Young Puppy Owners Must Read:
Puppies at 8-10 weeks old approx, are going through peak stress levels as part of their young development (this is normal). This is the time whereby most owners pick their new puppy up & take them home. THIS is certainly NOT the time to be leaving them to cry it out, go off to work for hours, be left alone because ‘they have to get used to it..’ . Despite what others tell you this is not ok, it is an old school myth, & is really inappropriate for a little puppy. Time alone & short absences should be built up as puppy grows in confidence & they start to feel safe in their new environment. We should not be underestimating the needs of young puppies, they are vulnerable, insecure & need sufficient maternal care. Science has identified puppies that have been left to cry for long periods at a time experience a critical change in their brain. The change is due to elevated rates of crying & distress, elevated rates of the stress hormone, & their cry’s continually left unanswered. It’s sad to say the puppy eventually stops crying not because they ‘are used to it’ but are greatly traumatised & distressed physically, emotionally & mentally so learn to give up. The puppy learns it serves no function to cry, which is backward to what they should be doing, as they should be getting a response from the mother/caregiver. This is part of normal development for a young puppy to feel & behave this way. -Being left to cry for hours on end may lead to the puppy/dog having future trouble coping with any form of stress, recovering from traumatic events, & can have emotional & behavioural outbursts due to the lack of early maternal care. Thus resulted from an unmet need & change in the developing puppy brain. (These symptoms often go unnoticed as most owners don’t know when there dog is stressed, & think these behaviours are part of their dogs character). A young animals developmental needs are a result of natural selection & evolution- to survive & pass on successful genes. Ensuring young animals cry for there mother/caregiver, follow them around, & are very needy etc. Because ultimately if they did not do this they would die (evolution has ensured baby animals cling to their mother to survive; particularly mammals in this instance). (ALSO The reason why as humans we respond to a crying human baby or an animal’s cries, we are also emotionally & mentally programmed to respond, help, care, & mother a distressed being.. That’s Evolution Baby!!) Think about it...: •Human babies •Baby birds •Farm animals •Cats •Monkeys/apes •Whales •Dogs! Etc…. Take home message: ❌ Do not listen to others. ✅ Understand puppy developmental needs ✅ Use updated & scientifically based research. ✅ Seek professional support & guidance, that is what we are here for. (Qualified professional behaviourists & trainers- check credentials) Sarah MSc is a young puppy specialist, specialising in puppy behaviour, developmental stages and milestones, and behavioural challenges. GET IN TOUCH IF YOU HAVE A NEW PUPPY AT HOME, SARAH CAN HELP 💛 . Sarah MSc, Applied Animal Behaviourist. July 2022. Comments are closed.
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