Puppyhood and Beyond Puppies are growing animals.
When they are young, they learn much and what is learned has a lasting
impact. Even sexual patterns, which emerge as puppies mature,
can be affected by early experience.
All dogs, regardless of breed, pass through various stages as they grow
and develop, physically, mentally, and psychologically.
Psychologists use the term critical period to describe a specific time in a
dogs life when certain experiences have a lasting effect upon their
psychological development.
Understanding these critical periods and a dog is stages of development
will better help you to understand your dogs behavior and how to handle
him during these special times. Additionally, puppies benefit greatly when
their owners understand their development.
Puppy Toddlers 3 6 weeks during the toddler period, puppies emerge
on their own from the litter. They venture into the surrounding
environment. This emergence from the litter is a gradual and continual
learning experience.
During this stage of development puppies learn basic behavioral
patterns specific to dogs. While playing, they practice different body
postures, learning what the postures mean and how they affect their
mother and litter mates.
They learn what it is like to bite and be bitten, what barking and other
vocalizations mean and how to make and use them to establish social
relationships with other dogs. Such learning and activity tempers their
own biting and vocalizing.
From the age of five weeks, the mother teaches her puppies basic
manners. They learn to be submissive to her leadership and what
behaviors are acceptable. If necessary, she growls, snarls, or snaps at
them as a form of discipline.
When weaning the litter, for instance, the mother will discipline her
puppies so that they will leave her alone. Because the mother disciplines
them in a way that they clearly understand, after a few repetitions, the
puppies will respond to a mere glare from her.
If a pup has not learned to accept leadership and discipline in its early
interactions with dogs, its training will be more difficult. Puppies that are
removed from the nest too early tend to be nervous, more prone to
barking and biting, and less responsive to discipline.
Often they are aggressive with other dogs. Generally speaking, a puppy
taken away from it's mother and litter mates before seven weeks of age,
may not realize its full potential as a dog and companion.
To maximize the mental and psychological development of puppies, they
must remain in the nest with their mother and litter mates until seven weeks
of age.
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