anyone else's actions regarding the information on this web site. I am not a Veterinarian, nor do I portray myself to be one, so if you have medical questions please call your Vet first and foremost.
Their efforts, recognizing critical developmental periods, the importance of socialization, the use of the puppy aptitude test and an effective breeding program, resulted in the remarkable success rate of over 9O percent in producing guide dogs for the blind. Clarence Pfaffenbeiger, Dr. Michael Fox and Joachim and Wendy Volhard have further documented and supported the results of Scott and Fuller. Critical periods in a dog's life begin at birth, peak between six and eight weeks, and extend to maturity. It has been proven that environment and socialization make lasting impressions on the developing dog. Breeders have an important responsibility to provide socialization and richness of experience for puppies in their care, this is especially important from the fourth to eighth weeks of puppyhood. Pfaffenberger in his book "The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior" states that from "three weeks of age, when the learning stage began, to 16 weeks of age, the character of a dog is formed. No matter how good his inherited character traits, if they are not given a chance of expression during this period he will never be as good a dog as he could have been." The following article, "The critical Period in the Life of a Puppy," is based on the research of Dr. J. Paul Scott, Animal Behaviour Division of the Rosco B. Jackson Memorial Laboratory, U.S.A. After studying hundreds of puppies as they grew up with their mothers and litter mates, it was found that the social development of puppies can be divided into defined periods, based on the beginning and ending of certain important social relationships inherent in all breeds. FIRST PERIOD (0 - 3 weeks) The puppy is on its mother, or substitute mother, for the first 21 days of it's life. Some of us have worried because a mother will scarcely leave her litter during this first five or six days after the puppies come, even to eat or to relieve herself. This is because the puppy is so completely dependent upon her and its litter mates for warmth, that it is necessary for it to snuggle up to its mother and brother and sisters. A temperature of 85 F - 90 F (29.4 c - 32.2 c) is about right for the first week of a puppy's life. It has been noticed that the puppies just seem to sleep and eat, and the mother constantly massages them with her tongue. This licking is necessary, not only to keep them clean, but to cause elimination, for the puppies at birth and for many days afterwards are not able to eliminate on their own. Nursing puppies eat a little and then rest against their mother's warm breast and she massages them. This is repeated many times a day. The first 21 days of a puppies life is very crucial as the time of survival. Warmth, food, massage, and sleep are the things a puppy needs for this period. There is a slight variation in the length of the first period, but with all puppies of all breeds it is complete by the 21st day and then there is a sharp break. A PUPPY UNDER 21 DAYS OF AGE CANNOT LEARN OR BE TRAINED! SECOND CRITICAL PERIOD (4 weeks - 7 weeks) Beginning on the 21st day, the puppy can see quite well, and can hear and smell. From now on, environment plays its part in the development of the dog. Suddenly the big world about him is opened up to his attention and he needs his momma very much. He can be handled, however, and socialization can start so that he will start to form attachments to human beings. For the next four weeks, his brain and nervous system are developing, and at the end of seven weeks of age puppies have the capacity of an adult dog, but of course, not the experience. During this period (4 weeks - 7 weeks) the puppies socialize with their mother and litter mates and thus form their attachments to other dogs. This is the normal thing for them to do and plays a very important part in the well-rounded development of a dog. If they are taken from their mother and litter mates before the end of the seven weeks, they miss some of their canine socialization and show less interest in dog activities than if they are left the full seven weeks. Experience has shown that the puppy who does not complete his seven weeks of canine socialization is often the same dog that, when grown, picks fights with all the strange dogs he meets, is terrified of other dogs, or is difficult to mate. During this four-week period, from 21 days to seven weeks of age, playing and even play fighting begins. In some of the litters this becomes quite serious fighting, and order of dominance has begun. It is believed that the ideal time for the puppy to go to a new owner is at approximately nine weeks of age, which is also a good time for weaning. The two things are probably best accomplished at the same time. Experiments have shown that you cannot really teach a puppy until it is about 21 days old, and that it is probably best to leave it with its mother and litter mates until it is 8-10 weeks of age. The question arises 'When is the best time to teach a puppy." The answer is, of course, as soon as it can learn, which is during the second critical period (21- 49 days of age). THIRD CRITICAL PERIOD..... (7 weeks - 12 weeks) During the third critical period, from the 49th day to the 84th day (7 - 12 weeks), the puppies should get as