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how old are puppies when they open their eyes

Puppies usually start to open their eyes at around 10–14 days old, with most having their eyes fully open by about 2 weeks, though some can take up to 3 weeks.

Quick Scoop

Key age range

  • Most puppies begin to open their eyes between 10 and 14 days after birth.
  • Many have both eyes open by about 2 weeks old, but some perfectly healthy pups may not fully open them until close to 3 weeks.
  • Breed and individual differences mean one puppy in a litter may open its eyes a little earlier or later than its siblings.

What it looks like

  • The process is gradual: first tiny slits, then slowly wider over several days, not a sudden “snap open” moment.
  • Newly opened eyes often look cloudy or bluish and vision is very fuzzy at first; this clears as the weeks go on.
  • Puppies mainly sense light, movement, and shapes in the early days after their eyes open, not fine detail.

Simple care tips

  • Do not try to pry or pull the eyelids open; they will open naturally on their own.
  • Keep the whelping area clean, warm, and calm, and avoid bright lights or camera flashes near newborn puppies’ faces.
  • If a puppy’s eyes haven’t opened at all by about 3 weeks, or you see swelling, crusting, or discharge, contact a vet promptly.

TL;DR: Puppies open their eyes at roughly 10–14 days old, with some needing close to 3 weeks, and their vision stays blurry for a while even after the eyelids open.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.