Ages & Stages: Puppies

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Despite being the epitome of cuteness (we may be a little biased here at DogTime, but that's our view), puppies are a big commitment. Turning these jumping, chewing, nipping, yipping, piddling, pooping little creatures into well-behaved dogs takes a good deal of time and effort.

Without that time and effort, puppies--no matter what the breed or bloodline--easily develop problems such as nervousness, aggression, and house-soiling. And once the novelty has worn off and the tiny ball of fluff is a nearly full-grown adolescent, these problems land many dogs in shelters. Others are banished to the backyard for a lifetime of boredom and isolation. That's why it's important to think carefully and do your research before bringing home a puppy.

What defines the stage

During puppyhood, your dog will:

• Learn how to get along with other dogs, if he has lots of positive interactions with them. A dog who misses out on these interactions--part of what trainers call socialization--can grow up to be fearful or aggressive around other canines.
• Learn how to be safe and friendly around humans, if he has lots of positive interactions with people of all sorts. Without these interactions--also an important part of puppy socialization--a pup can grow up to be fearful or aggressive with humans. This goes for all breeds.
• Get used to the hustle and bustle of family life. If you expose your pup to dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, other pets, cars--basically all the things he'll be living with as a family dog--he's more likely to take all those things in stride as an adult. Just go slowly when introducing anything new, and make sure it's fun--or, at the very least, not scary--for the pup.
• Have "puppy rushes," or "zoomies." These short, sudden bursts of running, barking, jumping, spinning, and grabbing things with his mouth usually happen a few times a day and last a couple of minutes.
• Get his adult teeth at around three to six months of age. Most puppies will chew anything and everything they can get their jaws on to relieve the discomfort of teething. Ice cubes or special chew toys that you can pop in the freezer will ease the ache and give your pup something safe to gnaw on.
• Possibly eat poop. Dogs of any age can have this gross habit, but it's more common in puppies. Be vigilant about scooping poop!