Developmental Stages Of Puppy Behavior - Spca Cincinnati printable pdf download

PUPPY SENSE

Developmental Stages of Puppy Behavior

Although feeding time is important, it’s also vital to include petting, talking, and playing, in order to help your

puppy build good “people-skills.” Well-socialized mothers are more likely to have well-socialized puppies.

Puppies “feed” off their mothers’ calm or fearful attitude toward people.

Puppies are usually weaned at six or seven weeks, but are still learning important skills as their mother

gradually leaves them more and more. Ideally, puppies should stay with their littermates (or other role-model

dogs) for at least 12 weeks.

Puppies separated from their littermates too early often don’t develop appropriate “social skills,” such as

learning how to send and receive signals, what an “inhibited bite” means, how far to go in play wrestling, and

so forth. Play is important to help puppies increase their physical coordination, social skills, and learning limits.

By interacting with their mother and littermates and attending puppy preschool classes, puppies learn “how to

be a dog.”

Skills not acquired during the first eight weeks may be lost forever. While these stages are important and fairly

consistent, a dog’s mind remains receptive to new experiences and lessons well beyond puppy-hood. Most

dogs are still puppies, in mind and body, through the first two years.

The following chart provides general guidelines for stages of development.

0 - 2 weeks

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Most influenced by their mother.

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Touch and taste present at birth.

2- 4 weeks

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Most influenced by their mother and littermates.

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Eyes open, teeth erupt, hearing and smell developing.

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Beginning to stand, walk a little, wag, and bark.

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By four or five weeks, sight is well developed.

3- 12 weeks

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During this period, puppies need opportunities to meet other dogs and people.

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By four to six weeks they’re most influenced by their littermates and are learning about being a dog.

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From four to 12 weeks they’re most influenced by their littermates and people. They’re also learning

to play, developing social skills, inhibited bite, and physical coordination.

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By three to five weeks they’re becoming aware of their surroundings, companions (dogs and people)

and relationships.

Developmental Stages Of Puppy Behavior - Spca Cincinnati