The life stages of dogs
From an adorable little pup to a golden oldie, dogs go through several stages of development that each bring forward certain needs, behaviours and challenges.
What are they and when do they come about?
Puppyhood (approx. 0 to 6 mths)
A puppy is not a blank slate. Even before she is born, her genetics, her mum and dad's circumstances and other factors determine how she will experience the world around her and develop in it. Time with her mum and littermates is also crucial, and of course so is everything that goes on in her new home. It's important for us to understand that we tend to take pet dogs away from their litters much earlier than nature intended, so we need to be willing and able to at least partially replace what they lost. Puppies learn all the time, and the most important thing they need to learn are not rules and commands (in fact, too much of those will cause lasting harm). The most important thing they need to learn is that they are safe. They need to explore the world at their own pace and know that we are there to help and support them whenever they need us.
Adolescence (approx. 6 mths to 2 yrs)
Just as we do not jump from childhood straight into adulthood, dogs do not morph from puppies to adults all in one go. In between, there is the dreaded time of adolescence. It is pretty much the same as with humans. Turid Rugaas once said "it belongs to this age to test and protest". And they do - as they should. As their human guardians it is best we take everything with a hefty dose of humour and to remember that this is biology at work. Their brains are still growing, with some parts rushing forward and some lagging begind, their hormones are doing what hormones do best (causing havoc), their attention span is unbelievably short and so on. If we have set a good foundation of trust and cooperation in puppyhood, our sweet dog will come back - or at least parts of her - after the roller coaster has run its course.
Adulthood (after approx. 2 yrs or more)
We say a dog is an adult when her brain fully develops. This happens around 2 years of age - or even much later, especially for large breeds. At this point she is able to better predict the consequences of her actions, which will surely delight carers who have just gone through their dog's adolescence. Adulthood is a time when a dog will benefit from having a purpose. Dogs have worked with and alongside humans since the dawn of their domestication, and they enjoy taking part in their family's life and performing tasks they are good at. Our job is to understand which tasks are actually well suited for dogs and which may go agaist their nature, and to find ways for our adult dog to feel fulfilled and included. This may take many forms, from participating in gardening chores to taking up scent tracking.
Seniorhood (timing depends on dog)
It is impossible to pinpoint when a dog becomes a senior. This stage is mostly determined by their health and how it impacts their daily needs and routines. Generally speaking, smaller dogs live longer and become seniors later than larger dogs. It is important to notice health challenges as they arise and not to simply brush changes to our dog's abilities or behaviours as "getting old". If we look into what is happening, we can support our dog's quality of life for many years. At the same time, we should keep in mind that older dogs still have the same phychological and mental needs as adults in their prime. They still need to feel included, they need a sense of purpose, company, novelty and mental stimulation. We just need to adapt their activities to the changing needs of their bodies. Last but not least, seniorhood is a time when our bond with our dogs is often the strongest, their demeanor the sweetest and the memories we make together cannot be surpassed.
