Grade 2 Science · Learning & practice

From Puppy to Grown Dog

Watch how a dog grows and changes from a tiny newborn into an adult — and learn the pattern that almost all animals follow.

Section 1 · Life cycles

How a dog grows up

By the end of this section I can name the stages of a dog's life in order — so I can describe any animal's life cycle.

Success criteria 0 / 3 ticked

Tick each one when you can do it without help.

1A The four stages of a dog's life

A life cycle is the series of changes a living thing goes through from when it begins until it is an adult. A dog moves through four clear stages.

The four stages

Newborn Puppy Young dog Grown dog

A newborn is born with its eyes closed and cannot walk. A puppy opens its eyes, plays, and starts to eat solid food. A young dog is almost full size but still growing. A grown dog (adult) can have puppies of its own.

Putting the stages in order

1. Newborn — just born, eyes shut
2. Puppy — plays and learns
3. Young dog — nearly full size
4. Grown dog — adult, can have offspring
Newborn → Puppy → Young dog → Grown dog

Interactive · build the life cycle

Tap the stages in order, from first to last. Then press Check order.

1place first
2place second
3place third
4place fourth

Check yourself

Which stage comes first in a dog's life cycle?

Think about the stage where the dog has just been born and its eyes are still closed.
A dog is born tiny with its eyes closed — that is the newborn stage, which always comes first.

At which stage can a dog have puppies of its own?

Only a fully grown animal can have offspring. Which stage is the last one?
Only the grown dog (adult) is old enough to have puppies of its own.

Section 2 · Offspring & parent

What changes and what stays the same

By the end of this section I can compare an offspring to its parent — so I can spot what is inherited and what changes with time.

Success criteria 0 / 3 ticked

Tick each one when you can do it without help.

2A Changes and similarities

As a dog grows, some things change a lot and some things stay the same. The things that stay the same are passed down from the parent — that is what makes a puppy look like its mother or father.

What changes vs. what stays the same

Changes: size, teeth, strength, skillsStays the same: breed, coat colour, ear shape

A puppy gets bigger, loses its baby teeth, gets stronger, and learns new skills like running and fetching. But its coat colour, ear shape, and breed do not change — those are inherited from the parent.

Comparing a puppy to its parent

Similar: both have the same coat colour and ear shape — inherited traits
Different: the puppy is smaller and has baby teeth — it has not finished growing
Offspring look like their parents but are not identical.

Interactive · sort the changes

Is each thing something that changes as a dog grows, or something that stays the same? Tap a choice.

Check yourself

Name one thing about a puppy that changes as it grows up.

Think about a number you could measure that gets bigger every week.
A puppy's size changes a lot — it grows taller and heavier until it is an adult. (Strength and teeth also change.)

Name one thing that stays the same as a dog grows.

Look at the dog's fur — is the colour it is born with the same colour it has as an adult?
A dog's coat colour stays the same from puppy to grown dog — it is inherited from the parents. (Ear shape and breed also stay the same.)

A puppy looks similar to which family members?

Inherited traits are passed down from the grown dogs that had the puppy.
A puppy looks similar to its parents — it inherits traits like coat colour and ear shape from them.

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