During this period the puppies development is limited to two functions; nursing to obtain nutrition and staying warm. A puppy is totally dependant upon his mother to meet all of his physical needs. He needs to be stimulated to urinate and deficate. His sense of taste, touch, smell and his ability to hear is limited. The puppies environment affects him only as much as it touches him.

Eyes and ears open and pups slowly begin responding to light, movement, and sound. Puppies become more mobile as they gain awareness of their surroundings, their mother, litter mates, and objects. Pups may also begin to alert to human presence during this period. This is still a reaction to stimuli rather than a social bond or emotional attachment.

Pups will attempt to get up on their feet, but continue crawling backward and forward. They may begin trying to get out of whelping box toward end of this period.

Most important period with rapid sensory development. Puppies are fully alert to their environment and will startle easily at sudden sounds and movements. During this time they are able to recognise their breeder and other significant humans by smell, sight and sound. However, they have lost the natural insulation of the neonatal period and negative events can easily imprint in basic behaviour during this period.

Social bonding begins to occur during this week.

Neonatal behaviours such as head swinging, mewing and crawling back and forth stop. Pups are more active and moving well on their feet. This is a time of rapid physical change. There are also significant changes in brain waves during this period and pups are now able to learn from experiences and to retain what they have learned.

AVOID LOUD NOISES OR SUDDEN CHANGES DURING THIS PERIOD. Negative events can permanently imprint on pups during this week. Do not run vacuum cleaner around pups, blow hair dryers, run clippers, etc. Postpone having work done on your home and ask prospective purchasers or curious friends to wait until the end of the 4th week to visit puppies.

Do not move puppies or separate from dam during this week.

Puppy is with mother and littermates. During this period, puppy learns about social interaction, play, and inhibiting aggression* from mother and littermates. Puppies must stay with their mother and littermates during this critical period. Puppies learn the most important lesson in their lives--they learn to accept discipline.

*Note: Some lines of dogs don't begin to get incisors until about 7 weeks, so this time period may last two additional weeks in those dogs--one can't learn to inhibit his bite if he has no teeth.

Social awareness, learning to become dogs (note: first week of this critical stage of development overlaps with second period of development). Play fighting behaviour becomes increasingly intense. Pups are developing problem solving abilities, physical co-ordination, bite inhibition. Mother begins weaning pups during this period, those beginning to initiate discipline. During this time puppies will begin to move to the far corners of their bed, box, or pen to urinate and defecate. House breaking can begin!

*Note: Some lines of dogs don't begin to get incisors until about 7 weeks, so this time period may last two additional weeks in those dogs--one can't learn to inhibit his bite if he has no teeth.

Enlarging social awareness and bonding outside of litter. Mental abilities are fully formed but pups lack experience. This is the optimum time to teach new things and is, in fact, the period of fastest learning. Research has shown that behaviours can be shaped and modified most easily during times when learning is occurring most quickly. Training during this time will actually increase the capacity to learn by increasing brain cells in the appropriate regions of the brain.

Bladder and bowel control developed and pups are capable of sleeping through the night without an accident.

Do not isolate from humans or unnecessarily restrain during this period (only restraints should be crate or necessary fencing). Avoid inadvertently reinforcing fearful responses.

NOTE: FIRST FEAR IMPRINT PERIOD OCCURS BETWEEN 8-10 WEEKS. AVOID PLACING PUPS DURING THIS TIME IF THEY ARE STILL WITH THE BREEDER. AVOID SHIPPING PUPS, EAR CROPPING TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.

Pups that have been properly socialised and bonded with breeder can be successfully placed at 10-12 weeks after they have passed the first fear imprint period and while they are still young enough to be "babies."

No tug of war games. Do not allow pup to sleep in bed with humans. Absolutely forbid all chasing games with children.

VERY, VERY IMPORTANT NOTE; DO NOT RAISE LITTER MATES OR TWO UNRELATED PUPPIES TOGETHER DURING THIS PERIOD!!!

The flight period, corresponding to teething. Pups begin testing limits. May attempt to assert dominance over human pack members (especially children). May "forget" housebreaking.

This period is characterised by independence and wilfulness. Owner or breeder is no longer Mommy substitute.

Do not let pup off lead if at all possible. Do not chase pup or play chasing games.

Sexual maturity, hormonal changes. Fearfulness of new situations, objects, people, other dogs. Male dogs begin lifting legs. Some individuals will pass through this periods faster than others, often with no noticeable problems. Others may display marked changes in behaviour in strange situations. Reinforce the behaviours you want; do not reinforce fearfulness by coddling or protective behaviour. But also try to avoid punishing fearfulness. Try to adopt a firm but patient and kindly attitude to the pup's fearful behaviour. Continue socialisation to humans and other dogs. Avoid or postpone extremely stressful or traumatic experiences for animals that appear to be in this fear imprint period.

From the age of 7 weeks until 7 months, a puppy should meet 7 new people every 7 days. Everyone she meets should give the puppy treats, and as much variety as possible in terms of size, age, color, and personality type should be represented. The puppy should also go 7 new places every 7 weeks (or at least one new place a week), and the places should be as different from each other as possible, such as a lake, a park, a shopping mall parking lot, the vet's office, a pet store, etc. And don't stop there! These recommendations are minimums the more people and places your puppy experiences, the more well-adjusted he'll be as an adult. Keeping track of the people your puppy meets and the places he goes can be fun for young children and will ensure that you meet your goals. Be sure the puppy is put on his own four feet for these introductions and visits; holding him in your arms can send him the wrong signals and prevent him from experiencing the world on his own.

(Author Unknown)