Puppy development is something that many people do not know much about or take too little time to understand so it is done right. Puppies are much like children at first and need special care from first their mother and then their owners. There are seven basic stages that happen after a puppy enters the world.

The first stage happens during the first two to three weeks of life. During this time, puppies start to move around more, open their eyes and become more aware of their surroundings. They also begin to recognize their dog family at this point.

In the second and third stages, a puppy’s development goes through about a month of real growth. Puppies develop their senses fully and begin to recognize their human family members also. Puppies should not endure drastic changes or loud noises as they may develop into nervous dogs. Mothers also start to wean the puppies at this point and shouldn’t be separated too long while handling the puppy. The puppy should also be left with his dog family for as much as possible while beginning light training.

Stages four, five and six range between two to six months in total. During these stages, puppies begin to get more control over their bladder and bowels. They lose their fearlessness most times and become afraid of many things that never bothered them before. Once they grow out of this stage, they reach the rebellious stage and the owner should maintain firm discipline.

The final stage is from approximately six to 18 months. This is when your puppy looks more like an adult dog but still needs training as they are certainly not an adult. Once you've gotten your puppy through these stages, you should have a well-minded and well-rounded dog.