Why 8 weeks for puppies

Their front legs will now be able to support their weight making it easier to seek out their mum … and the next milk feed! At around seven days onwards, the pink nose colour that dogs such as yellow Labradors and golden retrievers are born with will begin to develop the darker pigmentation they have in later life. Week three sees strengthening of both front and back legs and puppies at this stage are now able to fully support their own body.

With all their senses now fully developed, puppies of this age will continue to learn through play. In addition, this is also a great time to start socialising them — introducing them to new things — such as people and sounds and getting used to being gently handled. They are growing physically stronger and more coordinated and will engage in more play with their litter mates.

Puppies who leave their canine family too early will show immediate behavior problems. They will be fearful of many things and show a lack of confidence.

They can also be slow to bond to people or will go the other direction, attaching so strongly to their new owners that they will panic when left alone. The ability to soothe himself, to relax when left alone, is missing with most of these puppies. Biting is common. When puppies go to their new home, some biting is to be expected, as all puppies experiment. But when deprived of these early lessons, the puppy will bite more and harder, and teaching him that biting is not allowed is more difficult.

Puppies typically go through the weaning process at anywhere from three to five weeks old. This important transition time ensures that puppies receive all the appropriate nutrition from their mother. This will support the long term health of the puppy.

Additionally, interrupting the weaning process too early has behavioral side effects for young dogs. Suckling, even past the need for milk can be a source of comfort while a puppy grows accustomed to eating only solid foods. At your veterinarian visits, discuss the type of food you are feeding, the frequency of feeding, and the amount you feed per day vs. Ask your veterinarian if you need to make any diet adjustments. If you wish to feed homemade puppy food , you can, but you will need to do so very cautiously, as a poorly-constructed diet can be dangerous.

Consult with your veterinarian about the recipe you plan to use. You will need to make sure it is a balanced, nutritious recipe, using the right ingredients, and you are feeding an adequate amount of calories. Your puppy can have a variety of treats as long as they are safe, non-toxic , healthy, and make up no more than about 10 percent of your puppy's daily caloric intake.

Even though your puppy is still a baby, it's essential to start training as soon as it comes home with you. Start simple. Teach your puppy its name. You should give the dog a couple of days to get used to the house rules, such as where it is allowed to go and where the forbidden zones are in the house.

Let it get used to the feeling of a collar before adding a leash. Then, you can start letting the dog drag the leash around, so it understands the feel of it. As soon as the dog seems comfortable with it, you can start training it to walk on the leash. Although this is a rapid learning period, your puppy may not be the fastest learner at first since there are many "firsts," new scents, places, and people all starting to come into focus.

You can even begin to introduce some basic commands like sit, stay, and down. Go slow, be patient, keep it positive, and have fun. Behavior Guide for Your New Puppy. American Animal Hospital Association. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.

Weaning is another factor in determining when a pup can leave the litter. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer. Puppies should not be sent to their homes until they are happily eating on their own.

Puppies that are prevented from suckling for food and for comfort can display insecure behaviors later in life. Some states have laws specifying age requirements , usually at least 8 weeks, before puppies can be sold to the public. About 15 of the 28 states make it unlawful for any person to sell an underage puppy. The laws often exclude nonprofit animal shelters or humane societies from these limitations. For many states, the laws only apply to pet dealers, retail pet stores, or pet breeders.

Some breeders of toy breeds may choose to keep the pups past 8 weeks because these puppies are so tiny and fragile. If a pup will have to travel a long distance to its new home, especially on an airplane, the breeder may wait until the puppy has received most vaccinations and is better able to handle the physical and emotional stress of traveling.

One experienced dog trainer and expert on dog development suggested that the optimum age for a puppy to go to its new owner is about 8-toweeks, when the pup is ready to develop a strong bond. However, the same trainer said that the puppy could also benefit from remaining with its littermates a little longer if the breeder is dedicating lots of time and energy to socializing and training the pup. Bottom line: Talk to your breeder, your veterinarian , and your dog trainer.

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