Puppy to Adult Development stages
The following list of developmental stages will help guide your training plan as well as perhaps temper your expectations as to what will happen when in your puppies’ development.
Important to note is that socialisation does not stop with puppy classes. Whilst attendance is preferred, active participation in your pup’s early development will help both of you adjust to situations later down the track.
Socialisation needs to be supervised and there are usually designated dog parks - not just off leash areas - where you will find like-minded people to connect with while witnessing how amazing your dog is.
0 - 2 Weeks - Neonatal
Most helpless stage
Body temperature cannot be self-regulate
Dam must initiate puppies’ ability to eliminate by way of licking
Eyes and Ears are closed, vocalisation as well as forward crawling movement is possible
2 - 3 Weeks - Transitional
Ears and eyes open
Teeth erupt
Eyes cannot yet fully see
Human handling and scent exposure should start here
3 - 4 Weeks -Awareness
Full sensory awareness
Ability to regulate body temperature and eliminate autonomously
Can ingest food besides sucking
Differing floor surfaces should be introduced
3 - 7 Weeks - Socialisation (Canine)
Body language and specific behaviours is learnt from surrounding dogs (dam etc.)
Status behaviour present
Dam’s authority and reactions to it become discernible
Bite inhibition learnt through play with littermates
Social hierarchy and relationships learned
Dam begins weaning pups
7 - 12 Weeks - Socialisation (Human)
Pup-human bond starts to develop
Mental development
Fully weened and ready for re-homing
8 - 11 Weeks - 1st Fear
Through various stimuli, some can cause a fear reaction
There is potential for trauma to occur which can result in later difficulties for the pup
Careful and positive connection should be established for new stimuli such as thunder, cars, people etc.
10 - 16 Weeks - Hierarchal Classification
Pup becomes more independent
Their confidence grows and they can start to increase their range from you off leash
Mouthing may become more frequent
4 - 8 Months - Flight Instinct
Increased range off leash
You become a known constant and may be less interesting than other distractions, recall may suffer
Teething can cause mouthing, redirection to chew toys is advised
6 - 14 Months - 2nd Fear
Familiar and new situations may elicit cautious behaviour
Sexual maturity will result in cocked leg urination for males and 1st Oestrus for females
Long lasting habitual behaviour patterns can form
Socialisation can help reduce the effects of the puberty blues
Classical Conditioning and positive experiences can guide the dog’s new appreciation
1 - 4 Years - Maturity
Dog will grow to full size
Behavioural issues will surface that have not been previously addressed (resource guarding, reactivity, impulse control etc.)
Associations with objects, people and animals continues
Continued socialisation and exposure to varying stimuli will enable to dog to lead a balanced life
