Enjoy Those Eight Stages of Puppyhood

By Tamara L. Waters

They're cute and adorable, and who can resist a sweet face (or my weakness – those squeal-inducing bellies)? Why, they're puppies of course, and if you have a new pup or are thinking of adding one to your family, you might be interested in learning about the eight stages of puppyhood. These stages are categorized according to an article titled "Stages of Canine Development" originally published in Weimaraner Magazine.

The eight stages of puppyhood are divided according to days after birth, and run into adulthood. Knowing about the stages of your puppy's development can help you become a knowledgeable and responsible pet owner, which will help you give your pet the best care possible.

Puppy Stage One: Neonatal Period - Birth to 13 days
This is the most helpless stage of puppyhood, as the pup cannot regulate its own body temperature and requires food and warmth from mama or a surrogate. During this stage, human interaction should start. Puppies should be handled gently by their humans beginning in this stage of development.

Puppy Stage Two: Transition Period - 13 to 21 days
This next stage of puppyhood will see the pup’s eyes and ears opening up. Yep, that means the puppy will start to hear, and his sense of taste and smell will develop. More human handling is on the agenda during this stage, and this is also the perfect time to start introducing your puppy to your kitties, if you have them. Just make sure they are friendly kitties!

Puppy Stage Three: Canine Socialization Period - 21 to 49 days
This stage is when the puppy begins to show his personality and figures out that he is indeed a dog. This is an important stage for the puppy to continue his time with his mama and his siblings. He will learn discipline and submission from his mother, and should not be weaned during this time. Puppies removed from their mother during this stage of development could become noisy, rowdy, and possibly aggressive.

There is a very short subperiod in this stage of puppy development known as the Awareness Period, but it is important nonetheless. During this stage – which lasts from 21 to 23 days – the puppy will experience very rapid sensory development, and it is usually recommended that radical changes be avoided during this time. Some introduction to flooring changes (for very short periods) and auditory stimuli can happen and of course, continue talking to and handling your puppy.

Puppy Stage Four: Human Socialization Period - 50 to 84 days (7 to 12 weeks)
This puppy stage is the best time for the youngster to be placed with his new family. Socialization with the puppy should continue.

This stage of puppyhood also includes a subperiod at 8 to 10 weeks, which is considered the Fear Impact Subperiod. During this time, a traumatic experience could become a lifelong issue. If the puppy experiences a fear of loud noises during this time, it could become a hang-up throughout the rest of the dog's life.

Puppy Stage Five: Seniority Classification Period - 12 to 16 weeks
During this stage, the puppy is trying to figure out who is the boss. All biting and nipping of human hands, clothing and leashes should be discouraged. If still together with his litter mates, there will be intense competition between them. By 16 weeks, the personality and emotional makeup of the puppy is fully developed and cemented for life.

Puppy Stage Six: Flight Instinct Period - 4 to 8 months
During this brief stage sometime between the 4 to 8 month mark (usually lasting 2 to 4 weeks) the puppy will try your patience. He will not want to listen, and will try to run away and not come when called. Your best bet is to wait him out and keep him on a leash until this phase passes.

Puppy Stage Seven: Second Fear Impact Period - 6 to 14 months
Your puppy will be a nutty teenager during this stage of puppyhood. We all know how teenagers can be subject to the winds of change at any given moment. Well, your puppy will be the same. The puppy will have strange fears of new things, and may flake out for no reason. This is a stage in which you will need to have great patience. When your puppy balks and exhibits this behavior, it is best to simply ignore it (much like you would with some human teenage quirks). Don't reinforce your puppy's fears by petting him and trying to offer words of reassurance, as this only tells him that it’s okay to be afraid.

Puppy Stage Eight: Young Adulthood - 18 to 24 months
Congratulations! Your puppy has arrived at the final stage. During this stage, your puppy may try to show dominance and territorial aggression. Don't be surprised if some teenage weirdness shows up occasionally. After this stage has passed, you now have a full-fledged dog who is prepared to take the world by the tail. Enjoy your time with him!

