5 Critical Stages of Development

The five critical periods

Scientific studies have shown that, there are five critical periods in a puppy’s life, that is five phases of mental development during which adverse conditions can cripple a dog emotionally without hope for recovery. Conversely, positive conditions during these five phases of emotional growth can produce dogs of the highest calibre – mentally and socially. So important are these findings, that guide dog foundations instituted these ‘positive conditions’ for puppies being raised to become leaders of the blind. Dogs trained to lead the blind receive the most rigorous and exacting training of any dogs and therefore must be perfectly adjusted.Dr Paul J Scott, Director of Animal Behaviour at Roscoe B Jackson Memorial Laboratory atBar Harbour , Maine, directed a project to determine just when these critical periods took place. The consequences of a person’s failure to acknowledge and respond to these critical periods were demonstrated in one particular test. A puppy 21 days old, was removed from the litter and completely isolated.

Although the puppy was fed and watered, the caretaker was careful not to play with or speak to it. The only toys experimental puppy had were his water bucket and dish. By 16 weeks of age the puppy had no contact with other dogs ( except during the first 21 days of its life) and no human contact except the caretaker. At four months of age the experimental puppy was once again placed with his litter mates. He did not recognise them, either as litter mates or as dogs! His isolation during the critical periods of his life – his complete removal from the companionship of dogs and humans – had marked his character to the extent that he could not adjust to animal or human society.

0 - 20 days - First critical period

As a result of many years of scientific research, it has been determined that the first critical period covers the entire first three weeks of a puppy’s life, 0 to 20 days. During this period a puppy’s mental capacity is nearly zero and the puppy reacts only to its needs of warmth, food, sleep and it’s mother. Tests were carried out to determine whether a puppy was capable of learning anything at all during the first critical period, it was determined that it is not.

21 - 28 days (3-4 weeks) - Second critical period

Scientists found, however, that something nearly miraculous happened on the 21st day and it occurs in all dogs, regardless of breed, on this day all of a puppy’s senses begin to function. The senses were present in the puppy during the first critical period bet were dormant. The 21st day marks the beginning of the second critical period. During this period the new puppy needs its mother more than at any other time. The brain and nervous system begin to develop. Awareness begins to take place and in the mental state, a puppy’s experience can be rather frightening. A puppy removed from its mother during this second critical period will never attain the mental and emotional growth that it could. During the second critical period the social stress of being alive has its greatest impact on a puppy. No other time in a dogs life is so crucial to emotional growth. It is during the second period that the characteristic of nervousness can generate shyness and other negative qualities in a puppy. Once negative characteristics have been allowed to develop ( during second period) no amount of reconditioning or training later in life alter the negative characteristics.

29 - 49 days (4-7 weeks) - Third critical period

At this age puppies will venture away from the nest – although not very far- and so do a little exploring. At the beginning of a puppy’s sixth week, the awareness of society will dawn, that is, the society of man and the society of dog.A puppy’s nervous system and his trainability are developing and by the end of the third critical period will have developed to capacity. Unfortunately some dog books say that a puppy has the brain of an adult at the conclusion of third critical period. This is not true and research proves it. Therefore a more comprehensive look at what takes place during this third critical period is certainly in order. During this period a puppy will learn to respond to voices and will begin to recognise people. A social ‘pecking order’ will be established among the puppies in the litter. Some of the puppies will learn to fight for their food and will learn to be bullies. The litter mates that are cowed by aggressive tendencies of the others will become shy. The scientific tests at Hamilton Station have shown that it is advantageous for a puppy to remain with the litter long enough to acquire a little competitive spirit but that too much is detrimental to the puppy’s emotional growth. The pups that remain in the litter after the seventh week will begin to develop bullyish or cowed tendencies – which will remain with them into adulthood. The longer a puppy remains with the litter after completing the seventh week of its life, the more deteriorated the emotional growth of that puppy will be. At the end of the third critical period, the puppy is considered emotionally developed and ready to learn. But the puppy does not possess an adult brain at that age. 

