Puppy Growth Stages

What To Expect In The First Year

Puppy growth stages must be understood to provide adequate care for your new friend to prosper into a full-grown psychologically, mentally, and physically healthy dog. A puppy is considered a mature adult dog by his first birthday. The puppy growth rate is amazing compared to human growth rate; therefore, it is important to know what to expect and how to treat your new friend. Puppies grow to different sizes, depending on their breed, but there are many similarities for all breeds through the stages of puppy growth.

From the time a puppy is born up to three weeks after birth, the puppy is blind, toothless, and deaf. During the first week of the puppy growth stage, 90% of their time is spent sleeping, and 10% feeding. They are barely able to crawl. Somewhere between the first and second week, their little closed eyes open for the first time, enabling them to begin to see the world around them. They begin to hear between the second and third week. They start to whimper when they are hungry, uncomfortable, or left alone. Puppies grow while asleep. During the first three weeks, they are totally dependent upon their mother for food, comfort, emotional development, security, and to learn the basics of doggie-hood.

At week three of the puppy growth stage, pups begin developing a sense of smell, they will start to bark and growl, wag their tails, and bare their teeth. Up to around the fourth week, the mother will stay with her pups almost all of the time. A puppy can be weaned between weeks three and seven as they begin to teethe. They will begin trying to stand up and soon they will begin to walk; by about the fourth week, puppies have mastered the first skills of using their legs. By week 5 of the puppy growth stages, they should be able to chase things. Somewhere between the ages of 4 to 5 weeks, the mother will start to leave her litter alone for short periods of time. To help them establish a sense of security on their own. This is when dominance is established among the litter. Puppies start to grow rapidly during weeks 4 and 5 and are ready to be vaccinated.

Puppies growing up are already mature enough between weeks 7 and 12 to be placed into their new home with a loving human family. The puppy will be fearful since he is unfamiliar with the new owner, wondering what happened to his mother and siblings. For the first couple weeks, it is a good idea to comfort them, feed him plenty to support him thru this part of his puppy growth stage, but not so much that he is overfed resulting in stomach upset. Keep him warm or cool, depending on the weather, and provide a constant supply of fresh water. The puppy will start to learn its name and respond when called.

After the two week comforting and adjustment period, it is time to start to potty training the pup. At first, allow him to eat four times a day, but then change three meals per day on a regular schedule to prevent unpredictable bowl movements. He will still sleep a lot and grow quickly. Now is a good time to start training the puppy growing up because his motor skills will be improving.

The puppy’s first permanent teeth begin to break through the gums. Continue to give him plenty of attention and interesting toys to play with. During this phase of development he may want to chew on everything in sight and must be taught what toys he is permitted to chew. He may try to challenge your authority. Discipline should consist of "NO" spoken in a stern voice along with eye contact. Spanking, rubbing his nose in a potty accident, or threatening him is not proper discipline.

Your young dog will continue growing in mature teeth and want to chew on everything, so it is important to provide plenty of chew toys. Do not leave him alone in a room full of shoes! The youngster’s confidence will start to mature as well as his independence.

It is a good idea to start to reduce feeding to three times a day, then as it approaches its birthday, back it down to two meals a day. Some dogs reach sexual maturity at the age of 8 months! Keep that in mind. Your new furry friend is now old enough for obedience school, and/or professional training. Your little buddy won’t be so little anymore having grown thru these puppy growth stages somewhere between one half to one third its full grown size. Female pups will usually have reached their adult height, but will continue to fill their now bigger shoes.

Now your little buddy’s puppy growth stages are slowing down and he is no longer so little. He has completed the initial development and growth phase, and is now considered an adult dog. Pups really grow and mature rapidly in the first year, so nutrition, exercise and their environment will determine how healthy they will be psychologically, emotionally and physically.

After the young canine passes his or her first birthday, it is time to consider neutering. With millions of homeless and unwanted canines in the world already, unless there is a compelling reason that you wish to breed your dog and you know you have loving homes for the pups upon weaning, it is only responsible pet ownership to have your young dog neutered or spayed before bringing more pups into the world. If you do choose to allow your dog to father or mother a litter of babies, do not continue breeding repeatedly. There simply aren’t endless homes available and low-cost neutering makes it practical and inexpensive to prevent unwanted litters.

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