{"id":6048,"date":"2016-12-07T19:46:10","date_gmt":"2016-12-07T19:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hartz-v2.local7\/milestones-in-a-puppys-development\/"},"modified":"2023-02-24T15:25:30","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T15:25:30","slug":"milestones-in-a-puppys-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hartz.com\/en-ca\/milestones-in-a-puppys-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Milestones in a Puppy\u2019s Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

But you need to make an educated guess so you can determine the kind of care he\u2019ll need. A two-day old puppy needs a completely different of care than a three week old. Once you\u2019ve figured out his age, you\u2019ll know if you need to stimulate him to potty or start housebreaking him.<\/p>\n

Please remember that this chart is only general guide. Every puppy matures at a different rate. Larger breed dogs tend to mature earlier than small dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Newborn
\nthrough
\nDay 7<\/strong><\/td>\n		\n
    \n
  • Is blind and deaf<\/li>\n
  • Can smell well enough to find mother<\/li>\n
  • Sleeps 90% of the time and eats the other 10%<\/li>\n
  • Room should be 85\u00b0
    \nFed 6 to 8 times a day<\/li>\n
  • Can't go to the bathroom on his own.
    \nHe requires external stimulation of private parts to help him eliminate.<\/li>\n
  • Needs only minimal handling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Newborn<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Body temperature is 94\u00b0F<\/li>\n
  • Umbilical cord still attached<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 2<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Body temperature between
    \n95\u00b0 and 97\u00b0 F<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 3<\/strong><\/td>\nUmbilical cord falls off<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 5<\/strong><\/td>\nBegins to crawl around<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 7<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Puppy crawling more easily<\/li>\n
  • Should be cuddled only a few minutes a day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Days 7 to 14<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Room should be kept at 80\u00b0 to 85\u00b0F<\/li>\n
  • Eyes and ears open<\/li>\n
  • Stands wobbly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 14<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Stands up and crawls around<\/li>\n
  • Eyes focusing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Days 14 to 17<\/strong><\/td>\nBegins walking wobbly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Days 14 to 21<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Starts to explore his surroundings<\/li>\n
  • Milk teeth (baby incisors or front teeth) emerge<\/li>\n
  • Touching objects with his paws<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Days 17 to 21<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Poops and pees without assistance<\/li>\n
  • Interacts with littermates<\/li>\n
  • Tail wags<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 21<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Critical Socialization Period-need for human socialization and introduction to other species begins<\/li>\n
  • Begins to explore his surroundings<\/li>\n
  • Body temperature reaches 98\u00b0 to 100\u00b0<\/li>\n
  • Weaning begins for large sized puppies<\/li>\n
  • Really walking<\/li>\n
  • Playing with siblings (biting on ears, tails and paws)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Days 21 to 28<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Lapping formula from a bowl<\/li>\n
  • Eye color changes<\/li>\n
  • Starts to groom himself<\/li>\n
  • Feed 4 times a day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 28<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Room should be no cooler than 75\u00b0 F<\/li>\n
  • Small sized puppies begins to wean<\/li>\n
  • Have full set of baby teeth<\/li>\n
  • Eating soft food<\/li>\n
  • First vaccinations for orphans<\/li>\n
  • Playing with littermates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 weeks<\/strong><\/td>\nShould receive gentle human handling<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4 to 5 weeks<\/strong><\/td>\nHousetraining begins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 to 7 weeks<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Forms relationships with people<\/li>\n
  • Moves around the room freely<\/li>\n
  • Play mounting<\/li>\n
  • Eats four times a day<\/li>\n
  • Actively eating dry food<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Week 6<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Greets littermates with nose and tail sniffing<\/li>\n
  • Eats three times a day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Day 45<\/strong><\/td>\nShould have 28 puppy teeth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8 to 9 weeks<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Puppies can be spayed or neutered when they reach 2 pounds<\/li>\n
  • Dry food three times a day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8 to 10 weeks<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Puppies with mothers are fully weaned<\/li>\n
  • Puppy can be rehomed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8 to 11 weeks<\/strong><\/td>\nFear imprint period - traumatic events will
\nlikely cause fear for life<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Week 12<\/strong><\/td>\nChasing things<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Week 14<\/strong><\/td>\nAdolescence begins<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2 to 5 months<\/strong><\/td>\nPermanent front teeth emerge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4 to 5 months<\/strong><\/td>\nPermanent first premolars emerge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Month 5<\/strong><\/td>\nPermanent canines (fangs) emerge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 to 6 months<\/strong><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Males reach sexual maturity<\/li>\n
  • First permanent molars appear<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 to 18 months<\/strong><\/td>\nFemales have their first heat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Month 6<\/strong><\/td>\nPermanent second premolars emerge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6 to 7 months<\/strong><\/td>\nPermanent second and third molars appear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6 to 14 months<\/strong><\/td>\nMales lift leg to pee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Month 7<\/strong><\/td>\nCutting permanent teeth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
36 months<\/strong><\/td>\nLarge breeds considered mature<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n