Critical Periods for Dogs
Compiled by Barbara Suckling
All animals, (including humans!) go through predictable periods of development. With dogs, the beginning of some of these phases are predictable almost to the day. To have an understanding of the critical periods of development in dogs will assist us in recognizing potential problems, before they occur, or help us understand why our dog behaves as it does.
CANINE SOCIALISATION PERIOD (14 TO 49 DAYS):
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It
is during this time that puppies learn that they are dogs. While playing,
they practice varying body postures, learning what they mean and what
effect they have on brothers, sisters and mother. They learn what it feels
like to bite and to be bitten and what barking sounds like. Puppies are
disciplined by mother in a way they clearly understand. They learn to
be submissive to her leadership which teaches them to accept discipline.
Puppies removed from the litter prior to seven weeks tend to be nervous,
are prone to barking and biting and are less responsive to discipline.
HUMAN
SOCIALISATION PERIOD (7 TO 12 WEEKS)
The best time to acquire a puppy is during this period. At this time the
puppy should be introduced to as many things as possible that will play
a role in his future life. The puppy should be exposed to other dogs,
farm animals, vacuum cleaners, engine sounds, city traffic, children,
men with beards, woman with floppy hats and senior citizens. In fact,
everything possible! A puppy's introduction to all the latter stimuli
should be friendly and happy.
During this period it is important to begin training your puppy in a positive manner, before bad habits are formed.
The things a puppy learns during this vital time in its life are learned permanently.
FEAR
IMPRINT PERIOD (12 TO 16 WEEKS)
By eight weeks, a puppy's ability to remember experiences is fully developed,
therefore, during this critical period the owner should endeavor to ensure
the puppy is not traumatized, frightened or hurt. For example, traumatic
experiences at the vets are often remembered, avoid them by taking a treat
with you and asking the vet to offer it to your puppy.
Prior
to the onset of the fear imprint period many puppies have already seen
and/or heard such objects as lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, brooms etc
and show no discernible fear response, then suddenly at about 55 to 58
days of age, the puppy will display extreme fear response by running away
and trying to hide. How the owner approaches this fear will dramatically
effect the puppy's future development. Do not be tempted to "pacify"
the puppy, nor must the puppy be forced to accept what it perceives as
fearful, instead, just ignore the puppy's fearful behaviour and continue
on with the mowing, cleaning, sweeping etc.
A puppy which is traumatized, frightened or hurt during this critical
period will remember the experience forever.
SENIORITY
CLASSIFICATION PERIOD (12 to 16 weeks):
This phase of the puppy's development is also known as the "Age of
Cutting", cutting teeth and cutting apron strings. The puppy is no
longer a "puppy" and should be equated with a pre-pubic 10 to
12 year old child, from whom parents would not tolerate cheeky, pushy
behaviour. The young dog may attempt dominance. Play biting is no longer
play! It is a test of superiority! Do not permit growls or bites from
this period on. If the young dog growls or bites during handling or training
it should be disciplined, by using the scruff shake.
By 16 weeks emotions are fully developed.
FLIGHT
INSTINCT PERIOD (4 to 8 months):
Flight instinct could also be described as the call of the wild. Generally,
the smaller the dog the earlier this stage of development occurs. It is
a time when a young dog, that has responded quite readily to being called,
suddenly stands still with a faraway look in its eye and refuses to come.
If your puppy does this, you should put him on a long lead and do lots
of "come-fors", ie run backwards, calling your puppy's name
and rattling your container then rewarding him as soon as he gets to you.
Flight instinct does not cover the whole period of four to eight months, it is usually just a few days to perhaps a month, at some time within that period. Future deep-rooted recall problems can depend on just how much fun the young dog experiences from his response to the wild. For example, if, having run off, a young dog finds something to eat, to chase or some people or other dogs to play with, and therefore enjoys the experience, it will want to repeat the behaviour!
Always make coming to you a pleasant experience for your dog. If you get angry, and punish your dog for not coming you will always have a problem with recalls!
How you handle your dog throughout this period will effect its behaviour forever!
SECONDARY
FEAR IMPRINT PERIODS (6 TO 14 MONTHS):
These periods are not as well defined as the first fear period. Your dog
may exhibit fear or fright at all sorts of perfectly familiar and/or unfamiliar
things! Don't pacify, or "bill and coo"!! Just ignore the fearful
behaviour and show the dog, by your own calm behaviour that the object
and/or event is not frightening. Continue training so that your dog is
being given leadership in a familiar and reassuring way.
Never reinforce fear responses.
MATURITY
(1 TO 4 YEARS):
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This period may bring renewed aggression and testing of your leadership. Territorial protectiveness will awaken now. If you have been careful to establish leadership, you will be able to be the dominant pack leader and maintain order in your dog's pack!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Benjamin, Carol Lea. Mother Knows Best - The Natural Way to Train Your
Dog
Campbell, William E. Behaviour Problems in Dogs
Dunbar, Dr Ian. Dog Behaviour, why dogs do what they do.
Fisher, John. Think Dog.
Fox, Michael W. Understanding Your Dog.
Monks of New Skete. How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend.
Pfaffenberger, Clarence J. The New Knowledge of Dog Behaviour.
Rutherford and Neil. How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With.
Schwarz, Charlotte. The Howell Book of Puppy Raising.
Scott, John Paul and Fuller, John L. Genetics and the Social Behaviour
of the Dog.