CPDT-KA Ethology
Neonatal Period - answerBirth to 12 days (two weeks). Pups most influenced by mother.
Senses of touch and taste present at birth.
Transitional Period - answer12 to 21 days (two to four weeks). Pups most influenced by
mother and littermates. Eyes open, teeth begin coming in, senses of hearing and smell
develop. Stand, walk a little, wag tail, bark. By fourth or fifth week eyesight is well-
developed.
Socialization: Learning to Relate and Communicate - answerDuring this period, puppy
needs opportunities to meet other dogs and people.
Primary Socialization - answer3 to 5 weeks
By three to five weeks, puppy becomes aware of his surroundings, companions (both
canine and human), and relationships, including play.
By four to six weeks, puppy is most influenced by littermates and is learning about being
a dog.
From four to seven weeks: Don't discipline for play fighting, housebreaking mistakes or
mouthing - that's all normal behavior for a puppy at this stage.
Secondary Socialization - answer6 to 12 weeks
From four to twelve weeks, puppy remains influenced by littermates and is also
influenced by people. Puppy learns to play, develops social skills, learns the inhibited
bite, explores social structure/ranking, and improves physical coordination.
By five to seven weeks, puppy develops curiosity and explores new experiences. Puppy
needs positive "people" experiences during this time.
By seven to nine weeks, puppy is refining his physical skills and coordination, and can
begin to be housetrained. Puppy has full use of senses.
By eight to ten weeks, puppy experiences real fear involving normal objects and
experiences; puppy needs positive training during this time. "I'm Afraid of Everything"
Stage--Not all dogs experience this, but most do, and they'll appear terrified over things
, that they took in stride before. This is not a good time to engage in harsh discipline (not
that you ever should anyway!), loud voices or traumatic events.
Your puppy's bladder and bowels are starting to come under much better control, and
he's capable of sleeping through the night sometime between 8 and 12 weeks.
By nine to twelve weeks, puppy is refining reactions, developing social skills with
littermates (appropriate interactions), and exploring the environment and objects. Puppy
begins to focus on people; this is a good time to begin training. You can begin teaching
simple commands like: come, sit, stay, down, etc. Leash training can begin.
Environmental Adaptation - answer3 to 16 weeks
Aggression - answer1. The initiation of unprovoked hostilities; 2. The launching of
attacks; 3. Hostile behavior
Ranking Period - answerPuppy is most influenced by "playmates," which may now
include those of other species.
Puppy begins teething (and associated chewing).
At four months of age, puppy experiences another fear stage.
Adolescence - answerPuppy is most influenced by human and dog "pack" members.
At seven to nine months, puppy goes through a second chewing phase, part of
exploring territory.
If not spayed or neutered, puppy experiences beginnings of sexual behavior.
History of domestication (timeline) - answer* single domestication 11 to 16 thousand
years ago that predates the rise of agriculture
differences btwn dogs/ wolves - answer* separated by at least fifteen thousand years of
domestication that has changed them in many important ways.
*dogs generalize their social relationships to humans and are good at adapting to
changing situations, wolves are very specific about their social attachments and do not
adapt well to novelty, even when raised in captivity with or near humans.
Stages of development (behavioral) - answerneonatal stage: Birth to two weeks
transitional stage: Two to four weeks
Socialization period: Three to 12 weeks
Neonatal Period - answerBirth to 12 days (two weeks). Pups most influenced by mother.
Senses of touch and taste present at birth.
Transitional Period - answer12 to 21 days (two to four weeks). Pups most influenced by
mother and littermates. Eyes open, teeth begin coming in, senses of hearing and smell
develop. Stand, walk a little, wag tail, bark. By fourth or fifth week eyesight is well-
developed.
Socialization: Learning to Relate and Communicate - answerDuring this period, puppy
needs opportunities to meet other dogs and people.
Primary Socialization - answer3 to 5 weeks
By three to five weeks, puppy becomes aware of his surroundings, companions (both
canine and human), and relationships, including play.
By four to six weeks, puppy is most influenced by littermates and is learning about being
a dog.
From four to seven weeks: Don't discipline for play fighting, housebreaking mistakes or
mouthing - that's all normal behavior for a puppy at this stage.
Secondary Socialization - answer6 to 12 weeks
From four to twelve weeks, puppy remains influenced by littermates and is also
influenced by people. Puppy learns to play, develops social skills, learns the inhibited
bite, explores social structure/ranking, and improves physical coordination.
By five to seven weeks, puppy develops curiosity and explores new experiences. Puppy
needs positive "people" experiences during this time.
By seven to nine weeks, puppy is refining his physical skills and coordination, and can
begin to be housetrained. Puppy has full use of senses.
By eight to ten weeks, puppy experiences real fear involving normal objects and
experiences; puppy needs positive training during this time. "I'm Afraid of Everything"
Stage--Not all dogs experience this, but most do, and they'll appear terrified over things
, that they took in stride before. This is not a good time to engage in harsh discipline (not
that you ever should anyway!), loud voices or traumatic events.
Your puppy's bladder and bowels are starting to come under much better control, and
he's capable of sleeping through the night sometime between 8 and 12 weeks.
By nine to twelve weeks, puppy is refining reactions, developing social skills with
littermates (appropriate interactions), and exploring the environment and objects. Puppy
begins to focus on people; this is a good time to begin training. You can begin teaching
simple commands like: come, sit, stay, down, etc. Leash training can begin.
Environmental Adaptation - answer3 to 16 weeks
Aggression - answer1. The initiation of unprovoked hostilities; 2. The launching of
attacks; 3. Hostile behavior
Ranking Period - answerPuppy is most influenced by "playmates," which may now
include those of other species.
Puppy begins teething (and associated chewing).
At four months of age, puppy experiences another fear stage.
Adolescence - answerPuppy is most influenced by human and dog "pack" members.
At seven to nine months, puppy goes through a second chewing phase, part of
exploring territory.
If not spayed or neutered, puppy experiences beginnings of sexual behavior.
History of domestication (timeline) - answer* single domestication 11 to 16 thousand
years ago that predates the rise of agriculture
differences btwn dogs/ wolves - answer* separated by at least fifteen thousand years of
domestication that has changed them in many important ways.
*dogs generalize their social relationships to humans and are good at adapting to
changing situations, wolves are very specific about their social attachments and do not
adapt well to novelty, even when raised in captivity with or near humans.
Stages of development (behavioral) - answerneonatal stage: Birth to two weeks
transitional stage: Two to four weeks
Socialization period: Three to 12 weeks
