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LEAPS AND BOUNDS
Socialize your puppy it’s Essential! From 7 weeks to 4 months of age, your puppy goes through a socialization period that permanently shapes his future personality and how he will react to things in his environment as an adult. Gently exposing him to a wide variety of people, places and situations now makes a huge, permanent difference. Proper socialization can prevent a dog from being always fearful of children, for example, or riding in a car, and it will help him develop into a well mannered, happy companion.
What to Expect in your puppy’s first year. From here on out it’s up to you to give him the care that he requires every day.
8-12 weeks – Your puppy is getting his act together physically- he’s still quite roly-poly, but learning to coordinate his growing body well enough for playful jumping and tumbling. Toward his 12th week he’ll start shedding puppy teeth as permanent teeth emerge. By his 12th week, bladder control is improving.
As your puppy starts shifting his dependence to you as his owner and leader, you’ll become the center of his world. He’ll probably like to lie down on top of or beside your feet!
He is curious about everything around him. He has a very short attention span at this age, and is easily distracted.
Although he had a little sense of fear in the earlier weeks, at some point between 7 and 9 weeks he may be suddenly cautious of anything new in his environment. This “fear period” is normal. He may be fearful of abrupt movement or loud sounds. Be aware of this sensitive phase and try to prevent undue trauma to him.
Much as a toddler explores with hands and fingers, young puppies like to investigate things using their mouths. Combine this with the increasing urge to chew as permanent teeth start to come in, and you have one mouthy customer! Be prepared for this by providing him with lots of safe, chewable toys.
Like any baby, your young puppy needs to sleep for much of the day. Keep playtimes short and give him lots of “down time.” Don’t’ force him to keep up prolonged activity, and resist the urge to show him off to everyone right away!
Your pup’s immune system is not fully developed until he’s about 12 weeks old. To help protect him from several serous canine diseases, it’s crucial during this time to keep up with his vaccine schedule (his “puppy shots”) as recommended by your veterinarian. It’s also very important to keep him away from other dogs, and from areas where other dogs my have soiled the ground, until he’s 12 weeks old.
Be sure to feed him 2 times a day with a high-quality puppy food that has the nutrients his growing body needs. You should be able to feel the ribs at ALL times.
Introduce “pre-training activities” Although your puppy has a very short attention span, you can begin gently developing a few basic behaviors such as wearing a collar, following on a leash, and coming when called. Keep each session only about 3 minutes long, with the emphasis on fun, using plenty of treats and praise.
Since his immunity isn’t established, your pup can’t yet venture to training classes or public places. But it is important for him to start meeting a variety of people. This can be done in the safety of your home- simply have visitors gently interact with your puppy whenever possible.
Not until 12 weeks, as your puppy gets better control of his bladder and bowel movements, can more focused housetraining begin. Right now, be sure to take your puppy out very frequently-after every time he eats, drinks, or awakens; after he has a bout of activity; and at least every hours or so in between. While you’re not with him, provide him with a safe, confined space that includes a place for him to sleep and a separate “toilet area” where he can relieve himself.
12-16 weeks – Your puppy’s senses and motor skills are well developed now. He still needs to sleep a lot, but he’s full of energy when he’s awake. His bladder and bowel control are continuing to improve. His adult teeth are still coming in.
Your pup is very inquisitive and interested in exploring the world around him. Right now his brain is geared toward soaking in everything it can. This coincides with a crucial phase in his development. He is in what is call the critical socialization period. Through 4 months of age is the single most important period influencing how your dog will behave as an adult. Now is the when the foundation is laid for the rest of his life in terms of his attitude toward you, other humans, and other dogs.
It’s extremely important for your pup to have good experiences now, being introduced to all kinds of people and things he’ll encounter during his life.
Luckily, with his immune system finally matured, it’s now safe to take him to a wide variety of public places. It’s also important for him to play with other dogs as much as possible. Play with other dogs ensures that your pup will be dog-friendly as an adult and teaches him basic, important rules of intercanine behavior.
It’s not a substitute for your own efforts to socialize your puppy regularly, but a great help is to enroll in a local puppy class. These fun, informal gatherings expose your puppy to a variety of people and other dogs each week.
This is the crucial time to lay the foundation for a lifelong loving, positive relationship with your dog. Take the time to have fun with your puppy.
Talk to your vet about starting your pup on a heartworm preventative. You should still be feeding twice a day. REMEMBER FEEL THE RIBS!!!!
Housetraining can begin in earnest. Take your puppy out frequently, and praise him lavishly every time he eliminates outside. Don’t get lazy and let your puppy roam the house unsupervised. “Accidents” are not a puppy’s purposeful misbehavior: they’re an indication that you’re not keeping tabs on him. The goal is to get him to go outside before and accident occurs. If you catch him in the act, calmly hustle him outside, and then praise him if he finishes there. If an accident occurs while you’re not looking don’t punish him. He won’t understand and it will damage your relationship. Frequent outings, persistence and watchfulness, and lots of praise are the keys to quicker housetraining.
Although your puppy is rambunctious and easily distracted right now, don’t get tough in training him. He’s still sensitive emotionally and psychologically. Fears can occur easily and inhibit learning.
