and alert at birth, puppies are helpless, blind, deaf, toothless, and unable to walk. They also rely on their mother to stimulate elimination. The mother protects and nurtures them until they mature.

This developmental strategy suits the dog’s evolutionary lifestyle, where mothers can hide pups safely while hunting and scavenging to provision the litter.

By contrast, prey species like cows have longer gestations allowing calves to be mobile and sensory-ready at birth for rapid escape from predators.

When do puppies start to hear?

Puppies typically begin to open their ear canals by the end of the second week. The opening progresses over roughly another week, and by three weeks, most pups can hear normally.

You can visually check the ears to observe this process. If a pup is older than three weeks and ear canals appear closed or hearing seems impaired, it is wise to consult your vet.

Note that all puppies are born with this temporary deafness, but congenital deafness caused by genetic or developmental defects is permanent and requires veterinary diagnosis.

During the first weeks, puppies rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate their mother and navigate their environment. Their gradual sensory development aligns with their slow motor and behavioural maturity, underscoring the need for gentle handling and a stress-free environment.

Supporting healthy ear development in newborn puppies

Keeping the whelping area quiet, warm, and clean supports proper ear maturation. Avoid exposing pups to loud noises or startling sounds while their ear canals remain closed.

Regular monitoring of puppies’ ear canals, eyes, and overall health with the help of your vet ensures they develop well. Early socialisation and gentle auditory stimulation after hearing onset can aid neurodevelopment and confidence.

Conclusion

Puppies being born deaf is a natural, temporary stage critical to their healthy auditory development. Understanding this helps you provide the calm and protective environment they need in their earliest weeks.

By observing their development milestones and consulting your vet if concerned, you can support your pups’ growth into healthy, well-adjusted dogs ready to explore the world with all their senses.

If you are looking to find a puppy, always choose reputable breeders or adoption centres to ensure responsible ownership and puppy welfare.