What to Expect in Your Puppy's First Eight Weeks

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A puppy's relationships with his mother and littermates during the first 8 weeks of his life have a powerful influence on his personality and help determine what kind of companion he'll be for you and your family. His littermates will test one another and each learns when to be dominant or submissive. For most of this period, the puppies' mother provides for his basic needs, but she also teaches him discipline and shows him how to play nicely.

Nature has given most canine mothers an instinctive nurturing ability. Of course, the mother herself must be healthy, secure, and disciplined. If she is stressed or overbred, her ability to nurture her litter may be severely compromised. Responsible breeders support the mother and provide a warm, quiet environment for her. If a pregnant bitch or newborn puppies are turned into a shelter, caring, knowledgeable human caretakers can try to fill a similar role, hand-rearing puppies if necessary.

Puppies develop rapidly. At birth, they are blind and deaf. They can't eliminate on their own, nor can they regulate their own body heat. But they grow so quickly that you can witness their progress from day to day. Here is a basic guide to a puppy's first few weeks of life:

Weeks 1 and 2

While her newborn puppies spend 90 percent of their time sleeping, their mother's instincts tell her to keep her pups huddled together for warmth: A chill can kill them. Although the puppies can't see or hear at first, their senses of smell and touch guide them to mom's nipples. During the first few days, her milk will provide them with antibodies that will help them fend off germs for 6 to 10 weeks. The mom also licks her new pups anogenital area (under the tail and around the groin) to help them urinate and defecate.

A tiny newborn pup's legs are so weak that he may be barely able to wriggle his way to a nearby nipple or make his way to the warmth, safety, and comfort of being near his siblings. Mom helps, of course, but in addition, twitching movements of the pup's limbs during activated sleep help strengthen his muscles.

If the mother permits, the breeder or other caretaker can begin to pick up each pup several times a day. This early, gentle human contact will help the dog bond with people later on.

Week 3

During the third week of life, puppies' senses become fully functional. At this stage, your pup can detect light, dark, and movement and begins to respond to sudden or loud sounds. As he paws and mouths his littermates, he builds early social skills. He can relieve himself on his own now. Although he is not ready to be weaned, you might want to introduce him to a taste of veterinarian-prescribed puppy gruel. By the end of this week, your puppy should be able to crawl and he begins to wag his tail.

Weeks 4 and 5

Quickly gaining strength and coordination, the pup begins to respond to his environment. Now he can bark, stand, walk, run, and even pounce. His mother teaches him to eliminate away from his sleeping area.

He learns to play by wrestling with his littermates. When he's nipped too hard or is batted back by a defensive sibling, he learns the difference between hard and soft biting. At this point, puppies are forever testing their limits and take turns sleeping at the top and bottom of the sibling pile. Hunting and chasing instincts kick in, so this is a good time to introduce your pup to toys.

The mother dog referees when playtime gets too rough. She may nudge or restrain an errant pup, or she may growl at him, teaching the puppy discipline and acclimating him to the process of training. If they're not properly socialized, orphaned dogs raised without a mother and littermates may have a hard time relating to their human leaders, and to other dogs, as well.

Toward the end of this period, it's time for the caretaker's family to become more involved with the young dog. This familiarizes him with the everyday smells and sounds of a modern household, including appliances, children, and assorted adults.

Since he's cutting his first teeth at this stage, his mother begins to wean him. She might chew her food and then regurgitate it for her puppies to eat.

Weeks 6 and 7

At this point, the puppy's muzzle will lengthen and he'll begin to look more like the adults of his breed. His emotions will become apparent, too: He'll whine to show fear, whimper when hurt, and bark when he's excited or wants attention.

The mother's role evolves to that of pack leader as her brood matures. Her pups are weaned now, since they have teeth and can eat solid food. She is affectionate and playful with them, teasing them with toys and showing them when to bite and when to back off. She lets them know she's the dominant dog and corrects them sharply if they misbehave.

Your puppy's appetite for exploring his environment and learning new things will benefit tremendously if he is given a variety of simple toys to investigate at this stage. He will also play rough and tumble with his littermates, stealing and sharing toys. By this point, he should be spending a short time each day alone with a human, playing gently and learning to relate one-on-one in a safe, trusting situation.

Week 8

By this age, your puppy can remember which behaviors are allowed and where and when he is fed. He can even begin house-training and start becoming used to being groomed. Now he is ready to leave his mother and littermates and go home with you, fully capable of taking his place in the family.