To nurture the bond with your pup, try hand-feeding him. Feed kibble to him bit by bit. Play a game: call his name, back away, and then give him food when he comes to you.
You can begin basic grooming. Praise him while you gently brush him, handle his mouth and paws, and trim his nails.
4 to 6 months – This is a period of major growth for your puppy, and his high-spirited bursts of activity likely feature much clumsiness. Combine all this with a still short attention span, and you have one rambunctious customer on your hands!
At around 4 months, your puppy will go through an “avoidance period” similar to the fear period he experienced at 7 to 9 weeks. During this phase he will probably be hesitant about doing new things and suspicious of new situations and places.
If he tends to be on the shy side, now is a time to ease up if necessary, and be sure to keep things fun. Be sure not to push him or punish him for his anxiety.
If his usual demeanor is especially bold, this might be a time where he simply backs off a little and looks to you for support: in that case, it can be an opportunity where he’s especially receptive to training and you can encourage his responsiveness to you.
Your pup is especially prone to anxiety at this age. Calmly explore new situations with him, but don’t push him or punish him if he is reluctant.
Continue feeding your pup twice a day. When he’s 5 months old you may now switch to Adult food. Have your vet explain to you how to recognize a healthy weight for your pup, excess weight in puppy hood could predispose him to hip dysplasia. Remember you should be able to touch you puppy on the side and EASILY FEEL HIS RIBS.
Ask your Vet about flea-and tick control programs. Flea infestation in you home can be hard to eradicate, and ticks can carry disease.
Inspect your puppy’s ears regularly t check that they’re clean and free of odor or discharge.
Discuss when to spay or neuter your puppy.
Continue socialization to a wide variety of people, other animals, places, sounds, and sights.
Housetraining may deteriorate over time, especially if you start taking it for granted. Remember the times when your pup is especially likely to have to “GO” –after eating, drinking, or playing and upon awakening.
Keep working on teaching your puppy basic manners-to walk agreeably on a leash, come to you when called, and sit or lie down on command-always keeping it fun by using lots of treats and praise. Sessions should still be short, no more than 15 minutes, but you can have numerous sessions throughout the day.
Remember that habits your puppy learns now will persist when he’s much bigger. You might not mind him jumping up on you now, but it might be less desirable when his paws hit your chest.
Remember that pups cannot take pressure or harsh treatment. Gentle repetition in short sessions is the key.
More Socialization! But go easy on a pup that’s being reluctant or hesitant. Sign up for another puppy class. During this growth spurt – and until he’s fully grown- regularly check your pup’s collar to see that it’s not too tight. You should be able to easily slide three fingers under it.
6 to 9 months – This is another period of major growth, and our pup is probably also starting to feel the effects of increasing hormones in his body. Your Raucous adolescent is feeling vigorous and active, and getting enough exercise during this stage is especially important.
With all those surging hormones, your pup may suddenly seem to ignore you more or challenge your leadership. Be firm about rules that you’ve established.
This intensity of activity my include a new burst of interest in chewing, so keep providing a variety of safe chew toys at all times.
Raising your dog through this energetic “teenage” stage can be a challenge-but keep giving him loving attention and the guidance he needs, and you’ll both come through it gracefully!
You should be feeding your pup Adult food twice a day. Remember you should be able to feel his ribs at all times. I can not STRESS this enough.
Keep him on a schedule with parasite/heartworm preventative. Consider scheduling spaying or neutering with your Veterinarian, if you haven’t done so already.
During your puppy’s adolescence it’s important to keep training basic commands. Going to obedience classes will help but remember that helping him keep up his good manners at home is up to you. One key to remember: Your pup will be much easier to live with during this period if he gets enough exercise.
To help reinforce good manners and prevent your teenager from getting into destructive mischief, keep your pup with you as much as possible when you’re home. You might try having him on a leash with you while you’re in the house, and teach him to lie beside you. It may take him a while to settle down, but with patience he will. You can also keep him near you for short periods in a comfortable crate or pen.
Provide your pup with plenty of opportunity to exercise. Keep reinforcing commands and good manners. Consider scheduling spaying or neutering.
9 to 12 months – Stresses in your pup’s routine can cause setbacks or relapses in housetraining and other manners. Go back to reinforcing the basics if necessary, and keep up the praise and positive attitude.
For some dogs, signs of separation anxiety can develop or intensify during this time. To help nip this problem in the bud, avoid making a big deal of your comings and goings. If your do seems stressed when you’re about to leave him, try helping him adjust with numerous “practice departures,” where you pretend to go away but calmly return within a few minutes.
Some dogs at this age may occasionally show defiance by challenging your leadership. It is a natural part of their development. If this happens, be calm and firm and insist on good manners.
Keep feeding twice a day. Actually dogs do much better when fed twice a day. Remember to always check those ribs; you should be able to feel them with ease.
Keep using praise and periodic treats to reinforce commands and good manners.
Consider preparing your dog for the Canine Good Citizen test. CGC certification is a great goal to aim for as you continue to train and socialize your puppy. This low-stress test is offered in many communities, and simply requires that your dog demonstrate a few specific aspects of basic good manners in public and around other people. It’s a fun accomplishment you’ll both be proud of. | 
