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| Ages & Stages: Stages of Development in Puppies |
Developmental Stages of Puppies
0–7 Weeks
The developmental tasks of this period all involve learning appropriate social behavior
with other dogs. Interactions with mother and siblings teach bite inhibition, appropriate
submissive and attention-soliciting behavior, attention-receptive behavior, and general
confidence with other dogs. Orphan puppies and single-pup litters are at a
disadvantage when it comes to learning how to be a dog among dogs. Some of these
lessons can be learned later (though how late is “too late” has not been clearly
determined) under carefully arranged and supervised conditions. Orphan puppies,
especially those bottle-fed from a very early age without mother or siblings, make very
problematic pets without knowledgeable remedial behavior shaping.
7–8 Weeks
Ideal time for going home. This is the very best age for forming strong bonds with
people. Puppies are mentally mature enough to adjust to changes, and to begin their
training in manners. Research on this critical period has even pinpointed an ideal day
for going into a new home: the 49th!
8–10 Weeks
Sometimes referred to as the “fear period,” the puppy is especially impressionable now.
Object-associations formed during this period leave indelible imprints. It’s vital that the
puppy have as many positive experiences with people, other animals, and novel
situations as can be arranged. It’s equally vital to avoid painful or scary experiences
until after 11 weeks. Those mildly unpleasant experiences that can’t be avoided (like
puppy shots) should be turned into positive ones by your reaction: always “jolly up” a
scared puppy by laughing, praising the puppy, and treating the event as a game. Never
give the appropriately human empathetic response of soothing reassurance, as this
convinces the puppy that it must be really awful since you’re upset too!
8–16 Weeks
Puppy kindergarten classes teach the owner how to teach and the puppy how to learn!
Make sure all training sessions are fun and successful. Take advantage of the puppy’s
dependence on you and strong desire to be near you to teach him to be reliable on
"come."
Never punish a puppy, for any reason, if he has come to your call—or come to you at
all! In fact, avoid trainers/training techniques which rely on punishment. Get the puppy
out into the world and expose him to as many new things and different ages, sexes and
races of people as possible. Always make sure you can control the situation so the
experiences will be positive. Have the puppy on a leash so that you can intervene if
anything threatens or frightens him.
4–6 Months
This pre-adolescent period is characterized by the gradual increase of independence
and confidence. The puppy will venture further and further from you side, motivated by
his own curiosity and increasing confidence in the world. Continue training, in a class if
possible. Begin incorporating distractions into your practice sessions. Take the puppy
with you everywhere! This period is very important in cementing a bond strong enough
to withstand the trials of adolescence (right around the corner!) Make certain your
puppy is spayed or neutered by 6 months. There is absolutely no reason to allow the
disruptive effects of sex hormones to complicate his/your life!
6–12 Months
Even with the best preparation during puppyhood, things will be “hairy” from time to
time during this period. The puppy/young dog’s needs for stimulation, companionship
and activity are very high, and his tolerance for boredom and inactivity are low. This is
the period in which sexual maturity is reached in unaltered animals. Owners will
experience “testing” behaviors reminiscent of human teenagers. Avoid situations in
which the dog’s occasional lapses of obedience could have harmful results—lie off-
leash work in an unsecured area. Continue to provide safe opportunities for vigorous
play and exercise, and safe toys to occupy teeth and mind when he’s confined. This is
not the time to expect “model” behavior.
12–18 Months
Somewhere during this period, your dog will reach emotional maturity: sooner, with
small breeds, and later for large dogs. At that time, dogs with tendencies toward
dominance will begin to assert themselves, hoping to raise their status in the “pack”
(your household!) This behavior occurs within a structure of familiar relationships and
only when the animal is approaching emotional maturity. Living with a dominant dog
does not mean that the owner must “conquer” the dog, or give up attempts to control
him. But challenges from the dog must be recognized immediately and taken seriously.
Punishment is not the appropriate method of dealing with this, and is likely to provoke a
dangerous response. Consult a competent behaviorist whenever the first warnings of
dominance aggression manifest.
