low-to-mid 70s Fahrenheit for the dam’s comfort, while making sure the puppies have access to a warmer zone and dry bedding changed multiple times a day.
- How we knew early that this puppy was different
With some breeds, newborn coat color can be hard to read for a few days. In our litter, I noticed one puppy looked “soft black” at first glance, then distinctly brown once I picked the puppy up near the window around midday. Wet neonatal fur, dim lighting, and shadows from the whelping box can all make colors look darker than they really are.
By day 3, I was confident. By day 5, every visitor was spotting it from across the room. The contrast became clearest when that puppy was placed beside one of the darkest littermates on a red-and-navy plaid blanket. Side-by-side comparisons remove almost all doubt.
- DNA testing can confirm what the eye suspects
