When Do Puppies Open Their Eyes?

As someone who has fostered several rescue dogs through pregnancy and raised litters until they were old enough to be homed, I’ve witnessed the quiet magic of puppies opening their eyes for the first time. It’s never clean or dramatic. Rather, it’s a slow, fragile process where one day a pup has slits, the next, cloudy blue eyes that barely register the shape of your hand.

In this article, we’ll look at the science behind this milestone, what puppies can actually see when their eyes open and how to support them in those first few critical weeks.

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Content:

1. When Do Puppies Open Their Eyes
2. What Can Puppies See
3. What to Do After Puppies Open Their Eyes
4. Conclusion

When Do Puppies Open Their Eyes

Most puppies start opening their eyes between 10 to 14 days after birth. That said, smaller breeds tend to open their eyes slightly earlier, while some larger breeds or late-term pregnancies may delay things by a few days. Fox Terriers, for instance, may take up to 21 days.

The process is gradual. One eye may begin to open a crack before the other follows. At first, the eyes appear cloudy or bluish.

According to Dr. Sarah Grundy, DVM:

“The eyelids typically separate between 5 and 14 days of age in feline and canine neonates. The cornea appears slightly cloudy for the first 2 to 4 weeks of life because of increased water content, and the iris is typically bluish gray because of low pigmentation.”

This cloudiness is normal. Puppies at this stage are not seeing clearly; they're simply starting to let light in.

A Reddit user in the r/dogs forum put it plainly:

“Around 10 days of age. … You should really be consulting with your vet on the typical milestones to expect as the litter ages, as well as any medical care they and the mother will need.”

If your puppy hasn’t opened its eyes by day 14–16, it’s a good idea to consult a vet to rule out infection or developmental delays. And if you’re raising a litter yourself, a reliable pet cam like the Petcube Cam 360 can help you keep an eye on their development when you aren’t home.

What Can Puppies See

When puppies open their eyes, they can’t see much. At least, at first. When their eyes first open, puppies are effectively near-blind. They can detect light, vague movement, and large shapes, but that’s about it. Depth perception and clarity come later.

It can take up to eight weeks for their eyes to lose that cloudy cast and fully develop clarity and color. Some breeds may retain a bluish eye color for months before their adult pigmentation sets in.

Dogs don’t rely heavily on visual detail the way humans do. Their eyes are excellent for night vision and motion detection, but not for fine detail or rich color. Vision is actually one of their slower-developing senses. Puppies rely more heavily on their sense of smell and touch in their first weeks of life.

What to Do After Puppies Open Their Eyes

The first rule? Don’t rush the process. Never attempt to force a puppy’s eyes open as this can lead to injury or infection. Let it happen naturally.

Once their eyes are open, ensure the environment remains:

• Calm
• Clean
• Dimly lit (bright lights can overwhelm sensitive, developing eyes)

This is where a Petcube Cam 360 becomes invaluable. You can check on the litter remotely and even share updates with your vet if needed.

As vision improves over time, you can:

• Begin handling puppies gently for short periods to build trust and sensory development.
• Watch for signs of irritation (redness, swelling, or discharge) and consult a vet if anything seems off.
• Avoid touching their eyes directly. Use a damp, clean cloth around the area if needed, never on the eye itself.

Conclusion

Every puppy develops at their own pace. While the average eye-opening range is 10–14 days, some might take a bit longer. The process is gradual, and full vision takes weeks to months to mature, especially some breeds like Fox Terriers.