Read more articles by Tamara L. Waters

thoughts on dog breeding, from 1906

There was not a dog living, according to writers of the eighteenth century, that was not a cross between two other varieties, or even impossible crosses, such as the mastiff being from a cross with the hyena, while some other breed had a dash of the Bengal leopard. The former assertion was made by such eminent naturalists as Pallas and Burchell, and even Lowe stated in his modern "Domestic Animals of Great Britain" that it was very possible. The wild dogs of India were said to be a cross between the wolf and the tiger, and other equally ridiculous statements were made. That the dog and wolf will cross, and that a cross between the fox and dog has been repeatedly claimed, are well-known facts, but these are mules and will breed only with the parent stock, whereas, no matter how widely different are the varieties of dog crossed, the progeny is fruitful inter se.
At Wilton House, England, there is an epitaph, as follows: "Here lies Lupa, whose grandmother was a wolf, whose father and grandfather were dogs, and whose mother was half wolf and half dog. She died on the l6th of October, 1782, aged twelve years." That is the record of an experiment conducted by Lord Clanbrassil and Lord Pembroke. Others have experimented in the same way, but it is the interbreeding of the progeny that is the impossible and proves them to be mules.

-- from The Dog Book: A popular history of the dog, by James Watson (Doubleday, Page and Company, 1906), p. 4.

Thinking Pink for Pups: Dogtopia Pampers Dogs for Cancer Research

Dogs across the country will get primped and pampered in October, all in the name of breast cancer awareness and research. Dogtopia, a full-service dog day care, spa and boutique with locations throughout the U.S. is partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® for their first annual “Paws for Pink” campaign.

Throughout the entire month, all 22 Dogtopia locations in 11 states will be giving pups fabulous fluffs and perfect pawdicures to help raise money for cancer research. For everyone who treats their canine to a spa bath or nail trim in October, Dogtopia will donate 10 percent of the purchase price to Komen for the Cure in support of breast cancer research and community outreach programs.

“It’s difficult to find anyone who hasn’t been personally affected by breast cancer, whether themselves, family, friends or co-workers,” said Amy Nichols, CEO and Founder of Dogtopia. “A number of our locations have participated on the local level for the annual Komen Race for a Cure, so we decided to hold this system-wide event because it’s such a worthy cause.”

Founded in 1982, the organization has raised more than $1.5 billion for breast cancer research, education and health services. With more than 100,000 volunteers, Komen is the largest breast cancer charity in the world.


Dogtopia has pledged at least $5,000, with a goal of raising double that. For information on local Dogtopia stores, visit www.dogdaycare.com.

Fun Fall Activities for Your Dog

By Suzanne Alicie

You know how much you enjoy it when the days begin to cool down after a hot summer? Well your dog enjoys that as well. With cooler temperatures, your dog will have more energy and more stamina for being outdoors and enjoying fun fall activities. There are a few activities that are specific to the fall season that your dog will love.

Football - Your dog probably won’t do well with a regular football, but you can use a foam football or even a doggie sized football to take your dog out and play a great game of catch, fetch and tackle (be careful tackling, of course). Larger dogs especially enjoy the rough and tumble fun and exercise of a fall game of football.

Hiking - Once the days cool down, taking a hike with your dog is a lot less challenging for him than it is during the heat of summer. Choose a hiking trail where you and your dog can wander for a few hours and you’ll see just how much he enjoys all that sniffing and exploring, when it is cool enough to do so comfortably. Be sure to bring along your favorite snack, some bottled water, and a few CANIDAE Snap-Bits™ treats for your pooch. For more information on fall hikes, check out The Benefits of Hiking with Your Dog.

Lawn Care - Yes, I know dogs aren’t exactly great for your lawn, but when it comes to having fun they are wonderful for running through your raked up leaf piles. Be sure your dog has been treated for fleas and ticks, then let him have a ball playing in the yard.

Doggie “Play Dates” - If you have a social dog, fall is the ideal time for playing with other dogs at the park. The weather is cool enough for the dogs to enjoy themselves without becoming overheated or too tired. They will play for a much longer time and will also rest much better when they get back home.

Fun fall activities for your dog generally include anything that will get him out of the house and into the great outdoors to act like a dog. If you have a fenced yard and can simply let your dog run and play, you will see a great improvement in his health and in his behavior when he is allowed to run off some of his excess energy.

The fall is essentially the perfect time to be a dog. It’s not too hot and not too cold, the air is brisk and fresh and people want to spend more time outdoors. This means that Fido gets to go along and have fun more often as well. After all, we all know how miserable it can be to have a panting, slobbering hot dog cooped up in the car during the heat of the summer – fall is ideal for rolling down the windows and letting your dog’s ears flap in the wind. He will love it!