50 - 84 days (7-12 weeks) - Fourth critical period

The trainability of a puppy is ripe and operating to capacity as he puppy enters the eighth week of  life. Thus the puppy enters the fourth critical period of emotion, growth. What the puppy learns during this fourth critical period will be retained and become part of the dogs’ personality. If a puppy is left with its mother during the fourth critical period, its emotional development will be crippled. The puppy will remain dependent upon her but in her will find very little – if any – security.When a puppy remains with the litter beyond this time and without adequate human contact – its social adjustment to human society will be crippled and what it learns will be learned from the litter mates. Because a pups trainability and learning facilities are operating at full capacity during the fourth critical period, it is better that a puppy do his learning from his new owner. And learn he will! The fourth critical period marks a time when a new puppy will learn at a fast and furious pace. And much of what he learns will stay with him a long, long time. What the puppy learns during the fourth critical period will help to shape him into the kind of dog he will be forever more! That last  paragraph is so important that every dog owner (and those contemplating getting a puppy) should read and reread it – and then read it again! For the readers who acquired their dogs at six months or more, that paragraph may well explain some of the negative characteristics in the personality and behaviour of their dog. During the first three critical periods, insignificant brainwaves from a puppy can be recorded on electroencephalographs. The fourth critical period, however, is quite different. The first actual – and highly significant – waves can be recorded. It is during this fourth period that a bond will be established between dog and man that will have a lasting effect upon the puppy. During no other phase in its life will a canine have the ability to achieve a stronger bond than during the fourth critical period. A puppy’s contact with people during this phase is the whole key to his emotional and social success within human society. In the tests conducted at Bar Harbour, puppies were isolated at various intervals during the five critical periods and it was determined that isolation from human society had its greatest effect on puppies during the fourth critical period. Without adequate human contact during the fourth period puppies became incapable of being trained and incapable of being companions to man. It is during this time that a puppy should be integrated into human society. At this time a puppy should be taken for walks, meet people and be allowed to play with children and other animals (under supervision) During the fourth period simple commands can – and should – be taught. There should be gentle discipline. Forceful discipline during this period could adversely tip the scales on which the puppy’s emotional development now rests. A puppy (during the fourth critical period) is learning to live in a human’s world. He is learning to trust and have confidence in human beings. A puppy between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks does not deliberately get into mischief. A physical and forceful correction could result in complete confusion within the mind of the puppy. Faith and trust in  his new human friends could be quickly shattered. When mistrust of humans develops during the fourth critical period, that mistrust will remain a permanent part of a puppy’s make up. Because many people acquire puppies for home security purposes, I must digress for just a moment to put across a very important point. The preceding paragraph may cause some to assume that the best way to raise a puppy to be a watchdog is to isolate it from human society during its fourth critical period - so it will distrust humans. This is not the way to train a watchdog. It is one way to guarantee that he will never be protective of anything. During the fourth critical period discipline should be confined to scolding. Scolding does not include shouting. Commands such as “sit” “stay” and “come” can be taught during the fourth critical period – but must be done so in a playful atmosphere. Housebreaking should be instituted in a gentle manner, ensuring that praise is used for correct behaviour rather than forceful correction for misbehaviour. It is during the fourth critical period that puppies can develop what is generally referred to as “hand shyness” as a result of owners who feel that striking a puppy is the only way to discipline it. A puppy’s environment should give him a sense of security. Being smacked around with rolled newspaper or human hands certainly will not achieve this. Mild restrictions should be imposed – in such as not allowing the puppy to chew furniture, shoes, etc and these mild restrictions could have the additional value of raising tolerance levels. Failure to discipline and failure to impose mild restrictions could have a serious effect on the puppy’s upbringing and have a detrimental effect on the dog’s compatibility within the family later in life. In human society we have what is known as pre-school in our public schools. The purpose of pre-school is to prepare a child emotionally for the learning that will take place later. Playschool and pre-school classes are, in effect, a training ground to teach children how to learn. The fourth critical period is the puppy’s pre-school. If a puppy is taught how to learn during the fourth critical period his actual formal schooling (which can take place during or after the fifth critical period) will be more successful. A puppy given pre-school training during the fourth critical period will be able to learn more than a puppy that does not have pre-school experience. Although commands such as “come” “sit”  “stay”  “down” and “no” are invaluable when taught during the fourth critical period, perhaps the most important single response during that period is learning to fetch. Puppies who cannot – or will not – learn to fetch are dropped from guide dog programs. Moreover, dogs being trained to perform narcotic detection duties must first be proficient at retrieving. The significance of fetching cannot be over-emphasised. Explaining how such a game expands a puppy’s mind and what willingness to fetch reveals about a puppy would Require a book in itself. Learning to fetch in the fourth critical period can spell success or failure in your dog’s desire and ability to work for you. The term “work” refers to those duties which involve specialised training. Failure to learn fetching does not mean that a dog will not be able to learn to respond to commands for everyday obedience but stop and think for a moment, if a dog is not smart enough to learn to fetch how then can he be expected to manage the more complex tasks of hunting, retrieving game, pulling a sled, working stock, guarding a house, or detecting bombs.

