It’s National Puppy Day

Each March 23 brings us National Puppy Day, and today is that day.

Born blind and deaf

Puppies are functionally blind and deaf at birth. That’s because dog embryos spend such a short time in the womb (only two months or so), puppies aren’t born fully developed — and neither are their eyes or ears.

Let those pups sleep

Similar to children, puppies need a lot of sleep — up to 15 to 20 hours of it per day. The American Kennel Club strongly advises dog owners to resist the urge to disturb napping puppies because sleep is critical for a young canine’s development.

No spots initially

Dalmations are known for the spots on their coats, but they’re born white and spotless. The markings usually begin to show up after four weeks or so.

Bigger breeds yield bigger litters

As a general rule, smaller breeds tend to have smaller litters, and bigger dogs give birth to more puppies

<strong>Source:</strong> mentalfloss.com • <strong>Photo:</strong> Daily Journal/File