Puppy Developmental Stages - Important Information for All Puppy Owners
Our precious puppies go through so much in such a short time. Each stage of maturity means that a puppy's needs, urges, emotions and behaviors can change. It's a natural part of going from puppy to adult.
Our precious puppies go through so much in such a short time. Each stage of maturity means that a puppy's needs, urges, emotions and behaviors can change. It's a natural part of going from puppy to adult.
As a puppy parent, it's important to understand the puppy's different stages of development and their significance. This will help you understand your puppy and proactively avoid common mistakes.
The first days of life: eating, sleeping and crawling
The neonatal period, 0 - 13 days, your puppy goes through with the breeder.
- Eating, sleeping, crawling, can feel heat, cold, and smells
Sight, hearing and play: transition milestones
Transition period, 13 - 20 days
- Visual and auditory senses develop
- Crawling
- Starts playing
- Gets teeth towards the end of the period
Socialization and language development: key stages of interaction
Socialization period, 2 - 12 weeks (Imprinting & Identification phase)
- Social learning ability
- Language development
- Weaning from the mother
- May begin to experience fear at 8-16 weeks
- Highly dependent on its environment/family
- Very receptive, strongly influenced by its environment
Before this phase, it is important to read more about how to properly socialize your dog.
Pre-pubescent challenges: hormones and competition
Pre-pubescence, 13 - 16 weeks
- Hormonal development
- Halfway to sexual maturity
- Begins to challenge and may exhibit competitive behaviors
Huntability and self-control: the balance of the development period
Development period, 4 - 7 months
- Hunting instincts and curiosity develop and flourish
- Awareness of own identity is developed
- Cooperation increases
- Demands for self-control increase
It's important to make time for all of this. Social and environmental training should be reduced. The puppy has a lot to deal with and needs to settle down from the important socialization period.The arousal level for the rest of the dog's life is highly influenced during this period. Let the puppy be at home and without too much stimulation or activity.
Puberty and safety: increasing sexual maturity
Sexual maturity, puberty, 7 - 10 months
- Hunting instincts and curiosity develop and flourish
- Demands for self-control increase
- Physical sexual maturity
- Increased self-confidence
- Dependence on family security to grow and develop socially and mentally
The young dog phase: pushing boundaries and developing cooperation
Intermediate period, 11 months - 17 months
- Young dog, further development
- Pushing the boundaries
- Trying new things
- Cooperation increases
In this phase it is good to know about the transition from puppy to young dog, so read about from puppy to young dog: how to manage the transition.
Mental maturity: growing up and finding your place
Mental sexual maturity, 17 months +
- Need to assert oneself
- Taking a stand
- Feeling stronger
- Adult!
For more information and tips on puppy training, follow our blog and stay up to date with the latest dog training knowledge. Also, make sure to be prepared with important purchases before the puppy comes home and things puppy owners want to get right from the start!
Written by: Sandra Tellström
Sandra is a dog psychologist and founder of Hundsteg, one of Sweden's largest training programs for dog trainers. She specializes in puppy development, pack management and behavioral therapy.
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