Puppies go through a series of development stages on their adventurous journey to reaching both physical and mental adulthood. Each stage in their puppyhood is equally important and as challenging as the previous one, for its own set of reasons and pitfalls.
Timeframe?
Actually, there is no specific point in the timeline that can be applied to all canines. The stages and their development times depend on your dog’s breed and size.
They may even vary within the pups from the same litter. Just like us humans, dogs also have unique personalities, but they also develop at different rates when it comes to growing up.
Early Puppyhood
The first stage occurs at birth and lasts until the pup is 3 weeks old.
During this period your puppy is quite vulnerable as his eyes are closed, his ears shut and his teeth not quite grown in.
Stage No. 2 occurs at 3 to 7 weeks. This is when your pup will start to wander away from the litter a bit, exploring the areas and learning some basic manners for interacting with both humans and other dogs.
Socialization & Adventure Time
During the following two stages your puppy will engage in some serious exploring of his surroundings and the world he found himself in.
Third phase generally lasts from 7 to 12 weeks, and this is when your ball of fur opens to new encounters and new experiences, thus making it a perfect time to start building his social skills through a group training class or simple play dates.
The next stage is between 12 and 17 weeks, and it can bring some mixed behaviors – from a curious and playful dog, to a nervous and rather anxious puppy. This is when he starts transitioning to one of the scariest of phases out there – adolescence.