As much as we all wish to be able to hear the sounds that are around us, dogs are unique species that defy conventional wisdom. A dog's early development during puppy stage has not changed since the primordial times. A dog's ability to hear is limited because anatomically their ear canals are closed preventing sound waves to reach the inner ear structures that produce sound.
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." ~ Lao Tzu
In the period the newborn puppy is born, the helpless puppy relies on its mother for everything to survive - nourishment, warmth and safety. In turn, the mother has the important role to ensure that her litter not only survives but also thrive for its primeval organs to develop. During this critical time, she not only has to provide the basic necessities to raise and nourish her litter and create a bond that helps strengthen her litter's immune system, lower stress levels and learned behaviors that is innately to dogs.
At around 1 to 2 weeks, the puppy's ear canals have opened enough to be able to hear. During this time, the puppy can sense every sound it hears and over the course of its development, it's able to increase its hearing level at far more greater distances than a human ear can decipher. That said, a dog's ability to hear beginning from when they're just puppies to when they reach the mature age is so important to be taken for granted and having good ear care that includes regular visit to the Veterinarian for ear exam should be a routine part of their growth and development.