The notion of CRITICAL STAGES OF CANINE DEVELOPMENT has been well covered in
both scientific and popular literature and is based primarily on the work of John Scott and J.
L. Fuller in the forties, fifties, and sixties. Clarence Pfaffenberger's book NEW
KNOWLEDGE OF DOG BEHAVIOR introduced these stages of development to breeders,
trainers, and pet owners over 20 years ago. Jack and Wendy Vollhard and Richard Wolters
further popularized this field by introducing puppy aptitude testing based, in part, on Scott
and Fuller's findings. Drs. Michael Fox and Ian Dunbar, initially studying canine
development and behavior in clinical settings, have written copiously for the lay press
regarding puppy socialization.
Unfortunately, many other writers unfamiliar with the original research have led new puppy
owners into believing that a puppy purchased at an age older than exactly 7 weeks will bond
less well and be less trainable than a puppy purchased at exactly 49 days of life.
This "urban myth" is most vexing to breeders as the 49th day of life may be the earliest time
a puppy may leave its litter mates, but may not be the best time. So here to debunk some of
these myths is a synopsis of the critical periods of puppy development from a reasonable
breeder's point of view:
FIRST PERIOD - Birth to 21 days.
A. Neonatal sub period 0-13 day
Characteristics: Puppies are "fetuses out of the womb." They cannot see, hear, regulate
their own body temperatures, or eliminate without stimulation and are totally dependent
upon their dam or a surrogate mother.
No emotional development, social attachment, or learning takes place during this period.
Puppies' brain waves remain constant whether sleeping or awake. Puppies do, however,
exhibit reflex reactions to hunger, cold, touch. They pile for warmth or spread out if too hot,
but cannot regulate their own temperature by shivering or panting.
During this neonatal period puppies will crawl backward and forward and will swing their
heads from side to side, often repetitively while mewing or trilling. These movements appear
to be involuntary and prepare pups muscles, nervous system, and inner ear for further
development.
Breeder Do's: Keep bitch happy, healthy, and well-fed. Her physical and emotional
well-being will supply everything the puppies need during this stage.
Handle puppies very gently with very slow, massaging movements. Very light stimulation of
the nervous system (called "pre-stressing") may be beneficial when applied during the
second week of life. This could involve rotating pups gently in your hands, applying light
pressure to the ear leather, and holding each pup gently on its back for a few seconds each
day. Pups should, of course, be weighed daily to monitor growth and this would be a good
time to handle each pup. THIS IS NOT SOCIALIZATION OR TRAINING. Pre-stressing does,
however, assist in developing brain cells.
Breeder Don'ts: Don't allow visitors (human or canine) during this period. Avoid anything
that will stress the bitch (house guests, parties, home repairs, etc.) Also try not to move
puppies or remove mother from the litter at this time. If the pups or dam need to see a
veterinarian try to arrange for a home visit. Despite the common practice, this is not a good
age to take a litter to a dog show in your RV.
B. Transition Sub period 13-21 days:
Characteristics: Eyes and ears open and pups slowly begin responding to light, movement,
and sound. Puppies become more mobile as they gain awareness of their surroundings,
their mother, litter mates, and objects. Pups may also begin to alert to human presence
during this period. This is still a reaction to stimuli rather than a social bond or emotional
attachment.
Pups will attempt to get up on their feet, but continue crawling backward and forward. They
may begin trying to get out of whelping box toward end of this period.
Breeder Do's: Introduce toys as obstacles to climb over or bump into. This helps pups
develop spatial awareness. Some pups may begin briefly interacting with toys near the end
of the third week. Continue handling pups daily using slow, massaging movements. Pups
are growing fast and need frequent nail trimming. Introduce brushing with soft brush. Again,
this is not training but stimulation.
Breeder Don'ts: Avoid startling pup with loud noises or sudden movements while hearing
and eyesight are developing. If you must move or change puppies' environment, this is the
time to do so. Do not remove from dam.
SECOND PERIOD - 21 to 28 DAYS
Characteristics: Most important period with rapid sensory development. Puppies are fully
alert to their environment and will startle easily at sudden sounds and movements. During
this time they are able to recognize their breeder and other significant humans by smell,
sight and sound. However, they have lost the natural insulation of the neonatal period and
negative events can easily imprint in basic behavior during this period.
