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Age
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Milestone |
At birth
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Your puppy can crawl forwards.
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Up to 24 hours
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Your puppy’s mother provides colostrum in her milk. This contains antibodies and other immune substances that help protect newborn puppies from disease.
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2 weeks
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Your puppy’s eyes open, although vision is poor at first.
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2 weeks
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Your puppy is very susceptible to worm infections so they should get their first worming treatment now.
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2-3 weeks
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Transitional period:
This is a period of rapid change as your puppy begins to show some of their adult characteristics.
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2-3 weeks
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Anogenital licking by the mother is no longer needed to prompt toilet behaviour. They begin to do their business outside the nest.
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2-3 weeks
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Your puppy starts to learn how to crawl backwards.
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2-3 weeks
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They show their first social signals, growling and wagging their tail.
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2-3 weeks
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The puppy responds to light and movement.
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They and their siblings start play fighting.
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2-3 weeks
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The puppy starts to show an interest in semi-solid food (but continues to nurse from their mother too). They can now lap milk or water from a dish.
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2-3 weeks
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Their ear canals open.
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3-12 weeks
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Socialisation period:
This is probably the most influential period of your puppy’s life and much of what is learned during this period may last throughout their life. During this time they develop social skills and learn about their environment. It’s essential during the later part of this period that they encounter all the people, objects and situations they might encounter in later life, including being left alone for short periods, visiting the vet and travelling in the car.
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3 weeks
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The puppy begins showing a startle response to loud noises.
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3 weeks
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They try standing and walking.
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3 weeks
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They make their first attempt at barking.
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3-5 weeks
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The puppy and their littermates begin to show early play behaviour.
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3-5 weeks
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Milk teeth come through.
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3-5 weeks
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They and their siblings investigate new objects.
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6 weeks
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This is the time for the first vaccination. (The second one is between two and four weeks later.)
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6-8 weeks
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They should now be fully weaned and enjoying four or five small meals a day.
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6-9 weeks
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This is the age when your puppy is most responsive to socialisation. It’s a good idea to find a puppy class to take them to where they can meet and play with other puppies and develop all-important social skills for later life. You can take them out before their vaccinations are complete, as long as you carry them and don't allow them onto the ground or in areas where other dogs may have been.
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7-9 weeks
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Puppies usually leave their mother and littermates to go to their new homes. Speak to the breeder about what vaccinations and worming treatments they’ve had. It’s also a good idea to talk to a vet about vaccinations and neutering before you collect the puppy.
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8-10 weeks
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Second vaccination time. Check with your vet that your puppy is now covered to go outside in public areas and meet other dogs.
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10 weeks
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Reduce feeding times to three meals a day.
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10 weeks
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Males may start to cock their legs to urinate.
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12 weeks – sexual maturity
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Juvenile period:
Your puppy’s starting to grow up and many of the major changes are over. Your puppy is still developing, though, and should still be fed puppy food until they’re mature.
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