Growth Stages For Dogs And Puppies
February 8th, 2010 | by admin | Secrets To Dog Training - Click Here Now!
There are very predictable stages that puppies go through as they mature. While each breed is slightly different the general timeline will be the same for all breeds of dogs. By knowing what to expect at different ages and stages you can be prepared as the owner to plan for training and socialization activities.
Dogs, just like humans, will mature at different rates. Some breeds are less boisterous and playful even as puppies and other breeds keep their puppy-like behavior far into adulthood. The following timelines are general to dogs; research your breed for specific information.
Day 1 – the puppy is born. It will be very active after the mother has cleaned it. The puppy will make lots of noise and will be very wiggly, although their eyes will be completely closed and their ears will be very close to their heads and seem almost underdeveloped. The mother dog will lick the puppies on their stomachs to stimulate them to urinate and defecate.
Day 3 – the ears will begin to appear bigger and will be held farther away from the head. The puppies will continue to make a lot of noise, particularly if they are away from the litter or the mother. Puppies should be handled minimally at this time but consistent human interaction and hearing people around is a great start to socialization.
Week 1 – by the end of the first week the puppies will be more mobile and will crawl around on their bellies and have a good sense of direction when moving towards the mother dog. The mother will leave the puppies briefly several times a day and the puppies will be OK with this. Handle the puppies daily for short periods, never completely removing them from the puppy area.
Week 2 – by the end of the second week the puppies should be walking with a fair amount of stability. The sharp puppy claws may need to be blunted to avoid injure to the littermates. The puppy’s eyes will start to open slightly and they will begin to smell towards the end of the second week. They are starting to notice noises and when people arrive. Handle the puppies daily and for longer periods.
Week 3 – puppies will be able to handle some soft, moist puppy food. They still do not have teeth so kibble is not acceptable. They have limited sight but good sense of hearing and smell. They are constantly on the move in the litter area and begin to play and socialize with each other.
Week 4 – puppy teeth are in and the litter can start on soft foods on a more continuous basis, and by the end of the month they should be able to start on dry food Puppies will start learning socialization and appropriate chewing and biting from both the mother and littermates.
Week 7 – ready to be out and about. Puppies love to run, have a good sense of mobility, scent, taste and sight. They are very active and will recognize humans by both sight and scent.
Week 8 – puppies can now be removed from the mother. They are able to eat and digest dry food and are independent in their actions.
Some breeders prefer to keep their puppies an additional 4 weeks and don’t sell them until they have been completely socialized with the litter. Many breeds do better when kept with their littermates for longer periods of time. Breeds that are prone to separation anxiety and shyness often are breeds that benefit from being left with the breeder for the additional period of time.
Kelly Marshall
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/growth-stages-for-dogs-and-puppies-67139.html
Tags: Adulthood, Ages And Stages, All Breeds Of Dogs, Bellies, Breeds Of Dogs, Dogs And Puppies, Dogs Puppies, Ears, Good Sense, Human Interaction, Information Day, Predictable Stages, puppy, Sense Of Direction, Several Times, Short Periods, Socialization, Stomachs, Timelines, Week 1
By flow2tayo on Feb 8, 2010
My puppies have not been well fed and they are now 8 weeks. Is there hope for full growth and height?
They are greatdane puppies from a large litter (10) . They apparently have not been fed well and are now too small for there age. I intend to feed them well hence, but I fear the loss of their first 8 weeks will affect the full potential of their growth. Is there still time to salvage, as I am aware that dogs grow well only within a certain stage.
By dobemommy on Feb 8, 2010
you have time to salvage them, feed them well, check out the site of the greatdane lady, she has great information about all things dane related, I have used some of her stuff for my dobes. Make sure the new homes know how to feed the pups, high quality food with supplements will be essential for them to reach their full potential
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doberman breeder
By julie d on Feb 8, 2010
Why haven’t they been weel fed? Are you the caretaker? Well, they are 8 weeks and should have been started on a quality kibble mushed for 4 weeks now. They are cabable of eating it dry by now. Start feeding them. Great Danes don’t stop groing until they are around 3 or so years old. Get a move on!
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By ;) on Feb 8, 2010
Do your best. They might never be as big as they could have been, but they are young, so they have a lot of time to grow.
I have chihuahuas. One of my pet peeves is the way people restrict food to make them small. My male is over 7lbs. All but one female is just about 6lbs because they have some fat on them. One female is really fat, but only about 3 or 4lbs. She is very, very small, just fat. I see people restrict small dog’s food all the time to try to make them smaller or keep them smaller. I just don’t like it. I think it’s cruel. I don’t like feeling ribs on dogs.
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