A puppy is pure potential. The feeling of a new puppy in hand is incredible. That is why so many people want to add a puppy to their family and watch as they grow into a dog in their family. So many people love dogs. So many want dogs. Experts say there are 78 million pet dogs in the United States and over 470 million worldwide. Dogs are the most popular pets. With so many dogs, humans have noticed similarities between dog breeds and each individual. We even see similarities between dogs and humans. All humans go through different stages as they develop into adults, and all puppies go through different stages as they develop into adults. As puppy lovers, we should know what to expect from them as they grow up so we are prepared to help them have their best lives. Let’s look at the puppy development stages.
The First Month
Development starts as soon as a puppy is born. That is why it is not advised to take puppies away from their mothers and siblings before they reach eight weeks old.
The first two weeks of life are the neonatal period. At this age, puppies can not see or hear, can barely move, and require heat from an external source like their mothers.
Days 14-20 are the Transitional Period. During this period, puppies become more mobile, and their ears and eyes start to function. Puppies also start learning, so socialization with mom, siblings, and the humans nearby will significantly affect their adult lives.
Identification Periods
The Identification Period is next and generally ends one week after it begins. Puppies at this age are better at translating the input from their eyes and ears. They can identify individuals and start play fighting to learn from their siblings. Puppies also learn about submitting from their mothers.
The Second Identification Period starts around 28 days and continues until the dog is about 35 days old. At this stage, puppies need new experiences, or the likelihood of fear, anxiety, and other problematic behavior increases as adult dogs.
Socialization & Learning Periods
Puppies are in their Primary Socialization Period from five to 16 weeks old. This is when they can learn to be brave and explore the world around them. Lucky puppies find their “forever home” at this time. It is also when puppies learn how to deal with frustration, impulse control, and the ability to change their behavior to affect their environment.
3 to 12 weeks is considered the primary learning period when puppies learn how to have social relationships.
Weeks 5 to 7 show increased curiosity, and puppies will increase their investigative skills. This is the perfect time to introduce puppies to new things like car rides and baths. Dogs removed from their litters at this time can lead to poor dog-to-dog relationships in adult life.
The fear Imprint Period occurs between eight and eleven weeks old. Fear reactions are stronger during this period, and serious scares can cause lifelong fears. This period is more intense in weeks 8 and 9, so we should avoid traumatic experiences. This is also when puppies will look for space between their bed and toilet. Yeah!!! We can remove a pup from their pack at eight weeks, but the best age to add a puppy to your family is between nine and twelve weeks old. Since most puppy owners get their dogs at eight weeks old, the puppy owner should try to start puppy classes right away. At eight and nine weeks, the classes should prepare you and an owner for your 10-week-old puppy.
At ten to sixteen weeks, dogs know how to learn. They learn fast and pick up on anything consistent. This is when we accidentally teach puppies bad habits.
Thirteen weeks to six months is the Age of Cutting. At that age, puppies start cutting their adult teeth. Teething will end by the time the pup reaches six months old. This is the best time for puppy classes. I consider dogs five to six months to 2 or 2.5 years old to be adolescents.
Reach Out To Argos Dog Training Today!
Adolescent dogs go through more stages of development, but we will examine those at a later time. If you want to learn more, Click Here to learn more about in-person puppy training with Argos Dog Training, and Click Here to learn more about our virtual Puppy Love Program! If you want to see what I do daily with my puppy Sol and get your questions answered by a Pro, join Argos Online. I post short videos of my training with Sol there.
Enjoy Your Dog!!!