0–7 Weeks
The developmental tasks of this period all involve learning appropriate social behavior
with other dogs. Interactions with mother and siblings teach bite inhibition, appropriate
submissive and attention-soliciting behavior, attention-receptive behavior, and general
confidence with other dogs. Orphan puppies and single-pup litters are at a
disadvantage when it comes to learning how to be a dog among dogs. Some of these
lessons can be learned later (though how late is “too late” has not been clearly
determined) under carefully arranged and supervised conditions. Orphan puppies,
especially those bottle-fed from a very early age without mother or siblings, make very
problematic pets without knowledgeable remedial behavior shaping.
7–8 Weeks
Ideal time for going home. This is the very best age for forming strong bonds with
people. Puppies are mentally mature enough to adjust to changes, and to begin their
training in manners. Research on this critical period has even pinpointed an ideal day
for going into a new home: the 49th!
8–10 Weeks
Sometimes referred to as the “fear period,” the puppy is especially impressionable now.
Object-associations formed during this period leave indelible imprints. It’s vital that the
puppy have as many positive experiences with people, other animals, and novel
situations as can be arranged. It’s equally vital to avoid painful or scary experiences
until after 11 weeks. Those mildly unpleasant experiences that can’t be avoided (like
puppy shots) should be turned into positive ones by your reaction: always “jolly up” a
scared puppy by laughing, praising the puppy, and treating the event as a game. Never
give the appropriately human empathetic response of soothing reassurance, as this
convinces the puppy that it must be really awful since you’re upset too!
8–16 Weeks
Puppy kindergarten classes teach the owner how to teach and the puppy how to learn!
Make sure all training sessions are fun and successful. Take advantage of the puppy’s
dependence on you and strong desire to be near you to teach him to be reliable on
"come."
Never punish a puppy, for any reason, if he has come to your call—or come to you at
all! In fact, avoid trainers/training techniques which rely on punishment. Get the puppy
out into the world and expose him to as many new things and different ages, sexes and
races of people as possible. Always make sure you can control the situation so the
experiences will be positive. Have the puppy on a leash so that you can intervene if
anything threatens or frightens him.
4–6 Months
This pre-adolescent period is characterized by the gradual increase of independence
and confidence. The puppy will venture further and further from you side, motivated by
his own curiosity and increasing confidence in the world. Continue training, in a class if
possible. Begin incorporating distractions into your practice sessions. Take the puppy
with you everywhere! This period is very important in cementing a bond strong enough
to withstand the trials of adolescence (right around the corner!) Make certain your
puppy is spayed or neutered by 6 months. There is absolutely no reason to allow the
disruptive effects of sex hormones to complicate his/your life!
6–12 Months
Even with the best preparation during puppyhood, things will be “hairy” from time to
time during this period. The puppy/young dog’s needs for stimulation, companionship
and activity are very high, and his tolerance for boredom and inactivity are low. This is
the period in which sexual maturity is reached in unaltered animals. Owners will
experience “testing” behaviors reminiscent of human teenagers. Avoid situations in
which the dog’s occasional lapses of obedience could have harmful results—lie off-
leash work in an unsecured area. Continue to provide safe opportunities for vigorous
play and exercise, and safe toys to occupy teeth and mind when he’s confined. This is
not the time to expect “model” behavior.
12–18 Months
Somewhere during this period, your dog will reach emotional maturity: sooner, with
small breeds, and later for large dogs. At that time, dogs with tendencies toward
dominance will begin to assert themselves, hoping to raise their status in the “pack”
(your household!) This behavior occurs within a structure of familiar relationships and
only when the animal is approaching emotional maturity. Living with a dominant dog
does not mean that the owner must “conquer” the dog, or give up attempts to control
him. But challenges from the dog must be recognized immediately and taken seriously.
Punishment is not the appropriate method of dealing with this, and is likely to provoke a
dangerous response. Consult a competent behaviorist whenever the first warnings of
dominance aggression manifest.
Click to go: Ages and Stages > Stages of Development in Puppies