wide a variety of experiences and instructions as their puppy minds and emotions are capable of absorbing. Experience has indicated that it is detrimental to give puppies longer training periods than daily 15 minute sessions at this age. The advice is that a puppy should have the benefit of its trainer's wholehearted and undivided attention to make it feel important. Evidence points to the fact that puppies have a short period early in life when social relationships are established with members of their kind and after which it becomes increasingly difficult or impossible to establish them. The same applies to their relationships with human companions. The period in which puppies can best be socialized and begin their training is in the period of 5 weeks to 12 weeks of age. FOURTH CRITICAL PERIOD...... (12 weeks - 16 weeks) This fourth critical period is from 12 - 16 weeks of age. This is the age of cutting. At last the puppy, if allowed any freedom, cuts it's mother's apron strings and declares its independence. It wanders away from the nest alone or with a companion. It gets into mischief, it cuts its teeth both literally and figuratively. It will make up, however, for anything lost through neglect in earlier training. This is the time when man and dog decide who is boss. Serious training can and should be started: a transition from play training to disciplined behavior. A puppy who has had no socialization before it is 16 weeks of age has little chance of becoming the type of dog that anyone of us would want as a companion. Playing with the litter has some socializing effect, but it misses the important things: the development of the individual dog as a companion. There is no training that develops a puppy to his highest potential faster than the simple expedient of taking him entirely away from the other dogs and having a pleasant session of just getting acquainted. There is no point in making it hard for a puppy to learn either how to obey, or to pay attention. The more ideal the surroundings, the better the results will be. The puppy must come to feel that he is an important individual before the maximum results can be accomplished. Understanding the critical periods in a puppy's life gives the dog breeder, as well as the individual dog buyer, an excellent tool with which to sharpen the character traits of individual puppies so that they may attain the highest potential in adaptability to the life they are to lead, and to excel. THE TIME IS SHORT... from 21 days to 112 days in all... (13 weeks altogether)... and once it has passed, it can never be retrieved. The implications of what this short time means in the development of a dog are so great that it is extremely important for puppy raisers to employ this time wisely. It can never be made up at an older age. References: Clarice Rutherford & David H. Neil. MRCVS. "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With." Loveland, CO: Alpine Publications, 1981. Clarence Pfaffenberger. "The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior." NY, NY: Howell, 1979. Wendy Volhard & Gail Fisher. 'Seminar: "All You Ever Wanted to Know About Puppies and Dogs." |
MORE EXTENSIVE INFORMATION REGARDING GROWTH: Week One (Days 1-7) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES: 90% of time spent sleeping 10% eating Susceptible to heat/cold Instinctive reflexes: crawl, seek warmth, nurse They can right themselves if placed upside down Needs stimulation for urination/defecation Rapid development of central nervous system Need constant care from momma Rectal temperatures 94-97 degrees Farenheit Pups may lose 10% of weight after birth, but should start gaining again Weight should double by end of week CARE OF THE PUPPIES: Chart weight daily (2 x daily first 2 days) Examine puppies daily Trim nails weekly Keep whelping box around 85 degrees Farenheit (this means if it's hotter than that out, put a fan in the room or turn on the air conditioning, if it's colder than that get a heat lamp to put above the whelping box) When you handle the puppies, it's a good idea use a towel when you hold them. The puppies urinate upon stimulation and will inevitably find your attention stimulating! If your breed requires tail or dew claw docking, schedule this with your vet. CARE OF THE MOMMY: Keep dam on fluids for first 24 hours (i.e.. chicken broth, etc.) Feed three full meals a day after that Supplement with 250 mg Vitamin C twice daily If puppies are fussy, supplement momma with Vitamin B complex Check mammary glands twice daily (looking for signs of mastitis -- swelling, hardness, pus, etc.) Keep an eye on vaginal discharge (looking for signs of infection) Make sure momma eats, drinks, and relieves herself -- once her mothering instincts kick in, you may have to force her to leave the puppies to do these things. TO DO LIST: Keep detailed records on puppies' weight and behavior Keep charting momma's temperature Call puppy buyers with results of whelping Week Two (Days 8-14) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES: Eyes should open around days 8-10 Ears should open around days 13-17 Temperatures should be around 97-99F CARE OF THE PUPPIES: Keep whelping box around 80-83F Begin holding puppies in different ways (applying light stress) Trim nails weekly CARE OF THE MOMMY: Momma should get three times her normal amount of food TO DO LIST: Continue as above Week Three (Days 15-21) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES: