The 5 Critical Periods - #1

The first 18 months are the most critical for your puppy. The lessons learned during this year and a half will help set the temperament, disposition and behavior of your puppy for years to come. Here is the first age-level period and some helpful tips regarding development.

0 to 3 Weeks

Basic Needs: Warmth, food, sleep, mother.

Mental Capacity: Instinctual.

Trainability: None.

Special Notes: Little to no handling by humans is necessary.

For the first three weeks or so, a puppy's primary needs are met by the mother dog, both in terms of sustenance and mental/emotional awakening. When they are born, puppies don't see, hear, or smell yet. They spend most of their time sleeping.

Soon they start squirming about trying to walk, but they can't really get their legs. Their sounds are chirping and super cute. Around week 3 their eyes and ears begin to open, and they start interacting with their littermates and mother. Prior to that they can smell momma's milk and will crawl toward momma when she is near. Blind and deaf, they certaily manage to find those nipples. Momma dog makes herself available to feed, and she will teach them to eliminate - pee and poop - by licking their privates (and of course momma consumes the refuse as well... ewww!). And as their tiny, razor sharp, puppy teeth emerge, interactions with momma and siblings begin teaching them bite inhibition. At this stage the puppies begin to gain confidence with other dogs.

Very little human handling is needed; and when done it should be done with very little activity. During this time, we typically rotate holding the puppies for short periods of time. We pet the puppies, getting them used to careful human handling in a calming environment. Momma dog is very attentive and may sit watching us to make sure we are doing it right. Lol. As the puppies get older, we will incorporate some play, laying on the ground and letting them climb on us. We place their pen in a semi-secluded place where they can be close to our daily family activities while not being overstimulated by it.