Most dog owners only know that the age of dogs is divided into puppies and adult dogs. However, they do not know that the growth of dogs in the puppy stage is also divided into four stages. A full understanding of these four stages can help us help our dog babies grow up healthier and faster, and win at the starting line.
Within two weeks after birth, the dog is in the "neonatal period." He sleeps next to his mother dog with his eyes closed for a long time, occasionally moving his little body cutely. This stage is the most vulnerable and helpless stage for dog babies. Apart from sleeping and eating, they can hardly do anything. It is completely unimaginable that it may be the culprit that causes toilet paper to fly all over the house in the future. Colostrum within 24 hours after birth is very important for dog babies, because the antibodies necessary for their growth come from this first meal of colostrum after birth. During the entire "newborn period", dog babies can only rely on sucking breast milk to obtain a large amount of protein, calcium and other nutrients necessary for their growth.
The 2nd to 3rd weeks after birth are the "transition period" for the dog babies. During this week or so, the dog babies will not only stand up, but also start to try to walk, and even try to do some chewing behaviors. Just like babies learning to walk, baby dogs start practicing their mobility skills. During the "transitional period", the puppy's nutrition still mainly comes from breast milk, but they will also start to be curious about trying their mother's food. Since the dog's immune system is not yet fully developed, it still needs special care. Studies have shown that the combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, the mineral selenium and taurine can significantly improve the dog's immunity and make them healthier.
The "socialization period" is 3-12 weeks after a dog is born. As the name suggests, dogs begin various social behaviors during this stage. During this time, dogs will not only grow rapidly, but there will also be many changes in their behavior. You will find that your dog's range of activities will gradually increase, and driven by curiosity, they will have the courage to explore all the places they can reach and the things placed in that place. For owners, it is important to note that at this stage, dogs are beginning to grow teeth, so they will also try to eat some solid food, and they will also start to drink water. Reasonable intake of calcium and phosphorus can very well help the development of the bones and teeth of the dog, so owners should also pay attention to the content and proportion of these two nutrients in the food. Of course, if you can’t control it well, you can turn to professional pet food tailored for puppies.
After the “socialization period” until adulthood is the dog’s “teenage period”. During this period, all the dog's organs will be fully developed, and the growth rate will not be as fast as in the previous three stages. At about 7 months of age, the dog's permanent teeth will completely replace the deciduous teeth that grew in during the "socialization period." The "teenage period" is also a good period for systematic training of dogs. If you feel it is necessary for the dogs to develop some "good habits", the training must be done while the iron is hot.
As for when dogs become adults, this has something to do with the breed of the dog. Generally speaking, small dogs become adults when they are about 1 year old, while large dogs lag behind, usually between 18 and 24 months. Although dogs’ childhoods vary in length, these four unique experiences can enhance the relationship between dogs and their owners and lay the foundation for creating more happy memories together in the future.