Developmental Stages Weeks 1 - 12
“Experiences during the first three months are the foundation of the puppy’s mature personality.”
Content on this page, and more on later developmental stages, is from the book How To Raise A Puppy You Can Live With, 4th Edition. See more sources on page Puppy Enrichment.
Neonatal - Birth - 2 weeks
- Spends 90 percent of time sleeping
- Is susceptible to excess heat or cold
- Crawls
- Nurses
- Seeks warmth of littermates and mother
- Can usually right himself if turned over
Transitional - weeks 2-3
- Eyes open
- Teeth begin to emerge
- Stands on all fours and take a few steps
- Begins to lap liquid
Socialization - weeks 3-12
FIRST STAGE—The Period of Becoming Aware Days 22–35
Key Puppy Behavior: 3–4 weeks
- Can hear, see, and the sense of smell is becoming much more complex
- Begins to eat food
- Begins to bark, wag tail, and bite other puppies
Key Puppy Behavior: 4–5 weeks
- Uses legs quite well, but tires easily
- Paws
- Bares teeth and growls
- Chases
- Plays prey-killing games
SECOND STAGE—The Period of Curiosity Days 36–49
Key Puppy Behavior: 5–7 weeks
- Weaning begins
- Is curious
- Has little sense of fear
- Participates in group activities and sexual play
- Dominance order begins
THIRD STAGE—The Period of Behavioral Refinement Days 50–63
Key Puppy Behavior: 7–9 weeks
- 7 weeks: Has total hearing and visual capacity
- Will investigate anything
- 8 weeks: Is fearful of sudden or loud sounds and movement
- Is cautious of anything new in the environment
FOURTH STAGE—The Period of Environmental Awareness Days 64–84
Key Puppy Behavior: 9–12 weeks
- Develops strong dominant and subordinate behavior among littermates
- Begins to learn right behavior for right circumstance
- Continues to improve in motor skills
- Has very short attention span
