The first few weeks (8 weeks) of a puppy’s life are crucial to their development, and are an exciting time for you to watch and be involved in.

A dog is considered to be a puppy till he/she is 6 months old. Here are some few tips and information to take of your puppy or puppies.

Month 1:

When puppies are first born, they’re dependent on their mamas for everything, and handling by humans should be limited. The first couple of weeks is a time to let nature take its course. If you’re getting a puppy from a reputable breeder, you may be making a visit or two to their home during this time to catch a first glimpse at your baby.

By week four, your puppy will be walking. She should still be with her mom most of the time, but you and/or her shelter or breeder may start taking her on short “field trips” to other parts of the home to experience new and interesting sounds, scents, and surfaces.

The puppy’s eyes start opening

From day 10, although the puppy’s vision is still developing, the eyes nevertheless start to open and the puppy’s hearing starts to improve. The puppy will be able to see and hear fully towards the end of the 5th week.

Teeth

3-5 weeks old: the canines appear

4-6 weeks old: the incisors appear

5-6 weeks old: the third and fourth premolars appear

4 months old: the first premolar appears, this is a permanent tooth

Month 2:

At about five weeks old, your puppy will be playing with her littermates, producing cute little barks, and generally learning how to be a dog. There’s a whole lot of developmental stuff going on in her brain right now: your puppy is learning play and social skills, and gaining physical coordination. At this point, she’s still mostly influenced by her mom and littermates, but she’s ready to start exploring the world beyond the teat. By week five, she’s ready for consistent human interaction, and by week six, she’ll probably know who her favorite people are.

Towards the end of puppy’s month two, it’s time to consult a vet about starting vaccinations. Puppies typically get their first combo vaccination around six weeks old.

Month 3:

The third month of your puppy’s life is the most important stage for bonding, brain development, and training. Many pet parents won’t even meet their new puppies until they reach eight weeks old, but don’t worry that you missed out: month three is when the fun stuff really starts.

If you adopted your puppy from a shelter or rescue group, chances are she’ll already be spayed by now. Puppies can be spayed or neutered around 8-12 weeks old as long as they weigh at least one kg.

Month 4:

By 12 weeks old, your puppy’s personality should be pretty clear. You’ll know if she’s bold or shy, bossy or quiet, etc. Between 12-16 weeks of age, she needs continued socialization to make her as well-rounded as possible. Playing with other dogs will help your puppy develop good social skills, including bite inhibition, potty training, and bite inhibition.

Your puppy is also gaining more and more permanent teeth at this age, which could mean trouble if you don’t know how to handle it. Puppies use their mouths to explore the world, and as their adult teeth come in, they can get even more “mouthy” because chewing just feels so darn good.

Month 5:

By this point, your puppy may be starting to push boundaries a bit and starting to act in ways you perceive as “naughty.” Keep in mind she’s simply continuing to develop; during the fifth month of life, dogs establish their place in the hierarchy of their homes and the world at large.You can help your pet by “puppy-proofing” the house to keep her out of mischief. This may mean using baby gates to limit access to certain rooms, investing in puppy-proof cabinet latches and garbage cans, and crate training to give you control over when and where she can explore.

Month 6:

By her sixth month of life, your puppy may be starting to look like a grown-up dog. But don’t worry, she still has plenty of puppy energy left. I’m not gonna lie: month six can be a toughie. You made it through potty training and teething, and now your puppy is officially an adolescent. Like most teenagers, six-month-old dogs can be moody and unpredictable, and may develop a “selective memory” for all the stuff you’ve been working on in training. But don’t worry, your puppy is well on her way to being a grown-up, and month six is a herald of good years to come.