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Puppy Development

WEEK 1

  • Babies are born!

  • Newborn puppies stay in the whelping room bedroom

  • Puppies are unable to hear or see during the first week

  • Puppies only communicate by feel, smell, and temperature

  • Puppies are highly reactive to pain stimulus

  • Puppies are in need to warmth, food, massage, and lots of sleep.

  • Their ears and eyes are closed shut

  • Newborns cannot bear weight on their legs

  • They learn to maneuver and wiggle around to build leg muscles

  • Sleeping and eating are the main activities in the first couple of weeks

  • The mother stays with them except for eating and potty breaks

  • Puppies are held every day to get used to human touch

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WEEK 2

  • Puppies begin to hear and see various sounds as their eyes start to open

  • DuraWhelp is used for easy cleaning and storage

  • Puppies mostly eat and sleep during this time

  • They become more active and vocal as they gain muscle in their legs and find their voices

  • Puppies first "startle" on hearing noise

  • Towards the end of the week, some puppies' eyes begin to open and they react to sounds as their ears open

  • Mother dog is still present but takes short breaks for eating and potty breaks

  • Puppies receive their first dose of worming medication

  • Stimulation includes holding the puppies and targeting their feet, neck, and belly for touch

WEEK 3

  • Puppies can see clearly, the ear canals are fully open, and the brain starts to take on an adult form

  • This is when the puppy can and will start to learn

  • This is when dominance induced play fighting commences with the littermates, especially by the largest male

  • Puppies start to wobble around and explore

  • They begin to develop their personalities

  • Baby teeth start to come in, so mother dog is not with them constantly

  • Mother dog stays with them at night and periodically throughout the day

  • Introduction of a litter box and start of litter box training

  • Puppies may not use the litter box much yet but will start to use it more in the fourth week

  • Introduction of new sounds such as the blow dryer, running water, and music

  • First taste of goat's milk and mush is given to the puppies

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WEEK 4

  • Significant development in puppies' personalities

  • The time when the puppy is forming social relationships

  • Puppies become messier as mother dog cleans up after them less

  • Moved to a big puppy pen with a doggie door for potty training

  • Introduction of wet puppy food while still nursing from mother dog 2-3 times a day

  • Mother dog sleeps with them but can escape if needed

  • Litter box training progresses with puppies using it about 40-50% of the time

  • Introduction of interactive toys for stimulation

  • Puppies meet new people as visitors come to see them

  • Nail trimming done at this stage

WEEK 5

  • Puppies start exploring their outdoor puppy area at around this stage

  • Introduction to grassy areas for outdoor potty training and exposure to new sounds

  • Puppies spend 15 minutes in the crate as a group for acclimatization

  • Introduction to various sounds and interactions with new people, including children

  • Improved sight and hearing compared to earlier weeks

  • At five weeks, puppies become more independent and start wandering and exploring

  • They may exhibit more whining when separated from humans during this stage

  • Mother dog is present in the morning and at night, while puppies are fed kibble during the day

WEEK 6

  • The puppy has the ability to learn respect and undertake some simple training such as come, sit, and stay

  • Puppies show increased awareness of their surroundings and become very curious 

  • Very important to try to avoid frightening the puppy during this time

  • They engage in play and establish roles within their litter pack

  • Dominant, submissive, and noisy traits become more evident

  • Stimulation includes exposure to new sounds, textures, smells, and tastes

  • Introduction to treat training begins, focusing on familiarity rather than mastery

  • Outdoor play and training sessions commence

  • Mother dog feeds them only once a day during this period

WEEK 7

  • Puppies have fully functioning brains, and anything they learn during this time is permanently embedded

  • Children are not allowed to hurt or scare the puppies maliciously or inadvertently, as the puppies are very susceptible to long-lasting effects of fearful stimuli at this stage

  • First vet visit scheduled for a puppy physical, shots, and microchip

  • Continued treat-based training with quicker learning observed

  • Introduction to crates and crate training with a buddy

  • Puppies are now eating solid food, with mother dog only nursing occasionally

  • Volhard testing conducted to match puppies with suitable families

  • Testing includes assessments on Social Attraction, Following, Restraint, Social Dominance, Elevation, Retrieving, Touch Sensitivity, Sound Sensitivity, Sight Sensitivity, and Stability

WEEK 8 & ONWARDS

  • Puppies go home!

  • If any of our puppies stay past 8-9 weeks, we begin training.

  • This is a very key time to start introducing to common commands and environmental stimulation.

  • From 49 to 84 days is the best time to form human / dog relationships

  • "A puppy who has had no socialization before it is 16 weeks of age has little chance of becoming the sort of dog anyone would want as a companion." (Scott and Pfaffenberger, 1973)

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