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Critical
Periods in a Dog Life - Developmental Stages
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Critical stages of canine development have been well
covered in both scientific and popular literature and are based
primarily on the work of John Scott and J. L. Fuller in the forties,
fifties, and sixties. Clarence Pfaffenberger's book "New
Knowledge of Dog Behaviour" introduced these stages of
development to breeders, trainers and pet owners over 20 years ago. Jack
and Wendy Vollhard and Richard Wolters further popularized this field by
introducing
puppy aptitude testing based, in part, on Scott and fuller's
findings. Drs. Michael Fox and Ian Dunbar, initially studying canine
development and behavior in clinical settings, have written copiously
for the lay press regarding puppy socialization.
Unfortunately, many writers have led new puppy owners
into believing that a puppy purchased at any age older than exactly 7
weeks will bond less well and be less trainable than a puppy purchased
at exactly 49 days of life. The 49th day of life may be the
earliest time a puppy may leave its littermates, but it may not be the
best time.
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The Early Critical Period - Birth to
21 days.
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Neonatal Period
(Birth - 12 Days) |
During this period the puppies development
is limited to two functions; nursing to obtain nutrition and staying
warm. A puppy is totally dependant upon his mother to meet all of his
physical needs. He needs to be stimulated to urinate and defecate. His
sense of taste, touch, smell and his ability to hear is limited. The
puppies environment affects him only as much as it touches him. |
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Breeder Do's |
Keep bitch happy, healthy, and
well-fed. Her physical and emotional well-being will supply
everything the puppies need during this stage.
Handle puppies very gently
with very slow, massaging movements. Very light stimulation of
the nervous system (called "pre-stressing") may be
beneficial when applied during the second week of life. This
could involve rotating pups gently in your hands, applying light
pressure to the ear leather, and holding each pup gently on its back
for a few seconds each day. Pups should, of course, be weighed
daily to monitor growth and this would be a good time to handle each
pup. THIS IS NOT SOCIALIZATION OR TRAINING. Pre-stressing
does, however, assist in developing brain cells.
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Breeder Don'ts |
Don't allow visitors
(human or canine) during this period. Avoid anything that will
stress the bitch (house guests, parties, home repairs, etc.) Also
try not to move puppies or remove mother from the litter at this time.
If the pups or dam need to see a veterinarian try to arrange for a home
visit. Despite the common practice, this is not a good age to take
a litter to a dog show in your RV.
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Transition
period
(13-21 days) |
Eyes and ears open and pups slowly
begin responding to light, movement, and sound. Puppies
become more mobile as they gain awareness of their surroundings,
their mother, litter mates, and objects. Pups may also begin
to alert to human presence during this period. This is still
a reaction to stimuli rather than a social bond or emotional
attachment.
Pups will attempt to get up on
their feet, but continue crawling backward and forward. They
may begin trying to get out of whelping box toward end of this
period.
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Breeder Do's |
Introduce toys as
obstacles to climb over or bump into. This helps pups develop
spatial awareness. Some pups may begin briefly interacting with
toys near the end of the third week. Continue handling pups daily
using slow, massaging movements. Pups are growing fast and need
frequent nail trimming. Introduce brushing with soft brush. Again,
this is not training but stimulation. |
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Breeder Don'ts |
Avoid startling pup with
loud noises or sudden movements while hearing and eyesight are
developing. If you must move or change puppies' environment, this is the
time to do so. Do not remove from dam. |
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Awareness Period- 21 to 28 DAYS
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Characteristics |
Most important period with rapid sensory
development. Puppies are fully alert to their environment and will
startle easily at sudden sounds and movements. During this time they are
able to recognise their breeder and other significant humans by smell,
sight and sound. However, they have lost the natural insulation of the
neonatal period and negative events can easily imprint in basic
behaviour during this period.
Social bonding begins to occur during this
week.
Neonatal behaviours such as head swinging,
mewing and crawling back and forth stop. Pups are more active and
moving well on their feet. This is a time of rapid physical
change. There are also significant changes in brain waves during
this period and pups are now able to learn from experiences and to
retain what they have learned.
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Breeder Do's |
Introduce new tactile sensations in
puppies' box. Pups enjoy burrowing in shredded newspaper, for example,
or crawling over a rolled up towel or blanket. Continue daily
handling, adding new sounds and sights to the environment radio, TV,
telephone, computer printer. Introduce toys that make sounds.
Pups can be removed from the box and placed on new surfaces. Do
this with two pups at a time rather than separating from litter.
