Having a puppy can sometimes feel like a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I know, I’m there too. But you can also build an incredible, lifelong bond with your dog as they age. In this article, I will outline the five stages of your puppy’s development. Additionally, you will find a handy calculator you can use to get an idea of how large your puppy will become when they reach adulthood. This data will help you properly care for your new puppy and ensure they grow into a healthy and happy dog!
The 5 Stages of Puppy Development
Stage 1: Neo-Natal Stage (0 – 2 weeks)
The first stage of puppy development is the Neo-Natal Stage. At this point, your puppy only has two senses: taste and touch. They rely completely on their mother for everything.
Stage 2: Transitional Stage (2 – 4 weeks)
Your puppy is starting to gain all the rest of its senses: it can hear, smell, and see. The puppy’s eyes begin to open, and its razor-sharp puppy teeth appear. At four weeks, puppies can bark and wag its tail.
Stage 3: Socialization (3 – 12 weeks)
Between 3 – 5 weeks, your puppy becomes more aware of its surroundings and can create bonds with humans. The puppy is familiar with household sounds like cell phone notifications, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, etc. Also, it will begin socializing with its litter mates and mother. Nipping starts at this stage as they learn their boundaries and limits. By four weeks, the mother begins to ween their puppy.
From 7 – 12 weeks or the later part of this socialization stage, puppies are typically ready to go to their new home. Many breeders and professionals recommend waiting until the puppy is 8 and 10 weeks old to go home. I took my puppy home at about nine weeks, which was a pretty good time. This is also a great time to crate-train your puppy. With full use of all their senses, being completely aware of their surroundings, and the ability to create bonds with humans and other animals, this is the ideal time to socialize your puppy to new experiences as much as possible. Ironically, or coincidentally, between 8 and 10 weeks is the prime time for a puppy to go home. It is also their first fear period. Aside from the adjustment time, you may notice it is very fearful of various things in their surrounding. This is not necessarily a personality trait just yet. This is just a puppy going through its first fear period, and they’ve got three more to go.
Stage 4: The Testing Period (3 – 6 months)
Your puppy goes through the testing period from 3 to 6 months. At this time, your puppy will also try to rank themselves in the order of your “pack.” Your “pack” would include you and any other pets, family members, and children in your household. Your puppy is trying to figure out where they rank within your pack, and it may try to outrank other pets, children, and other humans in your family. Problem behaviour can begin around this time, so it’s a great time to get your puppy into training. This will help not only with nipping any behavioural problems in the bud but it will also help with engaging with your puppy and building that solid bond. Finally, the second fear period will occur between 4 and 6 months. You might notice that where your puppy has overcome specific fears, those fears may re-emerge, or new ones may start to surface.
Stage 5: Adolescence (6 – 18 months)
6 to 18 months is typically considered the adolescent period for your dog. As a caveat, smaller breed dogs, like the Yorkshire Terrier, mature faster than large breed dogs, like the Great Dane. As a result, small-breed dogs will reach adolescence earlier, and large-breed dogs may not reach adolescence until closer to 9 or 10 months.
In this stage, your dog is reaching sexual maturity and will experience two more fear periods. Those fear periods are typically around nine months and 14 to 18 months. These fear periods are normal and not necessarily a personality trait.
A point of note for guarding breeds: adolescence is when guarding instincts start to form and take shape. As a result, you should watch out for any aggressive behaviours that these breeds are sometimes known for.
Puppy Size Calculator
In the calculator below, you can enter your dog’s current age in weeks and current weight in pounds. Once you click the “Calculate” button, you will see the anticipated weight of your puppy when they reach adulthood. Keep in mind that your dog may not follow the breed standard strictly, which may skew smaller or a little larger. Either way, I hope you find this tool helpful!
The calculator can also be found here.
Conclusion
Bringing a puppy home can be topsy-turvy, but understanding what your puppy is experiencing as they reach adulthood should help you navigate the stormy waters. On the other end, you will have built a strong bond and life-long friendship
