Puppy

This article is about the domestic dog. For other uses, see Puppy (disambiguation).
"Baby dog" redirects here. For the dog owned by Jim Justice, see Babydog.

Golden Retriever puppy
Basset Hound
Newborn Welsh Springer Spaniels

A puppy is a juvenile dog, generally one less than 12-18 months old.

Puppies are markedly underdeveloped and dependent on their mothers at birth (displaying altriciality), but healthy puppies grow quickly and begin walking thereafter. Puppies generally weigh 8–16 oz (0.23–0.45 kg) shortly after birth, depending on the breed.[1]

A puppy's coat color may change as the puppy grows older, as is commonly seen in breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier. Puppy refers specifically to young dogs,[2] while pup may be used for other animals such as wolves, seals, giraffes, guinea pigs, rats or sharks.[3]

  1. ^ "Creating a Puppy Growth Chart for Veterinarians". Weave.
  2. ^ "Puppy". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  3. ^ "Pup". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 30, 2018.