At what age does a puppy’s critical learning period take place?


A puppy’s critical learning period takes place during its first 14 weeks of life. This is the time during which the brain is developing, and it is their experience during this period that will have the most impact on their personalities and behaviour. Scott and Fuller (Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog) carried out the 1st influential study in this field. They concluded that “dogs should be introduced gradually and sensitively to the circumstances that they are likely to experience during their lives.” (Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog, 1965) The critical learning period divides into a series of stages:

  1.  the neonatal (birth to 2 weeks) in which their mental capacity has yet to develop, the eyes and ears are still closed and nearly all their time is spent sleeping and feeding. Mild stress through gentle handling is very beneficial for the stimulation of the brain, and accelerates the development of motor and problem-solving skills as well as hair growth and motor skills, leading, in general to a more confident, socially adept dog that explores the world around them;
  2. the transition period from 15 to 21 days when the eyes and ears open and all their senses begin to function. Puppies begin to move and walk. It is a good time to introduce novel stimuli;
  3. the primary or canine socialisation period (3-7 weeks) during which the puppy learns that it is a dog and learns “species specific behavior that makes him a dog (biting, chasing, barking, fighting and body posturing.” (Diamonds in the Ruff, n.d.). According to Steven R. Lindsay, “This period is especially important for the development of a stable emotional temperament and affective tone. Many social and emotional deficits observed in adult dogs are believed to result from removing puppies too early from the mother and littermates.”
  4. Human or secondary socialisation (7 to 12 weeks) is the best time to bring a puppy into a new home. If the puppy is left with the mother, it will not develop emotionally and will remain dependent through life. By the 49th day the puppy’s brain waves are shown to be the same as in an adult dog and this is the period in which rapid learning occurs and which has the greatest impact on the dog’s overall social behaviour. The puppy should be exposed as many different people and environments as possible.“What the puppy learns during the fourth critical period will help to shape him into the kind of dog he will be forevermore!” (Sessions). During this 4th  period in weeks 8 to 11 comes the fear imprint period. That perceived as traumatic during this period could have a life-long effect.
  5. Between 12 and 16 weeks a puppy begins to establish itself in life, manifesting its “dominance” and rebelling, in some ways similar to a child going through adolescence. In some literature this is referred to as the 5th period and in others it is included as part of the longer juvenile period (4 to 6 months) (Puppy Development Stages, n.d.)


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