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Breeder Don'ts
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AVOID LOUD NOISES OR SUDDEN CHANGES
DURING THIS PERIOD. Negative events can permanently imprint on
pups during this week. Do not run vacuum cleaner around pups, blow
hair dryers, run clippers, etc. Postpone having work done on your
home and ask prospective purchasers or curious friends to wait until the
end of the 4th week to visit puppies.
Do not move puppies or separate
from dam during this week.
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Canine Socialization Period 21 to 49
DAYS
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Characteristics
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Puppy is with mother and
littermates. During this period, puppy learns about social interaction,
play, and inhibiting aggression* from mother and littermates. Puppies
must stay with their mother and littermates during this critical period.
Puppies learn the most important lesson in their lives--they learn to
accept discipline. Social awareness, learning to become dogs
(note: first week of this critical stage of development overlaps
with second period of development). Play fighting behaviour
becomes increasingly intense. Pups are developing problem solving
abilities, physical co-ordination, bite inhibition. Mother begins
weaning pups during this period, those beginning to initiate discipline.
During this time puppies will begin to move to the far corners of their
bed, box, or pen to urinate and defecate. House breaking can
begin!
* Some lines of dogs don't
begin to get incisors until about 7 weeks, so this time period may last
two
additional weeks in those dogs--one can't learn to inhibit his bite
if he has no teeth.
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Breeder Do's |
During entire period leave pups together
as litter and allow dam free access to pups. During 4th week (21-28 days) introduce
food to pups without removing dam. You can feed her in the
litter box at the same time. Begin escalating sensory
experiences (see notes on second critical period). Continue
daily handling by breeder and family members.
During 5th week (28-35 days) introduce
pups to the outdoors. Take them outside to urinate and defecate after
waking or eating. When this is not possible provide pups with a
designated bathroom spot to begin their housebreaking.
Begin handling pups individually away from
litter mates and dam for at least 10 minutes each day. Enlist
the help of family members, friends, neighbor and prospective puppy
owners in this process. If you cannot handle 10 minutes each do,
do 5 minutes. Daily experiences away from litter mates are crucial.
During 6th and 7th weeks (35-49 days)
increase sensory experiences with brief car rides. Introduce
pups to vacuum cleaner. Puppies can begin simple training
routines using food lures and social attraction at this time.
Start teaching pups to stand on grooming table to be examined or to be
brushed.
This is the prime socialization period.
Introduce new people, especially children. Pups enjoy
interaction with a gentle adult dog ` a kindly aunt or uncle who will
baby-sit with patience. Introduce situations
that will stimulate problem solving behavior - tunnels, cardboard
boxes, gates, steps, fences, logs, etc. Allow pups to have
successes and reinforce these successes with food.
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Breeder Don'ts |
DO NOT REMOVE
PUPPIES FROM LITTER DURING THIS PERIOD! Do not completely remove
mother. Do not correct for play fighting, housebreaking errors, or
mouthing. |
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Fear Impact Period 8 to 12 Weeks
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Characteristics: |
Enlarging social awareness and bonding
outside of litter. Mental abilities are fully formed but pups lack
experience. This is the optimum time to teach new things and is,
in fact, the period of fastest learning. Research has shown that behaviors
can be shaped and modified most easily during times when
learning is occurring most quickly. Training during this time will
actually increase the capacity to learn by increasing brain cells in the
appropriate regions of the brain.
Bladder and bowel control developed and pups
are capable of sleeping through the night without an accident.
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Breeder Do's |
Greatly enlarge the puppies' world between
49 and 56 days. Begin puppy rotation, playing and sleeping in
smaller groups. Pups that remain with breeder can be
crated with one or two other pups. Be sure to switch puppies
around. Continue individual grooming, play and
training sessions with each pup. Gentle but firm discipline from
humans may be begun. Begin teaching response to simple commands
such as sit, down, stand, come, walk on lead at this time. Pups
during this period can learn complex behavior chain and can make
associations.
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Breeder Don'ts |
Do not isolate from humans or unnecessarily
restrain during this period (only restraints should be crate or
necessary fencing). Avoid inadvertently reinforcing fearful
responses. Note: First
fear imprint period occurs between 8-10 weeks. Avoid placing pups during
this time.
Avoid
shipping pups, ear cropping, traumatic experiences.
Pups that have been properly socialized and
bonded with breeder can be successfully placed at 10-12 weeks after they
have passed the first fear imprint period and while they are still young
enough to be "babies."
