Welcoming a new puppy into your home…

The Breeder

The first 8 weeks of life are just as important as the rest. Make sure you ask your breeder plenty of questions. For example, what socialisation has been done (to people, objects, sounds, surfaces)? A breeder that follows such programs as Puppy Culture or Badass Breeder is a great start! These are programs based on behavioural markers for brain development, as well as early socialisation, environmental enrichment and positive training techniques. I also recommend going and visiting the breeder so you can see where the puppy has been raised. Spending time with both parents is important as it gives you a window into what the puppy is likely to grow into. While environmental factors play a big role, so do genetics.

Growth periods which are important to know

Human Socialisation period is from 0-12 weeks

Canine Socialisation period is from 0-16 weeks

Puppies will learn more during this period of time than any other time in their life.

Neonatal Period – Puppies are entirely dependent on their mothers during this period. Their eyes and ears are closed, and they are not able to support their full bodyweight. At this stage they rely on their sense of smell, touch and taste.

Transitional Period – During this period puppies become more responsive to their surroundings as their eyes and ears are now open. This is the period where sensory awareness and early motor development occurs. They are now able to support their bodyweight and so begin exploring their environment and interacting with their litter mates.

Socialisation Period – This is one of the most important periods in a puppy’s development and one where careful exposure to humans, other animals and new environments helps to set the foundations needed for them to grow into confident and resilient adult dogs. Puppies learn things like play bite inhibition from its mother and littermates and begin to learn social cues from dogs as well as people.

Juvenile Period – Puppies continue to grow rapidly during this period and begin to test boundaries as any pre-adolescent does! They become more independent and curious during this period, and it is important to continue to develop their socials skills through regular interactions with other dogs as well as people. This is also the stage where puppies finish up teething and are generally toilet trained.

Adolescent Period – One of the biggest issues in managing dogs during this period is that owners don’t fully understand what is happening with their puppy during this stage of their life. Much like with teenage children, puppies start to test boundaries, appear to have selective hearing and it can sometimes feel like everything you have taught them has now been forgotten! During adolescence puppies need structure, consistency and fairness. It is important to continue to work on the bond you have with them while managing the challenges they throw your way. A great book to read and one I recommend to all my adolescent dog owners is “How to Love and Survive Your Teenage Dog” written by Barbara Hodel from Goodog.

Young Adult – This period is where a dog becomes fully developed, both physically and emotionally. Depending on the breed of course, the timeframes can vary for both. Behaviours that are already learnt will be more difficult to change. They have the ability to problem solve more complex situations and possess better cue discrimination. It is still important to continue with socialisation to prevent any setbacks as time goes on. Regular training and guidance are needed throughout this time. Using positive, reward based training methods will help to create a confident, well mannered, and accepted canine citizen and family member.

Best time to take a new puppy home...

The best time to take a new puppy home is from 8-12 weeks of age. It should have already had handling from the breeder, had a good start to socialisation, started basic behaviours like sit and recall and toilet training should be well and truly underway. They are now able to learn by associations and accept direction from the owner. This is where the owner/dog bonding starts.

Dogs will generally go through two fear periods in their first 18 months of life. These periods have predictable windows, and are where the pup becomes more sensitive, is more easily startled and can appear more vigilant.

The first period (Fear Imprint) occurs between 8-11 weeks of age. Learning at this stage is permanent, so it is important to avoid frightening the pup, and to ensure that introductions to people, dogs, places and experiences are done in a controlled and positive way.

The second fear period is generally seen in pups between the ages of 6-14 months and is often referred to as the “Fear of New Situations” period. During this time your dog may become fearful of new and sometimes even familiar situations. It is interesting to note that this fear period tends to correspond with the pup’s growth spurt. Therefore, smaller breeds tend to experience this period earlier than larger breeds. As with the first fear period, it is important to avoid negative experiences during this time. This period can sometimes appear much worse to their owners, though it is generally due to the fact that the dog is now bigger and may be displaying more reactive behaviours such as barking and lunging on lead. It is important to help build confidence and create positive associations during this time. Making sure to always go at the puppy’s pace.

Appropriate socialisation is the most important thing you will do for your puppy in the first 6-12 months of its life. Making sure all new experiences are positive will help to build confidence, foster resilience and create a well-rounded dog.

Guide Dogs send their puppies off into foster homes until they are 12 months old. Then they return to their facility for intensive training for their Assistance Dog work, before being placed with their handler between 12-18 months of age. From this, we can see the importance of letting our puppies experience life and be gently guided through this first 12 months. This is a crucial part of their physical and emotional development and will set them up for the best chance at a good working life with their handler.