From puppy to adult dog: If you have a new puppy in the house or a young dog, we hope you will find something useful here. All dogs go through developmental periods at the beginning of their lives, but it is important to be aware that there are big differences between breeds.
There are variations in the length of the periods, when they start and how they are experienced. In addition, there may be individual differences between the sexes within a breed. So based on this, the phases cannot be seen as a kind of answer for all dogs, but only as a model.
Period 1:
0-2 weeks
The puppy comes into the world more helpless than many other of our domestic animal species. It cannot see or hear, cannot walk. And cannot defecate without the help of its mother. The bitch stimulates the intestinal function by licking its belly. Nevertheless, within 8 weeks it should more than ten times its body weight and be ready to face the challenges of the big world. A newborn puppy has few spontaneous movements and must be stimulated to take its first breaths.
The puppy's entire early life is governed by a single set of reflexes. Some of these reflexes gradually disappear as the puppy becomes more aware of life, while others strengthen as the puppy grows.
At birth, the puppy has a reflex that allows it to orient itself towards the bitch as a source of heat. When the puppy is licked on the head or back, it will move towards the person licking it. The head then moves quickly from side to side. So that it can find its mother and teats.
At birth, the puppy has little ability to regulate its body temperature and is completely dependent on the warmth of the bitch and littermates. This ability gradually increases.
Period 2:
2-3 weeks
The puppy opens its eyes at +- 10 days. Vision develops gradually and it is believed that vision is not fully developed until the puppy is several months old.
Around two weeks old, the puppy begins to walk.
The ear canal of a newborn puppy is completely sealed, no sound reaches the eardrum. There is a dense tissue that holds the folds in the ear canal together. Gradually, this tissue begins to disappear and the ear canal opens at 10-14 days. At 19 days, it begins to be startled by sound.
Period 3:
3-5 weeks
The imprinting phase is the start of the socialization period that lasts until it is 16+20 weeks old depending on the breed. What the puppy experiences during this period, both good and bad, will have an impact on it for the rest of its life.
It is not until around 25 days that the nervous system has developed enough for the puppies to orient themselves to visual and sound stimuli.
The puppy should be handled calmly and with care by humans as early as possible. This way, it gets used to being safe and comfortable and has an easier time relating to different people later in life.
Puppies are born curious, but from 3 to 5 weeks of age they gradually become more skeptical of strangers, which is why it is important that they meet people who come to visit. And the more different people in both gender and age, the easier it will be for the puppy to be confident in the future with everyone it meets. Because the puppy does not perceive details, but shapes and movements, it is important that it gets to know children early on as it perceives them differently than adults.
Period 4:
5-8 weeks
The puppy is naturally curious and needs to learn what is safe and what is dangerous. It has two conflicting emotions, the desire to explore while at the same time it has a fear of the unknown.
During this period, curiosity is greater than fear and it is therefore important that it is allowed to explore new things in a safe environment. At the breeder, it will become accustomed to daily noises in the house such as the TV, vacuum cleaner, kitchen appliances, dishwasher, etc. It is allowed to walk on different surfaces such as carpets, planks, gravel, grass and even snow if the season allows.
Through play with littermates and other dogs in the pack, it learns to adjust how hard it can bite, although it takes some time before it has full control over this.
Period 5:
8-12 weeks
Around 8-12 weeks the puppy is ready to meet his new home and the adjustment this entails. About half the socialization period remains, so use it wisely and be patient. The puppy is curious and receptive to more impressions, and targeted learning is possible to start with. Then simple behaviors, skills and rules. Among other things, this can be becoming the housekeeper.
Since it is only now at 8 weeks that the puppy has arrived at its new family, it is important to use the rest of the socialization period well to prepare it for the life it will have as an adult. Not least, to focus on a good relationship. It quickly bonds with its new owner and should adapt to life in a new family.
It is also important to continue the work that started with the breeder to experience new things. It should drive a car, be part of the cityscape and see cars, caravans, mopeds, etc. But it is equally important for a city dog to get out and see rural life and farm animals.
Socialization is interpreted by many as meaning that the dog should greet as many dogs as possible during this period - this is wrong. The important thing is that the few dogs it will interact with are safe dogs with good language. Socialization means that the puppy should experience many different situations and it can see other dogs, but does not have to greet everyone.
Puppies need a lot of sleep and should not be disturbed when they are sleeping. Both children and adults must respect that they need peace and their own sanctuary. Training and play are done in very short sessions during this period. A puppy that is often disturbed will develop stress more easily and have a harder time calming down later in life.
Period 6:
12-20 weeks
When the puppy is around 12 – 20 weeks old, the process of sexual maturation begins. The puppy begins to become more physically mature and thus the production of sex hormones will also begin. This will affect both the physical and psychological expression of the puppy, and the difference between male and female dogs will become clearer. At this stage, the puppy is halfway through sexual maturity. Here it is important to consider that the change in hormones will create new emotions in the puppy at the same time as existing emotions are reinforced. It is therefore important to be attentive and considerate of the puppy. It can show positive emotions such as increased cooperation and self-confidence, play, curiosity and social qualities, but the puppy can also show increased aggression, insecurity and less self-confidence towards both people and animals.
During this period, many people experience that the puppy sees “ghosts” and this is shown by the puppy showing fear and aggression towards objects that it has not previously reacted to. When these situations arise, it is important to let the dog de-react, which can be, for example, approaching and smelling the object to find out that it is not dangerous. If you do not let the puppy de-react, behavioral problems may arise later in life. If the dog becomes scared, calmly retreat and give it time to explore at its own pace. If you push the dog forward, it may be afraid of this for a much longer time.
At the end of this period, approximately 20 weeks, the socialization window closes and it is important that the puppy is left with many positive experiences about the environment in which it will function as an adult.
Period 7:
8-11 months
Sexual maturity occurs when the puppy is around 8-11 months old and when the dog is sexually mature it is able to reproduce itself. This period is characterized as the puppy's teenage period and can be difficult for the puppy.
The puppy develops enormously during this period, both physically and mentally. This affects, among other things, the dog's general behavior and ability to learn. During this period, it is difficult to experience that the puppy forgets things it has previously learned, that rules are broken and commands are not followed.
Therefore, this period can also be difficult and challenging for the owner, but it is important to stay focused on maintaining a good relationship and not create a conflict that could reduce cooperation later in life. During this period, the dog becomes physically mature.
Period 8:
17-22 months
The final period occurs when the dog is around 17-22 months old. This is when the dog transitions from a young to an adult individual. The dog's personality, characteristics, expressions and preferences become more stable. Some dogs may also behave rebelliously and be challenging during this period. Old experiences may also come to the fore again, as well as increased fear and aggression. Other dogs may go through this period without behavioral challenges.