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Dominance Period 3-4 Months
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Characteristics: |
Dominance period where pup
solidifies social position. Pups will begin testing their place in the
world during this time. They tend to become emboldened. This is a
period of very fast physical growth. |
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Breeder/Owner Do's |
Pups must be treated as individual dogs.
If they are still with breeder they should no longer be treated as
part of a litter and should sleep alone in individual crates at night
and all training and grooming sessions should be individual.
Introduce behavioural dominance exercises.
"Alphabetise" yourself and your family - feed pup after you
eat, move crate to different locations so pup doesn't become site
protective, take food and toys away from pup while eating or playing.
Continue socialisation and obedience
training providing slight distractions. TEACH THE RECALL AND
PRACTICE IT SEVERAL TIMES EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!! Do this before pup
enters the "flight period" at about 16 weeks.
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Breeder/Owner Don'ts |
No tug of war games. Do not allow pup
to sleep in bed with humans. Absolutely forbid all chasing games
with children. VERY, VERY IMPORTANT NOTE; DO NOT
RAISE LITTER MATES OR TWO UNRELATED PUPPIES TOGETHER DURING THIS
PERIOD!!!
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Flight Instinct Period 4-6 Months
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Characteristics:
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The flight period, corresponding to
teething. Pups begin testing limits. May attempt to assert
dominance over human pack members (especially children). May
"forget" housebreaking.
This period is characterised by independence
and wilfulness. Owner or breeder is no longer Mommy substitute.
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Breeder/Owner Do's:
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Keep pup on lead when outside fenced
enclosures. Continue recall training and response to commands.
Continue passive dominance and touch sensitivity exercises and
handling all parts of pups body. |
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Breeder/Owner Don'ts
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Do not let pup off lead if at all possible.
Do not chase pup or play chasing games. |
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Second Fear Imprint Period to 14 Months
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Characteristics:
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Sexual maturity, hormonal changes.
Fearfulness of new situations, objects, people, other dogs. Male dogs
begin lifting legs. Some individuals will pass through this periods
faster than others, often with no noticeable problems. Others may
display marked changes in behavior in strange situations. Reinforce the
behaviors you want; do not reinforce fearfulness by
coddling or protective behavior. But also try to avoid punishing
fearfulness. Try to adopt a firm but patient and kindly attitude
to the pup's fearful behavior. Continue socialization to humans and
other dogs. Avoid or postpone extremely stressful or traumatic
experiences for animals that appear to be in this fear imprint period. |
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Rule of Sevens
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Seven Weeks to
Seven Months
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From the age of 7 weeks until 7 months, a
puppy should meet 7 new people every 7 days. Everyone she meets should
give the puppy treats, and as much variety as possible in terms of size,
age, color, and personality type should be represented. The puppy should
also go 7 new places every 7 weeks (or at least one new place a week),
and the places should be as different from each other as possible, such
as a lake, a park, a shopping mall parking lot, the vet's office, a pet
store, etc. And don't stop there! These recommendations are minimums the
more people and places your puppy experiences, the more well-adjusted
he'll be as an adult. Keeping track of the people your puppy meets and
the places he goes can be fun for young children and will ensure that
you meet your goals. Be sure the puppy is put on his own four feet for
these introductions and visits; holding him in your arms can send him
the wrong signals and prevent him from experiencing the world on his
own. ~ Author Unknown
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References and Related Reading:
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Dunbar, Ian. Dog Behaviour.
1978.
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Dunbar, Ian. Seminar notes from puppy training and behaviour
problems seminars, 1990 and 1991.
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Dunbar, Ian and Gail Bohnenkamp. Socialisation. Oakland:
Kenneth James. 1985.
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Fox, Michael. Integrative development of brain and behaviour in
the dog. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press. 1971.
Fox, Michael. Superdog. New York: Howell. 1990.
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Fox, Michael. Understanding your dog. Originally published
1972. Reissued.
O'Kelley, Joyce. Super dogs are made not born. Offlead.
Series from July through Oct. 1978 (reprinted by Offlead in 1991).
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Pfaffenberger, Clarence. The new knowledge of dog behaviour. New York:
Howell. 1963.
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Scott, John. Attachment and Socialisation: The Critical
Period. American Kennel Gazette, May 1988, pp. 74-79.
Scott, John and J.L. Fuller. Dog behaviour. Chicago:
Univ. of Chicago Press. 1965.
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Scott, John. Critical periods in behavioural development Reading,
Mass.: Addison-Wesley. 1972.
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Wolters. Richard. Family dog. New York: Howell. 1975.
~ Source:
http://www.dogwoodshelties.net/dog_info/Behavior/Development.htm
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