What is the Right Age to Adopt a Puppy?

The recommended age at which you should adopt a puppy is closely related to the puppy's socialization. This stage begins at around three weeks, after the neonatal period is over. Although it will continue throughout the dog's entire life, between this time and three months of age is the most vital to their development. This is a phase known as the ‘sensitive period’ as this is the time when they are most impressionable. They learn canine body language, how to play, recognizes friends, discovers their environment and understands when play starts to become aggressive, among other behaviors. The basic timeline for puppies goes like this:

• Birth
• 0 to 3 weeks: neonatal period
• 3 to 8 weeks: sensitive period
• Up to 12 weeks: socialization period
• 3 to 6 months: ranking period

This is why the minimum age to adopt a puppy is after 8 weeks of age. After this time they have already started to socialize with their mother and friends, but are still able to adapt and recognize new individuals, sounds and environments. While it is incredibly important to leave them with their mother for this time (it is possible for there only to be one in a litter), it is also important to start to socializing with people. This means interaction, physical manipulation and giving affection. Without it, it can be difficult for a puppy to adapt to human guardians.

While 8 weeks is the minimum, many sources state that pup and mother should stay together until 3 months. Up to 3 months is when the puppies start to refine their physical skills and will start to be influenced by human companions. It is also the time when they start to recognize fear. This is why positive is very important, especially at this young age. Even inadvertently imbuing fear at this time can be detrimental to the dog as it grows.

After the socialization period comes the ranking period. As dogs are group animals they begin to assert a collective group dynamic. This means there will be some dogs which are seen as leaders and some which are followers. When you put a human into this dynamic, they adopt them into the order. Most often a dog will be subservient to the human, but not always. After this period is their adolescence where they continue to develop with training and education being very important.

Adopting a puppy too early at an inappropriate age can cause the appearance of various behavioral problems. They do not always manifest themselves, but it is much more likely to happen. They usually occur when an early separation occurs, but it is also possible to happen after a late separation. It is important to note that early or late separation is not the only issue related to behavioral problems. Quality of care, genetics and learning are also factors.

Here are the most common behavioral issues which may develop:

• Premature adoption: adopting a puppy less than two months of age is not recommended at all. As well as seriously hampering the socialization process, it interrupts the breast feeding and weaning stages which are very important for their physical health. If adopted to early, a dog might not know how to recognize other dogs, other animals and humans. Not knowing how to interact with others can lead to fear which fosters stress. This, in turn, can lead to self-harm or aggression. Another consideration is that they will not know bite inhibition or the limits of play. This can lead to a dog causing harm, even when they believe themselves to be only playing.
• Late adoption: on the contrary, adopting a puppy after three months of age can induce its own problems. After this time, the dog may have become so used to its early environment, they may struggle to adapt to a new one. This can lead to poor interaction with others and can cause stress and fear. However, there are many reasons why a dog might need to relocate or adapt to a new environment and there are ways to help them through the process.

If we observe the appearance of behavioral problems in a puppy, we should take them to a professional as soon as possible. A veterinarian will be able to rule out an underlying pathology as the cause. Canine ethologists and dog trainers will help find practical ways to help lessen these negative behaviors.

To ensure an adequate adaption of a puppy to their new home, we must make the right considerations. These begin before the puppy arrives and it is important to consider both the emotional, practical and monetary impact this will have on your home life. You will need to buy basic necessities including:

• Bedding
• Water bowl or drinking fountain
• Food bowl and food
• Toys
• Collar and tags
• Vaccination schedule
• Deworming schedule

Don't forget that a puppy has specific dietary needs. This means you will need to buy special food which will bolster their nutrition as they develop and grow into their adolescence. We have more information on the site if you want to know more about how much to feed a dog at different stages of their lives.

As responsible owners, we also need to inform ourselves about the appropriate education of puppies. This involves the use of positive reinforcement, understanding basic commands and respecting canine body language. If we don;t educate properly, this can also lead to behavioral issues in later life.

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