These critical stages affect our puppies both physically and mentally, and referred to as "Critical Stages". Many things can affect theses stages including genetics, environment, level of care, nutrition, stress and so on.
Each stage can be clearly seen in dogs by the way they behave. There are obvious physical changes in some stages that help identify the progression taking place, but more often it is the marked changes in behaviour and emotional reactions that will show the keen observer what stage in his development the puppy has reached at that time.
The uterine environment can have an effect on the puppy's ultimate behaviour. Nutrition, stress, and activity levels can all have an effect on the inborn pup, therefore it is so important to keep your breeding female in excellent all round condition.
During this period there is almost no electroencephalogram (Electrical fluctuations in the brain---brain waves). The brain is soft and jelly-like and is still developing.
The pup will tend to spend around 90% of its time asleep. The pup will be sensitive to touch, pain, temperature, scent and taste. The pup's hearing, sight, and temperature regulation are very underdeveloped and therefore of little use to the puppy and and so making him susceptible to stress.
The pup will develop a pup/mother bond during this time and will become imprinted on her and she on the pup.
Puppies are dependent on their mother for all their needs. How his mother treats him and her general behaviour tendencies will have a marked effect on the rest of the pup's life. Suckling is also stimulated by the mother.
Sadly this is also the most common time for pups to die due to abnormalities or stresses, or for breeders to cull any malformed puppies.
It is documented that regular handling during this period will make for more well adjusted domestic pets, who mature faster, have better problem solving techniques and are less reactive.
During this period the pup enters the most important 8 weeks of his life. What the pup experiences now will affect him for the rest of his life. Evolution has determined that it is in the dog's interest to respond to the things that the mother introduces to the pup and to learn from her example what is safe and what is not. Beyond these 8 weeks the time will come that he will ventures out alone. Therefore it is in the pup's best interest to be naturally wary of anything the he has not seen before, or that he is unsure of, in case it is a predator.
This period is called the transitional period because it marks the time when the pup is developing from a defenceless and vulnerable newly born into a reactionary, lively and aware young animal, brought about by his sensory abilities coming on line.
Eye lids open, ears open, teeth appear, tail wagging starts, the brain becomes stimulated by sights and sounds, the pup learns to growl and bark, he is able to regulate his own temperature, the pain response is similar to an adult.
Puppy chooses to suckle, pup stimulates regurgitation in the mother, pup learns to beg, weaning begins, mother/young conflict starts and their reflexes develop.
Pups brain is almost fully myelinated (developed) and is ready for complex learning. Around two weeks of age the pup is able to sit and at around three weeks of age they are able to stand, and a few days later they become co-coordinated enough to walk.
This is the most important time of the pup's life. His senses are now much more mature and his brain developed sufficiently to allow him to process information quickly.
Play helps to develop the pup's mind, it becomes an important part of his life starting at 3 - 4 weeks.
Pup learns the play bow that invites his littermates to play. He learns through play to become a hunter. He learns co-ordination, safe exploration, physical and mental dexterity, chasing, ambushing, running, action patterns, sequences, timing - when to intercept/intervene.
Pup learns through this play how much pain to inflict when he bites, how to inhibit his bite, keeping his mouth soft. Play helps to develop bonds and stimulates communal behaviour. It moulds the pup ready for adult social behaviour.
Pups will carry small objects, play tug of war with littermates. They will defend their food and objects (quite vigorously in some breeds). Several pups will follow one who has an object, this is the first sign of working together as a pack.
Explores the pecking order and finds his place. The bitch's severity can have a life long effect on the pups behaviour. For instance, the pup can become extremely submissive because of a severe mother - and yet can go on to become a severe mother herself.
Bad experiences and/or isolation can lead the pup to become hyper-aggressive, introverted, withdrawn, inhibited, display poor maternal behaviour, self-mutilate, have a fear of people, other animals, noises, be reluctant to explore, become excessively excitable.
Dogs that don't meet people until after the socialisation period will be fearful and antisocial and difficult to train. If they have not met other dogs, they are not able to interact well with others.
Facial expressions are developed at around 5 weeks because the ears become more mobile, the muzzle elongates and the muscles that control the lips are improved.
This is the optimum time for pups to be socialised with other dogs, people, other animals. new environment and so on.
During the socialisation period the pup enters the first fear impact stage. Care must be taken that he is introduced to new things in a very positive and supportive way. When the pups are in their first stage, the recovery from fright/scary things is usually quite quick, but later on it takes longer. When you might say the pup was fine at this age so WHY is he not happy at the age of 4 months old?
Any traumatic event will have a lasting effect on his life - in fact more than if the same event had occurred at any other time of the pups life.
The pup is turning into an adult, his confidence will grow and he starts to test who is boss. Often referred to as the age of "cutting" - both teeth and apron strings. Rather like teenage humans.
At this stage the dog has a tendency to go off on his own and turn a deaf ear. "Cloth Ears" can last a few days or a few weeks. Careful control is needed at this stage to avoid problems.
During this period there is a gradual improvement in skill, strength and activity.
The young dog will learn the relevance of his behaviours and although his attention span and motor skills will be poor he will have a fully developed learning capacity. At as early as four months of age he may start to hunt.
Most of what happens during this period will be determined by what happened during the socialisation period, but the dog will need continued socialisation to make sure he can be guided into becoming well adjusted and appropriately behaved.
At around 18 weeks the level of testosterone starts to rise and his attitude will start to change.
Dogs learn to lift their leg and this is one of the first signs of puberty.
They will learn to observe territorial boundaries, attempt to mount bitches and show interest in on heat/season bitches from four months of age.
But they are unlikely to have the strength or skills to be successful until around 7 or 8 months.
At around about a year a dog is sexually mature but lacks the social skills of an older dog.
Social learning is an on going process throughout life.
For bitches the dividing line from juvenile to adulthood can be an over-night process that usually coincides with the onset of the first heat/season.
Males find her very attractive and she will show increasing interest around days 9 to 15 of the season. She will at this time let a male mate her with no fuss.
The female heat last for 21 days, but to be absolutely sure, 28 days is better. As soon as you see the first drops of blood you need to start counting. Pop it on the calendar to remind yourself and that way you will know of the prime time your bitch can be mated by any passing Casanova. Yes, it's that easy!
During adolescence the dog will go through another fear period similar to the one during his socialisation period.
This is because of the hormonal changes going on in his still developing body. It is very much akin to the changes in the human. The dog has adult desires and behaviours but lacks the social skills and experiences to utilise them correctly. The pup will sometimes be fearful of things that he was not previously fearful of. The pup will often be afraid to approach something new.
In many breeds the bitches will become more mature and display behaviours sooner that the males.
This is more marked in the larger breeds. A testing of leadership of the pack marks maturity.
Guidance is needed throughout this period and indeed throughout the animals life if you wish to maintain control. It's easy to assume that a fully grown animal has well developed mental powers. Of course, like humans, social and accepted learning is on going and the results are dependent on circumstance which can of course change.
Selective breeding has made maturity quite early but full social maturity in the majority of breeds comes at the time that coincides with the puberty of wolves, around 2 years of age.