12 - 16 weeks - Fifth critical period

The fifth critical period is the 13th through to the 16th week of a puppy’s life. A highly significant thing will happen during the fifth critical period and puppy owners should be prepared for it. A puppy will make its first attempt to establish itself as the dominant being in the pack (family). It is during the fifth period that a puppy will learn whether he can physically strike out at his owner – and get away with it! If a puppy is allowed to get away with it, he will lose the confidence and the respect for the owner that developed during the fourth critical period. The tolerance level toward the owner will be narrowed. The puppy will learn that by rebelling he’ll get things his own way. It is during this fifth critical period that authority will be challenged. It is here that the challenge must be met head on by the pup’s owner. Instructing people as to the best method for dealing with the problem is quite difficult because no two dogs are exactly alike. Disciplinary measures for one are not necessarily suitable for another. In my own training school the question is often asked, “what shall I do if my dog bites me”? My answer usually goes something like, “what would you do if your child hit you”?  Heaps of love and understanding are not applicable here. A puppy  must be shown swiftly and firmly that though he is loved, you the owner – are the dominant being. Formal obedience training should begin not later than the age of six months for optimum ease in teaching. This is not to say that a dog who has attained the age of 10 years cannot or should not be trained. As long as a dog is healthy, there is no maximum age limit for training, it is always easier to train a dog that has not had too much time to develop bad habits. Being aware of the five critical periods and providing the correct environment, instituting proper learning techniques will allow a puppy to develop emotionally and socially to full potential. Each time you marvel at guide dog leading its blind owner through busy traffic, you can be assured that the five critical periods in that dog’s life were handled with great care and concern. The puppy you acquire can grow up to be all the things he is capable of becoming. Pay close attention to the critical periods in his life. Those are the periods which shape and mould his character and personality. He is in your hands. What he is to become he will become during those five critical periods. The natural instinct of the canine is to try to assume dominance within the pack. As was stated earlier, he begins this during the fifth critical period and the dog will periodically “test” the owner’s ability to dominate. The fact that a dog will periodically test the owner’s dominance does not mean that the dog does not love or respect that owner. However, if the owner is permissive and weak – thus allowing the dog to achieve dominance – his love and respect for the owner will quickly wane. The dog owner then becomes inferior in the dog’s eyes and the owner is destined to be owned by the dog. The scales of love and discipline must be equally balanced. That is the magic formula for success in the rearing of any puppy. Although your new puppy may be destined to become the family dog, one member of the family should be designated the puppy’s foster mother during the remaining critical periods in its life. This is not to suggest that other members of the family should be restricted in their association with the puppy. On the contrary, all should share in the joy of caring for – and playing with – the new arrival. But the bond between the puppy and its litter mother has been severed by removal from the litter. For optimum emotional development, the puppy should have the security of knowing which member of the human family has taken the litter mother’s place. It is strongly urged that a child member of the family not be given the responsibility if optimum emotional growth is to be achieved. Many children are presented with puppies to “help the child to develop responsibility” But in all too many cases, it does just the opposite, often children will find excuses why they cannot take the time to feed, water, train and care for their new charges. The RSPCA etc are filled to overflowing with dogs and puppies awaiting execution because child-owners failed to develop the hoped-for responsibility. A puppy knows very well when it is unwanted.  Being unwanted brings insecurities to a puppy, just as it does to a human. Insecurities breed emotional problems. Emotional problems during the puppy’s critical periods will remain as personality faults throughout the dog’s life. The personality faults can cause fear biters, piddlers, runaways and perhaps complete emotional withdrawal from human society.Most formal obedience classes conducted throughout the country will not accept a puppy for obedience training unless it has attained the age of six months or more. It is unfortunate, however that by the time some dogs reach six months of age, they have already become problem dogs. Obedience training may or may not help, depending upon the severity of the problem. In too many cases, it does not. This is simply because obedience training does not teach a dog to refrain from turning over trash cans, chasing cars, barking excessively, or tearing up the living room furniture, these bad habits are learned during the five critical periods.

