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How Do Dogs Develop?
By Lynn Whittaker
Bow Wow U
When considering a puppy, it is important to consider the age at which you bring the puppy home. Providing the correct atmosphere during your puppy’s critical developmental stages (when their personality, character and traits are developing) can greatly impact the future of the dog. What are Critical Developmental Stages you may ask? These are phases that all dogs go through as they are growing and developing. Just as human babies grow and develop in different stages, dogs follow growth phases as well.
Many people who purchase older pups sometimes notice that there may be some bonding issues, where they are unable to connect with their new pet. Some of these dogs may be overly shy, despondent, unwilling to comply, aggressive, exhibiting bullish behaviors, etc. This may be attributable as to when the puppy was originally removed from its littermates or mother. Leaving puppies with their littermates and mom are of the utmost importance. Here is where they obtain many lessons and begin their growth physically and emotionally.
Scientific studies have proven there are five developmental stages that can cripple a dog’s emotional well-being, and/or social development for the remainder of its life, if these stages are interrupted. There are subcategories of these stages, but ultimately there are only five. Let’s look a bit more closely at these phases. Notice how some of them are so close together in time and so many things happen during the stages of development.
First Phase 0-21 days
During this period the puppy's mental capacity is basically zero, and the puppy reacts only to its primary needs of warmth, food, sleep and its mother. *On the 21st day, ALL of the puppy's senses begin to function. These senses were present in the puppy during the first critical period, but lay dormant. The 21st day is an awakening.
Second Phase 21-28 days
During this period the puppy needs its mother more than any other time. The brain and nervous system begin to develop. They are becoming aware, and rather frightened at his or her surroundings. Taking a puppy away from its mom at this point will directly affect its emotional and mental growth permanently. The puppy is learning that it’s stressful now to be alive. Any bad experiences during this phase can greatly impact the dog later in life.
Third Phase 5th -7th weeks of age
Here is where puppy begins to explore, move a bit farther from mom and litter mates. Learning begins here. They begin to growl, play, challenge, and learn discipline from its mother. They also develop a bit of a competitive spirit. Training ability is developed and pup is ready to begin learning.
Fourth Phase 8th-12th weeks of age
Since the pup is now ready for learning experiences, this is the appropriate time for a pup to leave its litter and go to his or her new home and begin training and learning with a new family. This is the phase where the puppy learns at an extremely fast rate.
Fifth Phase 13th -16th weeks of age
At this age, puppy is now residing in its new home. Owners beware, as this is the phase that a puppy will attempt to challenge you for dominance. Here is where they test to see just how much they can get away with and test your level of tolerance. The more a puppy is allowed to get away with during this phase, may cause the dog to lose more and more respect for its owner. This may result in behavioral issues that can snowball if not corrected through training and obedience. Formal obedience should begin here. This will assist the dog in becoming the best he or she can be.
Making yourself aware of these critical developmental periods and providing the right environment during these phases as well as providing learning techniques will allow a puppy to develop its fullest potentials. The way you handle these developmental periods will determine what kind of dog you will have in years to come.
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