Beishengji Dog (Detailed Introduction)

A dog's growth goes through many different stages, and some stages play a decisive role in the dog's development. Therefore, we need to invest more energy during these important growth stages than usual. Let's learn about the several key stages of dog development so that we can better take care of dogs.

Stage One: Birth to 21 Days Old

Characteristics: Puppies are born from the uterus. They cannot see or hear, cannot regulate their body temperature by themselves, and cannot defecate without external stimulation. They completely rely on the mother dog or a "surrogate mother." At this stage, no emotional development, social contact, or learning behavior occurs. Whether sleeping or awake, the puppies' brain waves remain steady. The puppies' responses to hunger, cold, and touch are purely reflexive. They cuddle together to keep warm; when too hot, they spread out but cannot regulate their temperature by shivering or panting. During this nursing period, puppies crawl forward and backward, sway their heads side to side, and emit cat-like meows or tremolo repetitive movements. These natural actions exercise the puppies' muscles and nervous system and promote the development of the inner ear.

What breeders should do: Keep the nursing mother dog happy, healthy, and on a well-balanced diet. Her good physical and mental condition provides everything the puppies need at this stage. When picking up puppies, move very slowly, gently, and carefully. From two weeks after birth, mild stimulation of the puppies' nervous system is beneficial: gently turning the puppy's body by hand, softly pressing the skin on the ears, and holding the puppy by the spine for a few minutes every day. Puppies should gain weight every day, which is a very good stage to hold each puppy. This is not the period suitable for socialization or training. Mild stress can help brain cell development.

Stage Two: 21 to 28 Days Old

Characteristics: An important stage of rapid sensory development. Puppies are very alert to their environment and can be easily startled by sudden noises and movements. During this period, they can recognize breeders and other people who frequently appear gently. However, they lose the natural immunity from the nursing stage. Negative events can easily imprint on their basic behaviors during this stage. Social influences begin to take effect in this week.

Nursing-stage behaviors like head shaking, moaning, and crawling forward and backward cease. Puppies become more active and walk more smoothly. Their bodies change rapidly at this stage. Brain waves still show obvious changes, and the puppies can now learn from experience and remember what they have learned.

What breeders should do: Introduce new tactile sensations to the puppy box. For example, puppies enjoy crawling around in shredded newspaper or climbing over rolled towels or blankets. Continue to hold them every day and add new sounds and lights to the environment. You can carry puppies out of the box and place them on surfaces different from before. Carrying two puppies together is much better than one alone.

Stage Three: 21 to 49 Days Old

Characteristics: The emergence of social awareness and learning to be a dog (Note: Development in the first week of this critical stage overlaps with the second stage). Increasing enthusiasm for play and aggressive games. Puppies begin to learn problem-solving skills, bodily coordination, and bite inhibition. The mother dog starts warning puppies to teach rules during this stage. Puppies begin to run to their beds, boxes, or fence corners to defecate. Potty training can start!

What breeders should do: Keep puppies together as they were just born throughout this stage and allow the mother dog free access to the puppies' area.

Stage Four: 49 Days to 12 Weeks Old

Characteristics: Expanded social contact and restrained separation from the litter. Mental capacity is fully established, but puppies lack experience. This is the best time to teach new things. Yes, puppies learn fastest during this period. Research shows that in the fastest learning phase, behavior is most easily shaped and standardized. Training during this period, accompanied by an increase in brain cells in the relevant areas, objectively enhances learning ability. Bladder and bowel control develop, and puppies can sleep through the night without "accidents"—urination or defecation.

What breeders should do: Between 49 and 56 days, expand the puppies' activity area as much as possible. Divide several dogs into small groups to alternate play and sleep. Retained puppies can stay with other puppies. Maintain contact with other puppies. Continue individual brushing, play, and training for each dog. Human attitudes should be gentle but firm. Begin training responses to simple commands like "sit," "lie down," "stand," "come," and "walk."

Stage Five: 3 to 4 Months Old

Characteristics: As social status is established, puppies develop dominance desires. Puppies start to try to claim their own territory. This tendency becomes bolder. The body develops very quickly during this period.

What breeders/owners should do: Treat puppies as independent adult dogs. If they still live with the breeder, they should no longer live with other puppies, sleep separately at night in their own bed, and all training and care should be conducted individually.