A puppy's senses begin to awaken in his third week of life. His eyes and auditory canals open so he can communicate with his brothers and sisters for the first time. When a puppy is approximately 21 days old he'll make his first attempts at walking and barking. Within the safety of his family circle, he'll have his first experiences and get to know the complex social behavior of his species. By his fourth week, the puppy's senses are fully developed and he is able to carefully observe his environment. He will examine and sniff everything. At this stage of life, his ability to learn is as great as it will ever be. He can begin to eat solid food from the fourth week on.
Between 8 and 12 weeks, the puppy is in the socialization stage, and can move to a "human pack".
The best time for the separation from his mother and siblings is at 10 weeks of age. When you bring your puppy homeIf you adopt a puppy at about the 10th week, take him to your veterinarian immediately. Your vet will check your puppy's health and will advise you on the right timing for vaccinations and worming.
Your puppy now needs a lot of loving attention to be able to adjust to his new environment and his separation from his mother and siblings. Praise your puppy often and say his name at the same time.
Also, you should set some boundaries for your puppy by using a stern "no" to discourage him from behaviors you don’t want. During this phase of quick growth it is important that your puppy's special requirements for nutrients are met.
Also important during this phase is your puppy's socialization. Give him a variety of experiences such as riding in a car, bus, or on an elevator, and mixing with a variety of people, other dogs, and other animals. This way he'll be an agreeable, strong-minded companion as an adult dog.
(Photo can be found at http://www.petyourdog.com/images/dog%20breeds/bull_terrier_puppy.jpg, content is courtesy of Pedigree)
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