Few experiences are as exciting—or anxiety-inducing—as bringing a puppy into your life. As thrilled as you may be to cuddle your new little one, you may wonder how you’ll ever manage to raise this curious, mischievous creature who trusts and depends on you to fulfill all their needs. What to feed them? How to train them? What shots do they need to be healthy? How to keep them safe from harm? 

Fear not—our Skyway Animal Hospital team explains everything you need to know to help you make your pup’s first year a walk in the dog park. Here’s what to expect at every puppyhood stage.

Birth to puppies 4 weeks of age: Welcome to the world!

Your puppy is born! Lucky you—you get to experience a full year of puppyhood. During the first few weeks, your puppy can’t see, hear, or smell, so they’ll spend most of their time sleeping. They’ll gradually begin to interact with their mother and littermates between 2 and 4 weeks of age. They can see now, and their other senses come alive. At 4 weeks, puppies can walk, bark, wag their tail, and eliminate without mom’s help. Their puppy teeth emerge, and boy, are they sharp.

Puppies 4 to 8 weeks of age: Weaning and socializing

As their mother begins to wean them and teach them manners, the puppy begins their social life by romping with their siblings as they learn how to play nice together. This is a good time to expose your pup to the sounds, lights, scents, and motions of home life as it unfolds around them and they begin to explore. Reaching 8 weeks of age marks an important milestone because this is often when a puppy leaves their mom for their forever home, fearful but ready to meet the unknown.

Puppies 8 to 12 weeks of age: Fearful but ready to learn

Whether you’ve had your pup since birth or are bringing them home when they are around 8 weeks of age, expect to deal with a youngster who fears new experiences but is ready to absorb good vibes and embark on a few adventures. Gradually expose your puppy to the new people, pets, and experiences that contribute to their early socialization. If something frightens your puppy, comfort them, and tell them how brave they are. The best thing about this period is that it’s prime time for bonding with you. Your puppy is becoming strongly attached to you as you continue to fall in love with them.

Puppies 12 to 24 weeks of age: Preteens in training

Like a child starting middle school, your puppy is becoming more independent and figuring out their place in the family circle. Personality traits become apparent as the puppy expresses their individuality and interacts with people and other animals socially. Your puppy may seem obsessed with chewing as their permanent teeth come in. It’s time to buy lots of chew toys and hide your shoes and boots. 

At 16 weeks of age, your puppy can be enrolled in school, so you can attend training classes together away from home. It’s also a good time to do house-training and teach your pup basic commands such as come, sit, stay, lie down, and not on the carpet. Introduce the word no in a firm but kind voice when the situation demands it. When school is out, head for the dog park to let your puppy continue building a social life.

Puppies 6 to 12 months of age: Teenagers asserting themselves

Like their human peers, teenage puppies assert themselves in the family pack more and more as they test their limits. Your puppy may disobey and misbehave, but at least they won’t slam doors and yell at you. Walks in the city or out on the trail bring out the explorer in them. Your puppy bores easily and needs stimulating activities, and since pups don’t have thumbs to play video games, you’ll need to entertain them through interactive play and items such as puzzle feeders. 

Your puppy is also sexually mature now. If they haven’t been spayed or neutered, your puppy needs this procedure to prevent pet overpopulation as well as unwanted behaviors and health problems that an intact full-grown dog may have. 

Veterinary care during your puppy’s first year

During your puppy’s first 9 months of life, they are growing rapidly. Your puppy should visit our veterinarian every three or four weeks so that they can check your pup for congenital and breed-specific condition signs. Our team will provide the core vaccines every puppy needs: distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and rabies. We may recommend additional non-core vaccines based on your puppy’s lifestyle and where you live, determining your puppy’s exposure risk to certain diseases.

Our Skyway Animal Hospital team is doggedly determined to help you make your puppy’s first year a joyful adventure. Schedule your puppy’s first-year appointments with our team.