Education Care How to Care for

New Born Puppy & Growth Stages

Chiquita Star Rare Blue Chihuahua

Caring for newborn puppies can be time-consuming

and, at times, difficult work. It is quite a rewarding

experience to see them progress from being such

defenseless babies to more independent, healthy animals.                

Care of Newborn

        Puppies 

Puppies cannot regulate their own body temperature.   Chilling is extremely harmful. They need a constant supply  of artificial heat (heating pad) if mom is not available to keep them warm. Keep the puppy(s) indoors in a draft free room. If outside, they are subject to extreme temperatures, flea/tick/fire ant infestation and other animals that could harm them. For their bed, use an animal transport carrier. Line the inside of the kennel with towels.

Place a heating pad under half of the kennel (not inside of the kennel). Turn the heating pad to medium.  After 10 minutes half the towels should feel comforably warm, not to warm or not too cool.  This allows the puppy to move to an area which is most comfortable. For the first  two weeks of life, place another towel over the top of the kennel to avoid any drafts. When the puppy is  four weeks of age, a heating pad is no longer necessary unless the room is chilly or drafty. If the puppy  has no littermates, place a stuffed animal and/or a ticking clock inside the kennel.

Although feeding time is important, it's also vital to include petting, talking and playing, in order to help your puppy build good "people-skills."   Well-socialized  mothers are more likely to have well-socialized puppies.

 Puppies "feed" off of  their mothers' calm or fearful attitude toward people.

Puppies are usually weaned at six or seven weeks, but are still learning important skills as their mother gradually leaves them more and more. Ideally, puppies should stay with their littermates (or other role-model dogs) for at least 12 weeks.

Puppies separated from their littermates too early often don't develop appropriate "social skills," such as learning how to send and receive signals, what an "inhibited bite" means, how far to go in play wrestling and so forth. Play is important to help puppies  increase their physical coordination, social skills and learning limits. Interacting with  their mother and littermates helps them learn "how to be a dog" and is also a way to explore ranking ("who's in charge").

 Skills not acquired during the first eight weeks may be lost forever. While these stages are important and fairly consistent,  a dog's mind remains receptive to  new experiences and lessons well beyond puppy-hood. Most dogs are still puppies, in mind and body, through the first two years.

                      The following provides general guidelines

                           for the stages of development.

0 - 2 weeks = Neonatal

• Most influenced by their mother.
• Touch and taste present at birth.

                                    2-4 weeks = Transitional

• Most influenced by their mother and littermates.
• Eyes open, teeth erupt, hearing and smell developing.
• Beginning to stand, walk a little, wag, bark.
• By four or five weeks, sight is well-developed. 

                                  3 - 12 weeks = Socialization

• During this period, puppies need opportunities to meet other dogs and people.
• By four to six weeks they're most influenced by their littermates and are learning about being a dog.
• From four to 12 weeks they're most influenced by their littermates and people. They're also learning to play, including social skills, inhibited bite, social structure/ranking and physical coordination.
• By three to five weeks they're becoming aware of their surroundings, companions (dogs and people) and relationships, including play.
• By five to seven weeks they're developing curiosity and exploring new experiences. They need positive "people" experiences during this time.
• By seven to nine weeks they're refining they're physical skills/coordination (including housetraining) and full use of senses.
• By eight to ten weeks they experience real fear -- when puppies can be alarmed by normal objects and experiences and need positive training.
• By nine to 12 weeks they're refining reactions, social skills (appropriate interactions) with littermates and are exploring the environment, spaces and objects. Beginning to focus on people. This is a good time to begin training.
•  

                                   3 - 6 months = Ranking

• Most influenced by "littermates" (playmates now include those of other species).
• Beginning to see and use ranking (dominant and submissive) within the pack, including humans.
• Teething (and associated chewing).
• At four months they experience another fear stage.

6 - 18 months = Adolescence

• Most influenced by human and dog "pack" members.
• At seven to nine months they go through a second chewing phase -- part of exploring territory.
• Heightened exploration of dominance, including challenging humans.
• If not spayed or neutered, beginnings of sexual behavior.

                                      
       Continue to Puppy Safety

Proud Parents

*Many thanks to the Denver Dumb Friends League for providing this content on puppy stages!