Critical Periods In Your Puppy’s Psychological Growth

January 10, 2009 by Dog Service Network
Filed under Adolescent Dogs, Dog Ownership, Dog Training, Socialization

0 to 7 Weeks
Neonatal, Transition, Awareness, and Canine Socialisation. Puppy is with mother and littermates up to at least seven weeks. During this period, your puppy learns about social interaction, play, and inhibiting aggression from its mother and littermates. Puppies must stay with their mother and littermates through this critical period. As the puppies learn the most important lesson in their lives–they learn to accept discipline. It is at this time that they also learn not to toilet in the nest.

7 to 14 Weeks
Human Socialisation Period. The best time to take a puppy home is 7 weeks onwards then you have nine whole weeks to work with the dog over this incredibly important period. The puppy now has the brain waves of an adult dog, but his attention span is short. This period is when the most rapid learning occurs. Learning at this age is permanent so this is a perfect time to start training, but make it fun. This is also the time to introduce the puppy to things that will play an important part in his life. Different people, places, animals, hoovers, washing machines and unusual sounds, in a positive, non-threatening way.

8 to 10 Weeks
Fear Imprint Period. Whilst the Pup is going through human socialisation is will also go through an important fear/hazard avoidance period. Avoid frightening the puppy during this period. Any traumatic, frightening or painful experience will have a more lasting effect on the puppy than if it occurred at any other time in its life. This period if you do not handle it correctly could give your dog a lasting fear of say traffic or other frightening noises or events. Never ever praise or sympathise with your pup when it is showing fear. This only serves to confirm the fear.

11 to 16 Weeks
Seniority Classification Period. Puppy starts to cut teeth and apron strings! At the end of this period and begins testing its position in the family unit. You must discourage all biting; the dog should have started to learn and understand bite inhibition by this time! It is important that you are a strong and consistent and fair leader The period between 0 and 16 weeks is the most important period in your dog’s life. He will learn more during that short space of time than at any other time in his lifetime. Other windows of opportunity for learning will open during your dog’s life. Other windows of opportunity for learning will open for your dog. However, what you see at 16 weeks without extensive training and behavioural modification is about what you are going to get as an adult. Therefore, work hard on giving your pet the best start in life.

4 to 8 Months
Play Instinct Period. Flight Instinct Period. Puppy may wander and ignore you. It is very important that you keep the puppy on a leash at this time! The way that you handle your pup at this time determines if he will come to you when called. At about 4-1/2 months, your puppy loses his milk teeth and gets his adult teeth. That’s when he begins serious chewing! A dog’s teeth don’t set in his jaw until between 6 /10 months. During this time, the puppy has a physical need to exercise his mouth by chewing. Training must continue through this period or all your good work may revert back to stage one. Occasionally the puppy will start to urinate in the house again if this happens, just go back to basic toilet training.
6 to 14 Months
Second Fear Imprint Period or Fear of New Situations Period. Dog again shows fear of new situations and even familiar situations. Dog may be reluctant to approach someone or something new. It is important that you are patient and act very matter of fact in these situations. Never force the dog to face the situation. DO NOT pet the frightened puppy or talk in soothing tones. The puppy will interpret such responses as praise for being frightened. Training will help improve the dog’s confidence. This fear period is normally more marked in male dogs.

1 to 4 Years
Maturity Period. You may encounter some increased aggression and renewed testing for position and authority, however if you have spent lots of time with your dog and trained consistently and regularly, then this should not present itself as a problem – in fact you may hardly notice this change, it is just something to keep in mind. Continue to train your dog during this period. It is possible that your dog may have another fear period between 12 – 16 months of age.

Regardless of your reason for acquiring a puppy, you will have to win it over. You, not your dog, will have to create a safe and secure environment with ongoing training, if your pup is to develop into a well-mannered family member instead of a thug or a burden.

Dogs are canids taxonomically part of the Wolf, Coyote and Jackal group , they are not human beings and do not think or act like humans. They are instinctively pack animals. In every pack their can be a number of leaders, these tend to make most of the decisions. Usually the pack will have at least one breeding pair. All the other members of the pack form a hierarchy in which everyone has a place. However your dog is not a wolf, and though we have tended to think Alpha is important, new thinking and scientific studies have somewhat disproved this thinking.

That is not to say you should not show leadership in a fair and equable way. In your home you and your family become your dog’s family, as do any other dogs you may have. It is therefore your responsibility to establish yourself in a position of authority and trust. If you fail to do this, your dog may question your requests and authority. Many people assume that they are automatically the lead figure just because they are humans, are you really the leader. Does your dog know this and does he/she respect your wishes and commands?

Being the leader does not mean you have to be big and aggressive. Nor does it mean that there has to be a battle of strength or wills, after which you emerge the victor. Anyone can be the leader. It is an attitude an air of authority. It is the basis for mutual respect, and provides the building blocks of communication between you and your dog. It never means punishment or overt aggression. Think fair, equable, and consistent and you will not go far wrong.

Stan Rawlinson © 1999
(Doglistener}
stan@doglistener.co.uk
www.doglistener.co.uk
07976 153161
0208 979 2019

© Copyright: Stan Rawlinson (Doglistener) one of the leading Dog Behaviourists and Obedience Trainers in the UK. Who has owned and worked dogs for over 30 years, starting with Gundogs then moving on to the behavioural and obedience side of Pet Dogs. He now has a successful practice covering London, Surrey and Middlesex. Visit his Web Site for more information and details of his work. www.doglistener.co.uk