How long is a dog a puppy? That's how long the puppy season is

Puppy time is coming over faster, than you think

When you take on a small bundle of fur, your heart immediately melts. In a certain sense, the dog will always remain your “baby” – unlike human children, the four-legged friends cannot speak and are therefore always dependent on you and your care skills.

It takes time for a dog to fully grow: most animals reach their final size after around 9 (very small breeds) to 24 (large animals) months. The actual puppy time – commonly understood as the phase leading up to the change of teeth – is comparatively short.

Rule of thumb: 16 to 18 weeks of life

In general, experts assume that the end of the puppy phase is around 16 to 18 weeks of life is reached. That’s only about four to four and a half months – significantly less, than many dog ​​owners suspect.

If you have taken over a puppy from a breeder, according to the Animal Welfare Act it must be at least eight weeks old in order to be separated from the mother. This means that you mostly just eight to ten weeks can take care of a real baby dog.

Meaning the puppy phase

Nevertheless, you should know when you can expect your four-legged friend to no longer be a puppy. In the few weeks that you have available to you in this phase, the animals are very formable and influenceable.

That means: Parenting is much easier in this time frame. The dog is very attentive and open to new things, so he not only gets used to his home better, but also to the manners there.

Unfortunately, many dog ​​owners are surprised at how little time they have left. They think their protégé is a puppy until it reaches adulthood: although the four-legged friends are still cute and developing afterwards, this is not the case.

Then time as Young dog

Instead, the puppy will become a dog within a very short period of time Young dog. During this time, both physical and mental changes occur:

• Male dogs begin to mark their territory from around 6 months of age as they become sexually mature.
• Female dogs also come into heat for the first time at this time.
• The animals become “boorish”, cooperate less and test their limits more.
• Due to hormonal and neurological changes, they are more irritable for a while and sometimes react a little abruptly.

Young dogs are still developing. After physical growth is complete, they still need some time to mature mentally. The general rule is that a dog only fully “adult” at 30 to 36 months is – they not only look “of age” but also behave accordingly.

The Development phases of a puppy

Although the puppy period is very short, it is a very important one that is timed very meticulously: they go through it in just a few weeks five different phases, which you should know exactly about.

Depending on which stage the four-legged friend is in, you as the owner have to do other things Set priorities. If you do this, nothing will stand in the way of a balanced, calm and good-natured adult life.

0 to 2 weeks: Neonatal phase

The neonatal phasee covers the first two weeks after birth and is all about mother dog and puppies: the little four-legged friends are still there during this time completely helpless and completely dependent on her mother.

they are coming deaf and blind to the world and then sleep a lot. The animals are very sensitive to cold during this time because they cannot yet regulate their body temperature. That's why they snuggle up close to their mother and receive milk from her in return.

You only get to experience this phase when the dog children are born with you. As a dog owner, there is very little you can and should do during this time, because the puppies need to be dependent on the mother in order to learn basic behavior. You can and actually only have to intervene if something is wrong. If the mother dog rejects her young or gives too little or no milk, it is up to you to step in as a “surrogate parent” so that the animals have a chance of survival.

2 to 4 weeks: Transition phase

After about two and a half weeks The little bundles of fur then open their eyes for the first time. The hearing is also only activated at this time. In the third and fourth weeks of life, the animals are still completely dependent on the mother, who should take on the majority of parenting duties.

At the same time, the four-legged friends also start to eat at this time Develop social behavior. They move a little more and train their musculoskeletal system. They also make increased contact with their mother and siblings, so that their first conscious interactions with other living beings begin.

The puppy will not seek active contact with you as the dog owner during this time. Nevertheless, he will during the Transition phase already used to the fact that there are also two-legged figures in life. You can reinforce this with small, gentle strokes. However, you should be careful not to put yourself too much in the foreground – you can't replace the dog's mother yet!

4 to 8 weeks: Embossing phase

When the puppy is about a month old, this begins Embossing phase. This time usually runs out at the breeder because the small dogs are still close contact with her mother need.

At the same time, however, they begin to see the world properly to perceive independently. They then learn, for example, that they don't need to be afraid of well-intentioned people. The animals can then also get used to everyday objects and routines because their brains are very receptive. There are still puppies at this time comparatively fearless – this makes it easier to get used to it, but also means that the animal has to be watched very closely during its first steps,

8 to 12 weeks: Socialization phase

With approximately eight weeks of life Then the time has come: the puppy can be separated from its mother and then usually goes to a new home. If you take over your pet from a breeder, you will only come into contact with the dog now at the earliest, as the Animal Welfare Act prohibits giving it away earlier.

In terms of development, the third month is all about the Socialization phase. The absorption capacity is very similar to the imprinting phase, only the four-legged friends are now fully capable of it meeting new people and things. These include, for example:

• New human family members
• Other animal roommates
• Activities such as walking, driving and taking public transport
• Household items such as vacuum cleaners, televisions, radios or keys
• Visits to the vet
• Acoustic stimuli, such as splashing rain, thunder, fireworks or street noise.

Dogs in the socialization phase are still very playful and want to be kept busy. At the same time, you also have to give them Show boundaries – Due to their good receptiveness, this time is ideal for educational work.

12 to 14-16 weeks: Ranking phase

At the end of the puppyhood comes the Ranking phase. The dog then already has a more solid “view of the world” and knows his everyday life quite well. Now it's time to teach him what his position is in the family.

This time is often small scheming characterized: The dog wants to test how far he can go. He then consciously breaks taboos and does things that he knows very well are actually forbidden. Their hope: If they get away with what they do, they will eventually become the “alpha animal”.

Of course, this shouldn't happen: you have to show the dog clear boundaries during this phase. That's completely fine for the four-legged friend, because as a pack animal the world won't end for him just because he has to submit. Despite all the discipline, it is of course important that you are with the animal during this time respectful and loving bypass.