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The 7 Stages of Puppy Development
In order to understand why your puppy
doesn't listen to you at times, you need to
understand each stage of development a puppy
goes through as it matures. Let's take a
look at the different stages, but before we
do, keep in mind that these stages are
generalizations - each dog will progress at
its own pace.
Stage 1: The Transitional Stage
2-3 Weeks The Transitional stage generally lasts from
age two to three weeks, and it's during this
time that your puppy's eyes will open, and
he'll slowly start to respond to light and
movement and sounds around him. He'll become
a little more mobile during this period,
trying to get his feet underneath him and
crawling around in the box (or wherever home
is). He'll start to recognize mom and his
littermates, and any objects you might place
in the box.
Stage 2: The Almost Ready To Meet The World
Stage
3-4 Weeks
The Almost ready to meet the world stage
lasts from 3 to about 4 weeks, and your
puppy undergoes rapid sensory development
during this time. Fully alert to his
environment, he'll begin to recognize you
and other family members. It's best to avoid
loud noises or sudden changes during this
period - negative events can have a serious
impact on his personality and development
right now. Puppies learn how to be a dog
during this time, so it's essential that
they stay with mom and littermates.
Stage 3: The Overlap Stage
4-7 Weeks From 3-4 weeks, your puppy begins the most
critical social development period of his
life - he learns social interaction with his
littermates, learns how to play and learns
bite inhibition. He'll also learn discipline
at this point - Mom will begin weaning the
pups around this time, and will start
teaching them basic manners, including
accepting her as the leader of the pack. You
can begin to introduce food to the pups
starting around the 4th week - transition
gradually as Mom weans them.
Continue handling the pups daily, but don't
separate them from either Mom or litter
mates for more than about 10 minutes per
day. Puppies that are removed from the nest
too early frequently are nervous, more prone
to barking and biting and have a more
difficult time with socialization and
training. Puppies need to be left with Mom
and siblings until at least 7 weeks of age -
and preferably a little longer - for optimum
social development.
Experts say that the best time in a puppy's
life to learn social skills is between 3 and
16 weeks of age - that's the window of
opportunity you have to make sure your puppy
grows up to be a well-adjusted dog. It's
extremely important to leave your puppy with
Mom and his littermates during as much of
this period as possible. Don't discipline
for play fighting, housebreaking mistakes or
mouthing - that's all normal behavior for a
puppy at this stage.
Stage 4: The "I'm Afraid of Everything"
Stage
8 Weeks to 3 Months The "I'm Afraid of Everything" Stage lasts
from about 8 weeks to 3 months, and is
characterized by rapid learning as well as a
"fearful period" that usually pops up at
around 8 to 10 weeks. Not all dogs
experience this, but most do, and they'll
appear terrified over things that they took
in stride before. This is not a good time to
engage in harsh discipline (not that you
ever should anyway!), loud voices or
traumatic events.
At this time your puppy's bladder and bowels
are starting to come under much better
control, and he's capable of sleeping
through the night (At last, you can get some
rest!). You can begin teaching simple
commands like come, sit, stay, down, etc.
Leash training can begin. It's important not
to isolate your puppy from human contact at
this time, as he'll continue to learn
behaviors and manners that will affect him
in later years.