How long is the puppy stage?

Strictly speaking from birth to 12 to 18 months of age are considered puppy stage, giant dogs , large dogs, medium-sized dogs, small dogs are slightly different, small dogs 10 months, medium-sized dogs 12 months, large dogs 15 months, giant dogs 24 months, all belong to the puppy stage.

Puppies are divided into several stages, from birth to weaning, belonging to the lactation period (generally weaned after birth 3-6 weeks); from weaning about 2 months of age to 10 months of age, belonging to the rapid growth period of the puppy; 10 months of age after the beginning of the growth rate of slow growth, growth stabilization; the body is gradually stereotypes, generally in 1.5 years (18 months) or so mature development.

Puppy’s growth and development is a complex process, mastering the characteristics of the puppy’s body at various stages can be a better understanding of the dog. The characteristics are as follows:

Rapid weight gain
Generally speaking, the absolute value of the dog’s body weight can increase with age, but its relative value decreases with age. The weight of adult dogs is relatively stable at a slightly fluctuating level.

Second, there is a certain order of body tissue development
The basic order of growth and development of canine tissues and organs is: nerve tissue – bone – muscle – fat.

The growth of different parts of the body is related to age.
Research has proved that the first three months after the birth of the puppy is mainly to grow the body and increase weight. At this time, the main feature of the puppy’s development is the growth of bones and muscles together, the fastest growth in the second month; in the period of 4 to 6 months to increase the length of the body, but the increase in body weight than the first 3 months faster than the first 3 months; the seventh month, the puppy mainly to increase the height of the body.

It can be seen that, according to the main characteristics of the growth and development of the puppy, can be correctly formulated for the puppy’s feeding management and practical feeding program.

In addition puppies can be based on dental conditions to estimate the age of the dog. Dogs will generally grow milk teeth in about 15 days after birth, two months after the beginning of the incisors, canines, molars gradually replaced by permanent teeth, 8 to 10 months permanent teeth for all, but need to be 1.5 years old after the teeth to grow solid. It’s okay if the dog swallows the milk teeth because they are soft and the dog’s stomach and intestines can digest them.

Have you learned how to determine the age of your dog?