Teeth begin to erupt Puppies stand up and start walking Begin to lap liquids Defecate/urinate without stimulation Start becoming aware of environment Start playing with littermates Develop sense of smell Puppies will start to discriminate as to where to relieve themselves CARE OF THE PUPPIES: Start adding stimuli (toys) to puppies' life Start giving specific stresses when handling (i.e.. pinch an ear or toe gently). Start giving pups milk replacer to lap for one meal a day -- after two days, add some very mushy food Weigh puppies every 2 days Give puppies a dirty shirt of yours to play with Start weekly grooming sessions (brush, trim nails, look at teeth, etc.) CARE OF THE MOMMY: Continue as above Week Four (Days 22-28) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES: Begin to eat food Begin to bark, wag tails, bite, paw, bare teeth, growl and chase Use legs well Tire easily Depth perception starts CARE OF THE PUPPIES: Keep mom with them a lot! Things can get overwhelming at this age and Mom will add stability for them Each pup needs individual attention Offer small amounts of food that is the consistency of cooked oatmeal (puppy food mixed with water and mashed up in a blender) CARE OF THE MOMMY: Continue as above TO DO LIST: Start limiting momma's access to pups before offering them food Week Five (Days 29-35) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES: Group activities and sexual play will begin Dominance order starts Rapid growth/development CARE OF THE PUPPIES: Reduce fluids in puppies' food Make sure other people start coming to see pups Begin weaning Play radio at normal volume near pups for 5 minutes at a time CARE OF THE MOMMY: Start reducing amount of food to discourage milk development Keep a careful eye on mammary glands TO DO LIST: Discuss vaccination schedule with veterinarian Week Six (Days 36-42) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES: Growth and development continue CARE OF THE PUPPIES: Offer soft, damp food Chart weekly weight Individual attention crucial -- give each puppy time with you away from litter CARE OF THE MOMMY: Keep momma on puppy food for several weeks to help her recover from the strain of breeding, whelping, and raising puppies Keep careful eye on mammary glands TO DO LIST: Continue as above Week Seven (Days 43-49) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES: Total hearing/visual capacity Will investigate anything Can't respond yet to name CARE OF THE PUPPIES: Pups should be weaned and on regular puppy food CARE OF THE MOMMY: Keep careful eye on mammary glands until milk is completely dried up TO DO LIST: Week Eight (Days 50-56) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES: First fear period Starts learning name CARE OF THE PUPPIES: Don't ship puppies Can start training puppies in small steps CARE OF THE MOMMY: Continue as above TO DO LIST: Continue as above Week Nine (Days 57-63) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES: Develops strong dominant and subordinate behavior among littermates Begins to learn right behavior Motor skills improve Short attention span Starts focusing attention on owner rather than other puppies Separate littermates Start house training CARE OF THE PUPPIES: Continue lots of individual attention Pregnancy and nursing puppies constitute a severe strain on the mother’s health. Though most mothers handle the task admirably, the wise owner can take certain precautions to protect the health of both mother and puppies. Physical examination: Within 48 hours after the birth, the mother and puppies should be examined by a veterinarian. Diet: Usually no special diet is required, but the mother will require approximately twice as much food as normal. Fluids: Provide clean, fresh water at all times. Activity: Ordinarily the mother will spend most of the first 3 weeks with her puppies. Allow her as much exercise as she desires. Bowel movements: Due to increased food consumption and the enlarged uterus, your pet may have to relieve herself more frequently. The stools may be soft for the first few days. If diarrhea or straining develop, call the veterinarian. Mammary gland care: Check the nipples daily and clean with warm water if dried milk begins to accumulate. Inform the veterinarian of any discoloration of the skin, swelling, tenderness, or sores. Trim the puppies’ nails if they are scratching the mammary glands. Vaginal discharge: A reddish vaginal discharge, with clotted blood, is normal for the first few days. This may occur intermittently for several weeks. Behavior: Call the veterinarian if the nursing mother appears nervous, restless or uncomfortable, or refuses to nurse the puppies. General effects: Normally the mother experiences heavy coat shedding during the nursing period. Brush her regularly, and call the veterinarian if any bald spots develop. A slight weight loss is normal, but consult the veterinarian if the mother appears overly thin. Estrus (heat period): Pregnancy should have no effect on the next heat period. This period should occur within 6 months after birth of the puppies. Spaying (ovariohysterectomy): If you desire surgical sterilization for your pet, an appointment should be scheduled after the puppies are weaned and milk production has ceased, but before the next heat period. Special thanks to: http://www.prouxchihuahuas.com for the use of this information. |
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