Social bonding begins to occur during this week.
Neonatal behaviors such as head swinging, mewing and crawling back and forth stop. Pups
are more active and moving well on their feet. This is a time of rapid physical change.
There are also significant changes in brain waves during this period and pups are now able
to learn from experiences and to retain what they have learned.
Breeder Do's: Introduce new tactile sensations in puppies' box pups enjoy burrowing in
shredded newspaper, for example, or crawling over a rolled up towel or blanket. Continue
daily handling, adding new sounds and sights to the environment radio, TV, telephone,
computer printer. Introduce toys that make sounds. Pups can be removed from the box and
placed on new surfaces. Do this with two pups at a time rather than separating from litter.
Breeder Don'ts: AVOID LOUD NOISES OR SUDDEN CHANGES DURING THIS PERIOD.
Negative events can permanently imprint on pups during this week. Do not run vacuum
cleaner around pups, blow hair dryers, run clippers, etc. Postpone having work done on
your home and ask prospective purchasers or curious friends to wait until the end of the 4th
week to visit puppies.
Do not move puppies or separate from dam during this week.
THIRD PERIOD 21 to 49 DAYS
Characteristics: Social awareness, learning to become dogs (note: first week of this critical
stage of development overlaps with second period of development). Play fighting behavior
becomes increasingly intense. Pups are developing problem solving abilities, physical
co-ordination, bite inhibition. Mother begins weaning pups during this period, those
beginning to initiate discipline. During this time puppies will begin to move to the far corners
of their bed, box, or pen to urinate and defecate. House training can begin!
Breeder Do's: During entire period leave pups together as litter and allow dam free access
to pups.
During 4th week (21-28 days) introduce food to pups without removing dam. You can feed
her in the litter box at the same time. Begin escalating sensory experiences (see notes on
second critical period). Continue daily handling by breeder and family members.
During 5th week (28-35 days) introduce pups to the outdoors. Take them outside to urinate
and defecate after waking or eating. When this is not possible provide pups with a
designated bathroom spot to begin their house training.
Begin handling pups individually away from litter mates and dam for at least 10 minutes
each day. Enlist the help of family members, friends, neighbor and prospective puppy
owners in this process. If you cannot handle 10 mins. each do, do 5 mins. Daily
experiences away from litter mates are crucial.
During 6th and 7th weeks (35-49 days) increase sensory experiences with brief car rides.
Introduce pups to vacuum cleaner. Puppies can begin simple training routines using food
lures and social attraction at this time. Start teaching pups to stand on grooming table to be
examined or to be brushed.
This is the prime socialization period. Introduce new people, especially children. Pups
enjoy interaction with a gentle adult dog kindly auntie or uncle who will baby-sit with patience.
Introduce situations that will stimulate problem solving behavior - tunnels, cardboard boxes,
gates, steps, fences, logs, etc. Allow pups to have successes and reinforce these
successes with food.
Breeder Don'ts: DO NOT REMOVE PUPPIES FROM LITTER DURING THIS PERIOD! Do
not completely remove mother. Do not correct for play fighting, house training errors, or
mouthing.
FOURTH PERIOD 49 DAYS TO 12 WEEKS
Characteristics: Enlarging social awareness and bonding outside of litter. Mental abilities
are fully formed but pups lack experience. This is the optimum time to teach new things and
is, in fact, the period of fastest learning. Research has shown that behaviors can be shaped
and modified most easily during times when learning is occurring most quickly. Training
during this time will actually increase the capacity to learn by increasing brain cells in the
appropriate regions of the brain.
Bladder and bowel control developed and pups are capable of sleeping through the night
without an accident.
Breeder Do's: Greatly enlarge the puppies' world between 49 and 56 days. Begin puppy
rotation, playing and sleeping in smaller groups. Pups that remain with breeder can be
crated with one or two other pups. Be sure to switch puppies around.
Continue individual grooming, play and training sessions with each pup. Gentle but firm
discipline from humans may be begun. Begin teaching response to simple commands such
as sit, down, stand, come, walk on lead at this time. Pups during this period can learn
complex behavior chain and can make associations.
Breeder Don'ts: Do not isolate from humans or unnecessarily restrain during this period
(only restraints should be crate or necessary fencing). Avoid inadvertently reinforcing fearful
responses.
