Adopting a Puppy - The Importance of Emotional Well-Being! 08/24/2024 By Kerry S At Pet Haven, supporting behavioral health and well-being is extremely important in raising a well-balanced dog. Each stage (age) of development is an essential building block in a puppy’s journey to becoming a successful family member! Moms play a big part in a puppy's emotional well-being. Our role is to not just remove dogs and puppies from shelters but to also keep them out of the sheltering system. We have a big important job! This is why we choose to wait to adopt out our puppies when they can have the most optimum chance at success. If possible, we keep puppies through 14 weeks for their emotional well-being. 12 weeks for puppies is a HUGE jump in emotional development and as caregivers and stewards of these little lives, its extremely important we all understand the importance of this stage in development. At 12 weeks old, puppies are just becoming more independent and less fearful. They are developing their social skills and reactions. They are also starting to learn right from wrong and are in the process of being housebroken. Having an adult dog and other siblings in the home is key to their confidence and wellbeing. It is very important to remember that a 12-week-old puppy is still a baby and is in the middle of one of the most important socialization periods of its life. During this time, puppies are susceptible to traumatic experiences and can retain fear of people, animals, or objects. Positive experiences are extremely important! They are also very impressionable and can form strong attachments to their fosters so its important to create positive socialization opportunities! Here are some things to expect from a 12-week-old puppy: Playful and curious Puppies are full of energy and will often get the zoomies dashing around the house. They are also starting to focus on people and want your attention, so play with them to strengthen your relationship. Chewing Puppies are getting their permanent teeth, which means they will be chewing a lot. Chewing is one way they explore, so chew toys will be a necessity. This is also considered the peak time for destructive chewing. Sleeping Puppies still need a lot of sleep at this age, around 18 to 20 hours per day, to rest their developing brains. Housebreaking This is a critical time for housetraining, so you should support your puppy with a good schedule and offer plenty of potty breaks. If possible, try to keep a regular schedule so your puppy learns when they will get to go. Boundaries Puppies are starting to test their boundaries, and you may notice aggressive behavior towards people or other dogs. Learning Puppies are learning to loosen their grip, and they may learn from their mother or siblings. For example, if your puppy bites their mother, she may yelp or walk away from feeding to let them know to stop. Without learning these boundaries from Mom, you will see a lot of nipping and biting. Moms Matter!!
