Dog Fancy
Puppy Development
January 2004
Few things in life are as irresistible as a chubby, adoring puppy frolicking at your feet. Yet these living, breathing, fur-covered mounds of clay can to be shaped and molded with the slightest effort. And just like human babies, these canine babies require our time, love and dedication to grow into responsible adults.
Basically, the first few months of a puppy’s life help set the stage for the rest of his existence, say veterinarians and canine-development experts. What we do as guardians and owners, as well as the daily experiences had by the pup, can dramatically enhance his chances for a fulfilling, social and fearless life in this world.
With this in mind, it’s vital for puppy adopters to not only question the dog’s pedigree, but also how the pup’s human pack members treated him during the first few months of life. This, experts say, is a far more predictable feature determining what kind of dog he’ll grow up to be.
NEONATAL PERIOD/0-3 WEEKS
During this initial phase, the puppies are helpless, relying completely on their mothers. According to the Monks of New Skete in their book, "The Art of Raising a Puppy," humans should occasionally and gently handle pups during this stage. This gives them a bit of healthy stress that helps foster superior problem-solving abilities in later life, according to the text.
Donna Mlinek, animal behavior manager for the Dumb Friends League in Denver, Colo., agrees that occasional newborn handling enhances social and emotional development.
"It doesn’t hurt to start as early as you can," she says, advising caution when handling as to not stress out the mother dog.
Toward the end of this period, the puppy’s eyes and ears will open and his body will grow stronger, allowing for more mobility. This time, usually from about 2-4 weeks, is also called the "Transitional Period." The tiny, razor-sharp "milk" teeth emerge, as does tail wagging.
SOCIALIZATION PERIOD/3-12 WEEKS
Now the puppy enters the most crucial time in his life. It is within this timeframe that he will not only learn how to be a dog, but also how to interact with humans and the big world around him.
"Sometimes, what they miss in these formative weeks, you can’t make up for it," says Mlinek.
Ian Dunbar, Ph.D. and MRCCS (Brit equivalent of DVM), agrees that ongoing and positive socialization of dogs is vital to healthy development. This author of such groundbreaking dog-development books as "Dog Behavior: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet" stresses that "the puppy is so malleable at this age. The most important thing is socialization to people."
3-7 WEEKS
Under no circumstances should the puppy be removed from his mother or littermates before seven weeks of age.
"It can’t get too much socialization from mom and its littermates [at this time]," says Dunbar.
The puppy is learning how to play, becoming acquainted with social skills, pack order/ranking, bite inhibition and physical coordination. Weaning, and then the introduction of solid food, generally occurs around the fifth week of life.
7-12 Weeks
The vital importance and intensity of this entire socialization stage cannot be emphasized enough, say developmental experts. What will negatively affect the adult dog most seriously is not what happened during this time, but rather what didn’t happen.
"They will never be the confident dogs they could have been," says Dunbar.
Use the pup’s natural curiosity–especially during the eight- to twelve-week segment–to introduce him to daily stimuli, from people to cars, vacuum cleaners to the garbage disposal, grass to concrete.
If the puppy is not exposed to a variety of sights, sounds, environments and people during this three- to twelve-week period, he may never fully become comfortable when meeting those objects in the future.
"If he never sees kids until he’s five months old, it’s a total disaster," says Dunbar.
Some experts say the eight- to twelve-week time frame is also known as the "fear imprinting stage," when pups can have a marked reaction to strange new objects. Helping them learn these things are normal and harmless is crucial.
"You want to make sure they’re exposed to things [in a positive way] to make sure they’re getting over that fear," said Mlinek. For example, when running the hairdryer, give the pup a few tasty nuggets. "Let them know good things happen when scary noises happen." Do not coddle the dog when he acts fearful, lest he associate praise with acting scared.
Puppies should be handled constantly, preferably by three different people a day, says Dunbar. Men and children are especially important.
"These are the humans dogs are scared of as adults," he says.
Have a variety of people hand-feed high-value treats to the puppy while enforcing obedient behavior. Experts say its much easier to teach puppies the right way of doing things fresh from the start, rather than retraining them later after they’ve picked up bad habits. Even before 12 weeks of age, puppies can be taught the basic obedience commands (sit, come, down) as well as where to relieve themselves, says Dunbar. Pups have short attention spans, so train in small bursts for best effect.
Vaccinations will be started in this phase, beginning at about eight weeks with the DHLPP. These will be repeated at 12 weeks, with the addition of the Bordetella and Corona vaccines. It’s recommended to check with your veterinarian to discuss her puppy-vaccination schedule.
12-16 WEEKS/RANKING
Puppies are now like high-octane toddlers, tearing through the house on their never-tiring legs. During this time, they will "test the waters," rebelling a bit to identify their limits. Reinforce good behavior through positive training and rewards. Encourage him to exercise his mouth on appropriate chew toys. Don’t allow the pup to freely roam the house, getting himself into trouble, said Mlinek. You must always know where he is and what he’s doing until he learns the rules of the house.
"Supervision, to me, means I’m watching him," says Mlinek, who associates puppies with infants: you wouldn’t allow a baby to wander through the house unwatched, putting things into her mouth and learning the hard way which ones are dangerous.
Positive reinforcement is key. Reward the pup for good behavior while discouraging any naughty acts. This is easily done when the dog is with you in the same room, either in a large pen, crate or even tethered to your ankle.
"It’s transitional; it’s keeping them safe until they understand the rules," says Mlinek.
Lots of play biting and teething will happen now, which makes it all the more important to enforce obedience commands. Dunbar encourages owners to practice bite inhibition using "dog language" of sorts. Instead of just scolding the pup for gnawing on your finger, try a multi-step approach to help him learn his limits.
4. By about four-and-a-half months, the puppy can be taught to not even "gum" you unless you give him permission to engage in that sort of play.
At 16 weeks, puppies will receive their third and final round of "puppy shots," including their first rabies inoculation that lasts one year. A few veterinarians say spaying and neutering can be done as early as four weeks, but most recommend the surgery be done at five to six months of age.
This four-month mark is an ideal time to enroll in a puppy obedience class so the pups can benefit from dog-on-dog socialization. Check with your veterinarian first to see how early you can safely enroll, since many classes require proof of rabies shots. To be safe, always ask your veterinarian before taking a not-fully-vaccinated pup anywhere other dogs may be, such as dog parks or the pet store. But continue socialization with many new people and places at this time, joining a class as soon as safely possible in order to foster a well-rounded adult dog.
All in all, puppies should be viewed as four-legged babies, say experts. They take a lot of time, love and devotion on our part.
"It’s a huge undertaking," says Mlinek. "You do have to put forth the effort. If you don’t have time for it, go to a shelter and adopt an adult dog."