The pack instinct and emotional security

The natural instinct of the canine is to try to assume dominance within the pack. As was stated earlier, he begins this during the fifth critical period and the dog will periodically “test” the owner’s ability to dominate. The fact that a dog will periodically test the owner’s dominance does not mean that the dog does not love or respect that owner. However, if the owner is permissive and weak – thus allowing the dog to achieve dominance – his love and respect for the owner will quickly wane. The dog owner then becomes inferior in the dog’s eyes and the owner is destined to be owned by the dog. The scales of love and discipline must be equally balanced. That is the magic formula for success in the rearing of any puppy. Although your new puppy may be destined to become the family dog, one member of the family should be designated the puppy’s foster mother during the remaining critical periods in its life. This is not to suggest that other members of the family should be restricted in their association with the puppy. On the contrary, all should share in the joy of caring for – and playing with – the new arrival. But the bond between the puppy and its litter mother has been severed by removal from the litter. For optimum emotional development, the puppy should have the security of knowing which member of the human family has taken the litter mother’s place. It is strongly urged that a child member of the family not be given the responsibility if optimum emotional growth is to be achieved. Many children are presented with puppies to “help the child to develop responsibility” But in all too many cases, it does just the opposite, often children will find excuses why they cannot take the time to feed, water, train and care for their new charges. The RSPCA etc are filled to overflowing with dogs and puppies awaiting execution because child-owners failed to develop the hoped-for responsibility. A puppy knows very well when it is unwanted.  Being unwanted brings insecurities to a puppy, just as it does to a human. Insecurities breed emotional problems. Emotional problems during the puppy’s critical periods will remain as personality faults throughout the dog’s life. The personality faults can cause fear biters, piddlers, runaways and perhaps complete emotional withdrawal from human society.

Security: Prime ingredient for emotional growth

To increase the puppy’s security, he should have his own bed in a place where he can be alone when he wants. You must expect the first four nights to lend themselves to some inconvenience – for you and the rest of the family. Your new puppy will be lonely at night, having been accustomed to the presence of his litter mates. Although the puppy may have been playful during the first day in his new household, nightfall – when you and the rest of the family have gone to bed – will give the puppy time to remember (and miss) his litter brothers and sisters. By the fourth night, however, the pup will have adjusted to his new environment and to your family’s routine. It takes just four days for the average dog to learn to adjust to a new environment.

Socialisation

In bringing your puppy home when it is eight weeks of age, you must remember that it is in its fourth critical period. Your puppy must be socialised with the human element. Not just with you but with other humans as well. Your puppy should be taken for walks in public. He should be allowed to meet people and be allowed to play with children (under close supervision). Socialisation is the act of exposing your puppy to everything he should be comfortable with throughout his life, people, places, situations and other animals. Unfortunately behavioural problems are common place and only now is it becoming apparent to many, that nervous, aggressive or shy behaviour in adult dogs, is the result of a lack of adequate socialisation when still young. This is because 20 years ago it was decided that it was dangerous to a puppy’s health to take him out and about before 2 weeks after his last  inoculation. The dog world is now paying the price. Anti-social dogs are a danger to society and many end up in rescue centres or worst still put to sleep, because of biting incidents.If you have read my previous pages you now appreciate how little time you do have to socialise a puppy. The first 16 weeks of life are the most crucial and what is learnt in these first 4 months (good or bad) shapes your puppy for the whole of his life. What he learns now he will never forget. By the time that your puppy is 7 weeks old (optimum age for bonding) he is the human equivalent of a toddler. He needs to explore and be encouraged to explore. This is something the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association have always acted upon. A potential Guide Dog is placed with his new ‘Puppy Walker’ at 6 weeks of age and immediately is taken into the big wide world, on public transport etc.  Ask yourself the following question “Why are Guide Dogs so rock steady, reliable and unphased?”

Would you shut a new born baby in a cupboard until he was 3 years old and then expect him not to be terrified of everything he encountered. Of course not but that is the equivalent of keeping your puppy confined, either at the breeders premises or in your home until 14weeks of age, that is 2 weeks after his last vaccination. The secret to a happy, well balanced puppy/dog is to take him out and about with you as soon as you get him home. In the car, visiting friends, meeting safe doggy associates, other animals, take him to the school gates, let people stop and talk and fuss him, take him on public transport. In short show your puppy the outside world, the world in which he is expected to live. This does not mean your puppy should be placed on the pavement or allowed to mix with strays in the local park. CARRY your puppy on these first exciting adventures, when he is fully vaccinated he can continue on his own four feet. By this time you will be very surprised how few people now want to say “hello” to your pup, who by now looks quite adult, rather than a cute fluffy puppy.  

A well trained, well socialised dog is a pleasure to own and a great ambassador for his breed, one that is not is a liability.        

REMEMBER HE IS YOUR DOG AND IT IS UP TO YOU HOW OTHER PEOPLE TREAT HIM.