It’s all about development…
- Posted on 5th September 2009
- in Featured
- by jvfairbanks
Stages of Development
Scott and Fuller define these stages of social and behavioral development in puppies: neonatal, transitional, socialization and juvenile. They also note a fear period around 8 to 10 weeks of age, and a second fear period between 4 and 11 months of age. Hastings’ classification of developmental stages is similar although she includes periods of awareness or identification, behavioral refinement, environmental awareness, and seniority classification.
Regardless which classification system of developmental stages you use to understand how a puppy grows and develops, it is important to realize that humans play an important role in the outcome of a puppy. Starting when a puppy is a neonate, sensitive early human handling helps a puppy’s mind and body to develop faster, say Scott and Fuller. By the transitional stage of development, humans should be regularly handling, cuddling and picking up puppies, Hastings says. If puppies miss opportunities to become socialized with humans between 6 and 12 weeks of age, they will likely always fear humans.
Neonatal Period:
0 to 14 Days
Born deaf and blind and totally dependent on their mother for survival, 90 percent of a newborn puppy’s time is spent sleeping. Despite puppies’ vulnerability, those that receive mild stress during this period are better able to withstand stress as adults than their nonstressed littermates.
Hastings cites articles published by Dr. Carmen Battaglia on the U.S. military’s “Super Dog” program showing that early neurological stimulation has important and lasting effects on puppies. Battaglia describes specific stimulation exercises for day three through 16 as follows.
For three to five seconds once a day a puppy should receive:
• Tactile stimulation by being tickled between the toes with a Q-tip.
• Head held erect stimulation in which a pup is held in both hands perpendicular to the ground so the head is directly above the tail in an upward position.
• Head pointed down stimulation in which a pup is held in both hands with the head pointed downward toward the ground.
• Supine position stimulation in which a pup is held on its back in the palm of both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling.
• Thermal stimulation in which a pup is placed feet down on a cool, damp towel.
Battaglia attributes these exercises to helping “to kick the neurological system in action earlier than normal, which helps to build a strong cardiovascular system with stronger heartbeats, stronger adrenal glands, more tolerance to stress and greater resistance to disease. These pups were more active, more exploratory, calmer and less distracted when working.”
Transitional Period:
14 to 28 Days
Puppies’ eyes and ears open, they can crawl backward, and they start wagging their tails during the transitional period. In this period of rapid development of motor skills, a complex environment is important for optimal development of the nervous system.
“Placing novel toys or objects in the whelping box — a piece of 6-inch PVC pipe, a small squeaker or squeaky toy, a low step or platform for crawling, a ball or small nylon bone — along with providing a variety of noises and sights are important,” Hastings says. “The more a puppy explores now, the more confidant and assured he or she will be in the future. From week three on, puppies can be desensitized to potentially frightening sights and sounds.”
Imprinting also occurs; puppies learn they are dogs. “They recognize their mother, other species, specifically humans that are part of their social relations,” Hastings says. “A poorly imprinted puppy will have problems being a good dog in the future.”
Research by Scott and Fuller showed these imprinting mistakes: Puppies raised in isolation from dogs during this period and introduced to dogs at 16 weeks get attacked and rejected. Puppies without dog contact will bond with other species or inanimate objects, such as a stuffed animal.2
Socialization Period:
4 to 12 Weeks
Weaning occurs and socialization opportunities are key during this period. As already noted, puppies that miss the opportunity to socialize with dogs at 4 to 6 weeks of age and with people at 6 to 12 weeks of age will most likely always be fearful of dogs and/ or humans.2
“The greater exposure you can give your dog during this critical period, the more it will lead to improved social flexibility, communication, emotional stability and trainability,” Hastings says. “Puppies that stay in a kennel for most of this time will generally be fearful and hard to rehabilitate.”
A breeder or owner should try to expose a puppy to situations it is likely to encounter in its lifetime, such as dog shows, field trials, children, swimming, livestock and city noises.2 Puppies need physical and mental challenges — things to move, chew, climb, carry and tug.
These experiences help to develop strength, agility and coordination skills they will need to function as an adult. They also help to reduce the number of things in the world in which a puppy might be frightened and continually provide the experience of being afraid and then recovering. The more chances a puppy has to be properly exposed to something new during the socialization period, the less bothered he or she will be throughout his life when confronted by other new or frightening things.2
Dr. Ed Bailey wrote in Gun Dog magazine that “deprived of stimulation, puppies either cannot learn or are poor learners at best. A puppy never experiencing and coping with frustrating situations has limited chance to develop the checks and balances of emotion” needed to problem solve and develop good temperaments.2
Puppies also are ready to be separated from the litter for increasingly longer periods of time to learn independence, prevent separation anxiety problems later, and encourage bonding and acceptance of humans. Between 7 and 8 weeks of age is often considered an ideal time to adopt puppies to their new owners. At this age they have fully functioning brains and are capable of learning anything and of forming strong relationships with both dogs and humans, Hastings says. Before this age, interactions within a litter are considered critical to a puppy’s development.
Breeders and owners should be cautious of the fear period that occurs around 8 to 10 weeks of age, making a puppy extremely susceptible to permanent and irreversible fears. “If a puppy is frightened during this period, it may take weeks to return to normal,” Hastings says. “In a nonsocialized puppy, anything associated with fear at this age will always be a fear stimulus throughout its entire life without desensitization. Most agree this is the wrong time for ear cropping, shipping or harsh discipline.”
Juvenile Period:
3 to 6 Months
Teething occurs and a puppy starts chewing more frequently. Rapid physical development is under way along with a true juvenile sense of independence. A puppy that wouldn’t leave your side earlier now won’t come when called. The juvenile period is the worst time to train a young dog if a basis hasn’t already been established; dogs become more active and more excitable.2
A second fear period typically occurs between 4 and 10 months, lasting about three weeks. Puppies become fearful and cautious even to things they previously were comfortable with.2 The good news is that most recover spontaneously.
A Solid Beginning
Breeding and whelping a litter is just the start of raising healthy, well-socialized dogs. Taking time to understand the important stages of puppies’ social and behavioral development is key to success.
1 Scott JP, Fuller JL. Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog. Originally published 1965. University of Chicago Press. 1998.
2 Hastings P, Rouse EA. Another Piece of the Puzzle: Puppy Development. Dogfolk Enterprises, Aloha, OR. 2004.
