Just like with humans, dogs have growth & developmental periods; our actions and interventions can greatly affect the behavioral development of our puppy/dog. Here is a wonderful article written by an animal behaviorist which breaks down puppy development into stages by age and appropriate interventions. Good information for the first time owner--or for someone who is training a new canine companion.
0 to 7 Weeks
0 to 7 Weeks
Neonatal,
Transition, Awareness, and Canine Socialization.
Puppy is with mother and
litter-mates up to seven weeks .
During this period, your puppy
learns about social interaction, play, and inhibiting aggression
from its mother and litter-mates.
This is also the time a couple
of days after the birth, that the breeders should regularly handle the puppies.
Handling on a regular basis
when they are still blind and deaf causes them a mild stress response
that allows them to be healthier bond more
with humans, more intelligent and easier to train.
Puppies must stay with their
mother and litter mates 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 16 Weeks
Human
Socialization Period.
The best time to take a puppy
home is 7 weeks 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 and important part in his life.
Different people, places, animals, hoovers ,washing
machines, and unusual sounds, in a positive non threatening way.
This is also the time to work
with any perceived problems, especially aggression.
If dogs are showing aggressive behavior
under 16 weeks then get it treated immediately.
The dogs personality and future
temperament is formed around the age of 16 weeks.
This relates to the same age as
a 5 year old child. .It is at this time
that a child’s personality is fully formed,
any learning after
that is just based on knowledge and experience. The personality will not change
and that
is exactly the same
for your dog.
.
8 to 10.5 Weeks
Fear
Imprint Period.
While the Pup is going through
human socialization it also go has an important fear/hazard avoidance period.
This starts at 5 weeks and
peaks between 8 and 10.5 weeks.
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.
He will learn more during that
short space of time than at any other time in his life. Other windows of
opportunity
for learning will open during
your dog’s life.
However, what you see at 16
weeks without extensive training and behavioral 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
is the time when he begins serious chewing! A dog's teeth don't set in his jaw
until around
about
a year depending on breed and size.
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.
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.
This is the period that you do
not handle it correctly can give you dog a lasting fear of traffic,
Vets
or other frightening experiences, noises or events.
Never ever praise, cuddle,
comfort or sympathize with your pup when it is startled or showing fear or
anxiety.
This only serves to reinforce the fear the exact opposite of humans.
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'll 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 animals, not human
beings. They are instinctively pack animals. In every pack there is at least
one sometimes more than one leader, who tends to make most of the decisions.
Usually the pack will have at
least one and possibly more breeding male and breeding females.
All the other members of the
pack form a hierarchy in which everyone has a place.
Your dog is not a wolf, and
though we have tended to think Alpha is important position, new thinking and
study has somewhat disproved this idea.
That is not to say you should
not show leadership through controlling resources 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. Many people assume
that they are automatically the lead figure just because they are humans.
Are
you really the leader? Does your dog know it and respect your wishes and
commands? Are you controlling all the resources around your dog and does the
dog see you as the resource controller? See the article "The Alpha
Myth"
Being the leader/controller
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. Anyone can be the leader/controller. It is an
attitude an air of authority.
It is the basis for mutual
respect, and provides the building blocks of communication and trust between
you and your dog. It never means punishment or overt aggression.
Stan Rawlinson © 1999 This article was written by ©Stan Rawlinson (The Original Doglistener). A professional full time Dog Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer.
Catie Arney
KioKee Mastiffs
kiokeemastiffs@embarqmail.com
KioKee Mastiffs
kiokeemastiffs@embarqmail.com