Each stage in their puppyhood is equally important and as challenging as the previous one, for its own set of reasons and pitfalls.
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.
Stage 5 – Teenage
This phase happens from 17 to 40 weeks, it is called Adolescence and it is often as frustrating as teenage phase in humans. This development stage is marked by limit-testing, rule-breaking and other frustrating behaviors.
This period is crucial when it comes to raising a well-behaved, adult canine, so keep your habits in place during this period, for consistency is paramount.
Phase 6
The sixth phase is also the tricky one. It occurs around 40 to 52 weeks and, aside from bringing even more of that problematic teenage behavior, it introduces sexual maturity.
Stick to your established habits and you’ll come through this phase without any bigger problems.
Final Stage – Adulthood
As we already mentioned, the time needed for a dog to reach the final development phase of adulthood depends greatly on the breed, size and the specific animal.
Dogs that are smaller in size are normally done growing and maturing right before they reach their first birthday, while some larger dogs may still need a whole another year to mature completely.
Giant breeds, on the other hand, may take up to 3 and more years to reach adulthood.
These things are pretty important if you’re considering selecting a new puppy, so contact your vet for further and more in-depth information on the mater.