NOTE: FIRST FEAR IMPRINT PERIOD OCCURS BETWEEN 8-10 WEEKS. AVOID PLACING
PUPS DURING THIS TIME. AVOID SHIPPING PUPS, EAR CROPPING TRAUMATIC
EXPERIENCES.
Pups that have been properly socialized and bonded with breeder can be successfully
placed at 10-12 weeks after they have passed the first fear imprint period and while they are
still young enough to be "babies."
FIFTH PERIOD 3 to 4 MONTHS
Characteristics: Dominance period where pup solidifies social position. Pups will begin
testing their place in the world during this time. The tend to become emboldened. This is a
period of very fast physical growth.
Breeder/Owner Do's: Pups must be treated as individual dogs. If they are still with breeder
they should no longer be treated as part of a litter and should sleep alone in individual
crates at night and all training and grooming sessions should be individual.
Introduce behavioral dominance exercises. "Alphabetize" yourself and your family - feed
pup after you eat, move crate to different locations so pup doesn't become site protective,
take food and toys away from pup while eating or playing.
Continue socialization and obedience training providing slight distractions. TEACH THE
RECALL AND PRACTICE IT SEVERAL TIMES EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!! Do this before pup
enters the "flight period" at about 16 weeks.
Breeder/Owner Don'ts: No tug of war games. Do not allow pup to sleep in bed with
humans. Absolutely forbid all chasing games with children.
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT NOTE; DO NOT RAISE LITTER MATES OR TWO UNRELATED
PUPPIES TOGETHER DURING THIS PERIOD!!!
SIXTH PERIOD - 4 to 6 MONTHS
Characteristics: The flight period, corresponding to teething. Pups begin testing limits.
May attempt to assert dominance over human pack members (especially children). May
"forget" house training.
This period is characterized by independence and willfulness. Owner or breeder is no
longer Mommy substitute.
Breeder/Owner Do's: Keep pup on lead when outside fenced enclosures. Continue recall
training and response to commands. Continue dominance exercises and handling all parts
of pups body.
Breeder/Owner Don'ts: Do not let pup off lead if at all possible. Do not chase pup or play
chasing games.
SECOND FEAR IMPRINT PERIOD 6 to 14 MONTHS
Characteristics: Sexual maturity, hormonal changes. Fearfulness of new situations, objects,
people, other dogs. Male dogs begin lifting legs. Some individuals will pass through this
periods faster than others, often with no noticeable problems. Others may display marked
changes in behavior in strange situations.
Reinforce the behaviors you want; do not reinforce fearfulness by coddling or protective
behavior. But also try to avoid punishing fearfulness. Try to adopt a firm but patient and
kindly attitude to the pup's fearful behavior. Continue socialization to humans and other
dogs. Avoid or postpone extremely stressful or traumatic experiences for animals that
appear to be in this fear imprint period.
Author's note: This primer on critical stages of development is an attempt to consolidate
information appearing in a variety of publications from a number of authors, and to tailor
that information specifically to the needs of breeders.
References and Related Reading:
Dunbar, Ian. Dog Behavior. 1978.
Dunbar, Ian. Seminar notes from puppy training and behavior problems seminars, 1990
and 1991.
Dunbar, Ian and Gail Bohnenkamp. Socialization. Oakland: Kenneth James. 1985.
Fox, Michael. Integrative development of brain and behavior in the dog. Chicago: Univ. of
Chicago Press. 1971.
Fox, Michael. Superdog. New York: Howell. 1990.
Fox, Michael. Understanding your dog. Originally published 1972. Reissued.
O'Kelley, Joyce. Super dogs are made not born. Offlead. Series from July through Oct.
1978 (reprinted by Offlead in 1991).
Pfaffenberger, Clarence. The new knowledge of dog behavior. New York: Howell. 1963.
Scott, John. Attachment and Socialization: The Critical Period. American Kennel Gazette,
May 1988, pp. 74-79.
Scott, John and J.L. Fuller. Dog behavior. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press. 1965.
Scott, John. Critical periods in behavioral development Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley.
1972.
Wolters. Richard. Family dog. New York: Howell. 1975.
CRITICAL STAGES OF CANINE
DEVELOPMENT
By Sue Healy
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