Early Developmental Stages for a Young Dog

Preparing For Your First Puppy? Welcoming your first puppy or a new puppy into your home is an exciting, challenging, and rewarding time. One of The Power Paws Club’s goals is to help you prepare for your new arrival by giving you the tools and knowledge you should know before you get your new puppy.

There’s so much to learn before you get your new puppy that can help you and your dog and make this process a bit easier. The behavior of a dog is shaped during “puppyhood”. The first year is the most important time to implement training and socialization. It may become a bit tricky and time-consuming after that. Behavior can be affected even in the early age of 8 weeks old and therefore the moment your puppy arrives at his/her new home training and socialization should begin. House training and chew toy training are the first steps when your puppy arrives at their new forever home. Puppy’s can become bored easily and search for entertainment which often results in your couch or carpets being chewed. Barking and digging come hand in hand with boredom. House-training your dog can be part of the answer to these problems.

Developmental stages your dog should meet at an early age

• Your Doggy Education (before you get your puppy) – what sort of puppy are you looking for and where and when to get it.
• Evaluating Puppy’s Progress (before selection) – choosing a good breeder and a good puppy that has been raised indoors and around people.
• House-training – this includes toilet training, chew toy training and basic training.
• Socialization with people- especially with men and children as well as other dogs.
• Bite Inhibition – meaning a dog’s ability to control the force of mouthing. This is the most important to prevent any harm to other dogs and people.
• Preventing adolescent problems- this is maintaining the dog’s friendly, mannerly and well-socialized behavior throughout adulthood.

Your doggy education is very important

Without guidance and education we cannot expect a well-behaved and mannerly dog. We must teach our puppies the rules in order for them to know what rules are in the first place. We also must remember Dog’s vary (even same breeds), but a dog’s education is the principal key in determining its future behavior and temperament. Choosing which breed or type of dog that suits your lifestyle is also an important factor.

We must remember that every type of dog needs training and socialization, regardless of the breed

Often owners believe specific breeds are either impossible to train or do not need training at all but all dogs need training and can be trained. General health and life expectancy can also be taken into consideration. Your dog’s household success is generally in your hands. Once you are well educated on your doggy information you are ready to get your puppy but the puppy must also be ready.

Eight weeks old is the recommended age for a puppy to move to their new home and leave their mother and siblings

Leaving too early can cause under socialization. Occasionally owners may be best suited to an older dog that has already been trained, such as a rescue dog in need of a good home. However some rescue dogs may often need more help and work depending on their previous life experiences.

Once your education and preparation is complete we can help you provide everything you need to get started to make house training and chew toy training easier

Our Puppy Power Box is the perfect starter box for new puppy owners to provide tools for housetraining and enrichment toys to keep your puppy’s brain ticking. .

Power to you and your Puppies – The Power Paws Club Team