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Good Foundations Build Good Dogs We all understand that puppies go through distinct stages of development. What can make all the difference to the grown dog is what happens to Pup during those specific stages of growth. Whether he becomes a behavior nightmare or a cherished companion often depends on the breeder and first home. o The neonatal stage is the time between birth and twelve days when Pup can't see at all and has very little hearing ability. Pup is mostly immobile and stays very close to his dam and litter mates. The breeder's job is to have a vet check by two days of age and provide a warm, dry environment. Careful breeders engage in gentle handling exercises since such early neurological stimulation enables Pup to cope with stress more easily later in life. If you are on the waiting list for a puppy, now is the time to research vets and training classes in your area. www.apdt.com offers information on trainers. o The transition period is the time between 13 and 20 days when Pup's eyes open. He can hear and begins to walk in a wobbly gait. Near the 20 day mark, he can eliminate spontaneously without encouragement from the dam. He can ingest some solid food. His dam may regurgitate food for Pup. A responsible breeder will provide an enriched environment for the litter which will help develop perceptual and learning abilities. Things like a variety of different noises, surfaces to walk on, different people to meet and unique toys for interaction. o The primary socialization period is between 3 and seven weeks. Vision begins to develop with adult sighting abilities in place by about 8 weeks. Pup can now locate using sight and sound and learn positive associations with gentle training for very simple behaviors like following and coming when called. This period is enormously important to Pup. Now is when he learns to be a dog, species-specific behaviors like biting, chasing, barking , fighting and body posturing. Litter mates quickly teach one another bite inhibition and other dog social skills. The dam is a valuable teacher even though she is weaning the puppies between 4 and 8 weeks. It is essential that the puppy remain with his mother and litter at the responsible breeder's location during this primary socialization period. The breeder will provide a complex, stimulating environment so essential for proper development. The responsible breeder socializes the puppies individually as well as in a group. o The human socialization period begins in week 7 and continues through weeks 12 -14. This is the age when the most rapid learning occurs. The greatest impact on Pup's future social behaviors will be made by experiences during this time frame. Pup usually leaves the breeder for his home with you after 8 weeks of age or older. This is the critical time for socialization with positive associations. Make vet visits pleasant. Enroll in an excellent puppy class by the time Pup is 11 to 12 weeks of age. Visit a site like www.dogstardaily.com for advice. Purchase the terrific booklet "Taking Care of Puppy Business" by Leslie Nelson and Gail Pivar from 800-776-2665. o The fear impact period falls within the human socialization period, usually between 8 and 11 weeks. Not only is this the time frame during which Pup can be more easily frightened, but anything that happens during this period might have a more lasting effect since Pup will now remember those bad and good things that happen to him. A careful owner will accentuate the positive by controlling Pup's experiences. Eliminate the negative by avoiding potentially overwhelming circumstances such as shipping Pup in a plane's cargo bay. o After week 14, the time window for easily socializing Pup closes. The juvenile period, after week 14 and lasting until puberty will test whether we have provided structure and healthy management of Pup's time and natural tendencies. Pup should be in a class or training program. Unfortunately, folks sometime wait to begin any behavior management or socialization with Pup until the adolescent period, beginning with puberty at about 6 months and ending at about 1 year. If the first training class experience for Pup happens to fall during his second fear impact period which lasts about three weeks between 5 and 12 months, the results can be a disaster. Eighty per cent of dogs in this country do not reach their first birthday in the homes they entered at 8 to ten weeks of age. A developmental foundation for success was not built for these puppies who are often passed from owner to owner until ending in a shelter orworse. We can all try to do better.
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