Canine Development

  • Blind

  • Deaf

  • Sense of taste

  • Slow Crawl

One Goal: Obtain Nutrition through nursing.

NEONATAL PERIOD- BIRTH TO 2 WEEKS

  • Suckling

  • Needs help to eliminate

  • Instinctual Behaviors only

  • No tail wag

TRANSITIONAL PERIOD- 2 TO 3 WEEKS

Rapid development in basic sensory and motor capabilities

  • Eyes Open

  • Ears Open

  • Walking on feet

  • Conflict Behavior

  • Tail Wag

  • Unstable response to stimuli

  • First Teeth coming in

  • Chewing

  • Eliminating outside the nest

SOCIALIZATION PERIOD- 3 TO 16 WEEKS

  • Eyes fully develop

  • Weaning begins

  • Sense of smell develops

  • Lapping and chewing

Rapid development in social behavior patterns

DOG-TO-HUMAN SOCIALIZATION - 7 TO 12 WEEKS

DOG-TO-DOG SOCIALIZATION - 3 TO 7 WEEKS

FIRST FEAR IMPACT PERIOD - 8 TO 11 WEEKS

traumatic, painful, or frightening experience will have a more lasting impact on the puppy during the fear period than at any other time

JUVENILE PERIOD - 16 WEEKS TO 6 MONTHS

Begins with first long excursion away from den & ends at sexual maturity

  • Permanent teeth come in between 4 to 6 months

  • Short attention span and excitable

  • Hierarchies can form

  • Poor motor skills

  • Sensory organs fully develop

  • Increased strength and skill

  • Leg lifting begins around 5 to 8 months

ADOLESCENCE - 6 MONTHS TO UP TO 2 YEARS

  • Sexual maturity begins around 6 months

  • Reduced impulse control

  • Regression in training

Period is marked by hormonal changes

SECOND FEAR IMPACT PERIOD - BETWEEN 6 AND 14 MONTHS

  •  Fear response and reluctance

  • Handle this fear with patience and kindness!

Marked by sudden changes in behavior

MATURITY - 1 TO 6 YEARS

  • May see an increase in aggression

  • Renewed testing of others

  • Physically and behaviorally mature

  • Some breeds continue to grow beyond 4 years

Receding hormone levels

  • Difficulty navigating environment

  • Loss of bladder control

  • Decreased purposeful activity

  • Sleeping more

THE SENIOR PERIOD - 6+ YEARS

DECLINE IN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITIES

  • Failure to respond to cues

  • Inability to recognize people

  • Decreased attention to surroundings

  • Slow, clumsy run

  • Agonistic behavior increases

  • Develop preferences for elimination surfaces