Puppies: the first 3 months

Almost nothing is more adorable than a tiny puppy. The little ears! The screwed-shut eyes! But a new puppy isn't just a micro-bundle of cuteness; he also comes with some responsibilities for his owner (and his mom). Lisa Moore's excellent piece on what to expect, and how to work with a little hound, during his first 8 weeks of life is a great starting point for learning what puppies do and need during their infancy. Below, a few highlights.

Until he's about 12 days old, a puppy really can't do anything. He can't see, or hear. He can't pee and poop by himself, or regulate his body temperature; he needs his mom to feed him, keep him warm, and get his systems online. That doesn't mean you can't pick him up, though. Moore notes that "[d]aily human handling" may help your pup manage stresses better when he gets older. (Is your puppy an orphan? Good for you for helping out! Consult closely with your vet to see how to proceed.)

Next up is the "transitional period," which lasts around two weeks. This is when his eyes and ears open and he learns to walk, an often-hilarious process in which his littermates are more hindrance than help. As the puppy's human companion, your job at this point is to get him used to all kinds of stimuli during this period: introduce him to all kinds of toys and furniture, noises soft and loud, different surfaces like grass and carpet, and so on. Exposing a puppy to all kinds of different sights and sensations helps his development – but he should also spend plenty of time with his mom and siblings, to recharge and calm down.

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When he's around a month old, the puppy begins "the first socialization period." The period lasts until he's around three months of age; at this point, he's learning social behavior and interactions, mostly from hanging out with his canine fam. Moore characterizes this as a key time in the development of Little Fido's behavior patterns and personality – it will influence how he acts as a grown-up – as he slowly moves away from Mom and more towards "kids his own age" (his littermates). Playing with his brothers and sisters teaches him key skills like chasing, barking, body language, and how to bite gently. His humans should keep introducing him to new experiences, as the puppy is easily startled during this time and may become noticeably fearful – continued new sensations and environments help him learn the difference between real dangers and loud noises of no consequence.

At the end of the first socialization period, he's about 90 days old and probably ready to leave his litter for a home elsewhere. (Moore reminds us that no puppy should be separated from his bio family until he's 49 days old at least.) Keep up the "learning modules" with new toys, sounds, and surfaces – a car ride to the beach, say, or a Kong – so your puppy continues to develop into a mature and chilled-out adult dog.

This isn't about "training," of course – you should enroll yourself and your little friend in a puppy class to learn basic commands and responses. Also, visit your vet regularly, as these are just guidelines and may not apply to every puppy or every breed across the board.

Anything YOU'VE learned from spending time with newborn puppies? Any slam-dunk tricks, or behaviors to avoid? Share with us in the comments.

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