For responsible pet owners, the advent of a new season is also a reminder to take care of seasonal treatments like flea and tick medication, grooming, and checkups. I always try to do these things every 3-4 months, and season changes are my reminder. A clean, protected and healthy dog is ready for the coming cold weather.

Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie

Interesting Pet Industry Article

An article from Smart
money Magazine to the 10 things the pet industry won't tell you.

vintage photo time

"August 1960" reads the processor's stamp on the back of this Ampersand bulk-bin find. So those plastic chairs were still pretty groovy then, but that's not the point of this photo. No, it's all about the shaggy gray dog. Is that football a special toy? Did it just happen to be there?

I must admit that were this my dog, I'd give him/her a bit of a wash, comb and trim before snapping the photo. Yet at the same time that is precisely why I appreciate this image: apparently all the dog had to be, to be beautiful and special to the photographer, was itself. Same concept as that behind many of Rembrandt's portraits of his companion Hendrickje, for example. Well, it has been said that truth and beauty are the same thing.

How to Get Your Dog an Acting Career

By Linda Cole

Where do they find all those cute dogs we see in movies, on TV shows and in commercials? A lot of dogs and cats are found in animal shelters by trainers, but not all. Sometimes a casting call goes out from a studio to find the next dog star for a movie or TV commercial. It is possible to get your dog an acting career when you know how to start. If your dog likes to show off when company is around and is well mannered, with a little luck there’s a chance they could end up in the movies or on TV with their own acting career.

A dog who is well socialized, friendly and has a good temperament is what Hollywood executives are looking for in the next dog star. Your dog will need to impress people with his charm if he wants to be considered for any role. There's a lot of hustle and bustle around a movie set with interaction between the cast and film crew. In order to pass a casting company's demands, the friendlier your dog is, the better his chances will be. He can't be shy or afraid of new things, and he needs to stay focused on you or his trainer to present his best qualities to the people who are in the position to make your dog a star.

The next step in getting your dog an acting career is training. Not only does your dog need to be well trained, but any tricks he can perform could give him a paw up on the competition. The dog should be able to follow hand signals as well as silent commands. If you're serious about trying to get your dog in the movies, search for a specialized obedience school who trains dogs for work in the movie industry.

Step three is an obvious requirement in an acting career. A well groomed dog is more likely to catch the eye of the person making casting decisions. The dog must be healthy and have all of his vaccinations up to date. You want to present your pet in the best light possible because he will be competing with other dogs who are just as cute and just as talented. If your dog has a special talent or trick that's different from the others, he may have a chance to shine on the big screen one day.

If you're serious about getting your dog an acting career, search out a good pet talent agency. You may be able to find a visiting talent scout in your area. You can do the leg work yourself to meet with movie personal, but a quality talent agency has contacts and a relationship with people in the movie industry. Getting your dog seen by the person that counts is more likely if you work with an agency who can help you find possible opportunities for your dog.

Your dog needs to be prepared to perform at a moment's notice if a talent agency wants to take a look at him. These are busy people who preview lots of dogs and cats. Your dog needs to be able to perform his stuff in front of an audience, so make sure he focuses on you only and does what you ask each and every time regardless of how many people are watching or how many other distractions may be going on around him.

If you think you have a dog who would make the next Benji or Lassie, make sure you have the time to invest in your dog's acting career. You may have to meet with someone at a moment's notice, so be prepared for a last minute call to show off your dog. Make sure your schedule is flexible so you can attend to business if and when a call comes in. If your dog is singled out, he will need to meet many people who will decide which dog to choose, and there will be auditions to go to. Be prepared to invest time and money for travel and lodging if you don't live close to where auditions are held.

Any healthy dog has as good a chance of ending up in a movie if he's well trained, well socialized, friendly and can perform tricks and strut his stuff. If you have the time and patience to do what it takes to get your dog an acting career, he could be starring in his own action adventure as the next dog hero on the big screen. It is possible a walk down the red carpet could be in your dog's future if you're willing to do what it takes to make him a star.

Photo: Lassie filming a movie on location; State Archive of Florida

Read more articles by Linda Cole