Stages of Growth For Your Vizsla Puppy
Know the stages of puppy growth
When you choose a Vizsla puppy for sale from White River Kennels you aren’t just bringing home a dog. You are bringing home a new member of the family. That new family member is more than just a dog, it is a puppy and it needs love and care and plenty of attention. Despite what some people may think, puppies don’t turn into adult dogs in just a few weeks. An average dog will remain a puppy for approximately one to two years of age.
There are many stages of puppyhood and it is important to know them before you bring your new friend home.
Neonatal period
This is the period from birth to about two weeks old. During this period they need their mother and littermates. They will start learning simple social skills and coordination. Mostly they just eat. They need to have milk from their mother or a milk replacer about every two hours.
Transitional period
This is the period of about two to four weeks. They open their eyes, stand and walk, their sense of smell and hearing develops, wag their tail and their teeth start to come in. They even start to bark at this stage.
Socialization period
From four to twelve weeks, this is the stage that is important to introduce the puppy to other people and animals. By five weeks, puppies are aware of their surroundings. They start to enjoy playtime. Good interactions with people from five to seven weeks play a large role in how they continue to interact. Puppies should continue to remain with their mother and littermates for eight weeks.
Ranking period
This period is the time from three to six months of age. This is their elementary school age. They are influenced most by their playmates at this age. During this stage, they will begin to understand submission and dominance. Teething and chewing happen around this time. At four months they will go through a fear stage. This is completely normal.
Adolescence
From six to eighteen months your puppy understands that he has a pack, both humans and dogs. Their behavior is shaped by this group. You can expect to be challenged more by your dog at this stage as they explore dominance and their role in the pack. If your puppy isn’t spayed or neutered at this age, they will start exhibiting sexual behavior and a second chewing stage will occur.
By knowing what to expect at each stage of a puppy’s life, you can prepare yourself better to deal with certain behaviors so that you can handle them in a way that is both positive and encourages good behavior in your puppy. You can have a happy life with a happy puppy if they are trained in the right way and can transition from puppy to adult with ease and plenty of love.