On the Clock: Key Development Windows and What to Expose Your Puppy To

Puppyhood is the most important time in a dog’s life. You’re setting the stage for his development.

8-9 weeks

This is when most puppies are ready to leave their mothers and join a new family. Puppies will typically wean from their mothers at around four to five weeks, but they still are learning critical lessons from their mothers and siblings.

Take your puppy to your personal veterinarian within 48 hours of bringing him home, even if your puppy’s breeder or rescue had their vet check him out. It’s always good to get a second opinion, and to ensure your veterinarian establishes a good relationship with her new patient. While you do want to give your puppy a few days to settle in, it’s important to establish routines and start your training now. You may want to hire a professional, reward-based dog trainer to start helping you right away, before you and your puppy learn bad habits. Decide if you want to paper train or outdoor train your puppy for elimination and start that path from the start. In other words, if you only want your puppy to eliminate on grass, don’t also have pee pads in the house. This is a confusing, mixed message.

Allow friends and family to meet your puppy, but always let him approach them on his own. If they may have stepped in places where sick dogs have been, have them take off their shoes and wash their hands before interacting with your puppy. Don’t overwhelm your puppy with a crowd. Pace visitors at a comfortable rate. You can also start training your puppy in basic obedience: sit, come when called, don’t jump on people, etc. Puppies are little sponges! Make training sessions short and fun.

10-12 weeks

Socialization steps into high gear. You cannot wait until your puppy has had all vaccinations; this will be far too late. The critical socialization period for puppies is up to 12 weeks of age, so you’re on the clock!

Socialization is not just exposing your puppy to different people, dogs, and environments. It’s making sure each exposure is a party and your puppy has a blast. Always have treats with you. Give your puppy treats every time something potentially scary happens. Never force him to confront something he finds scary. He should always approach at his own pace. Do your best to control all interactions to ensure they go well.

Take him to dog-friendly stores and other locations. Avoid dog parks or public parks where sick dogs may have been. It is possible to properly socialize your dog and still be healthy and safe.

12-16 weeks

Continue your socialization. Make sure you have plenty of hard chew toys available that you rotate daily to make them seem new. At 16 weeks, those needle-sharp baby teeth will start falling out, making way for your puppy’s adult teeth.

Teens to Adults

Continue training and socialization through your puppy’s teens. If you notice issues, get help sooner rather than later. How do you know when your puppy is an adult? If you have a small-breed puppy, he will be an adult at about one year. Medium-sized dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers, aren’t adults until about two. Giant breeds such as Great Danes, don’t reach maturity until three years.