Adolescence marks the start of a puppy becoming an adult, but depending on the breed – and the individual – this may start at any time from six months and end at 18–24 months.
Like kids, puppies grow! Their fastest growth rate occurs during the first six months, and they typically reach around 60% of their adult height by the time they are four months old.
While an adult dog can continue to develop, especially in terms of training and behavior, over time and through consistent work, puppies have several obvious developmental stages.
While older dogs tend to settle into a predictable energy pattern, with their energy levels depending largely on their breed, especially if your pooch is one of the high energy dog breeds.
A puppy needs to learn very basic skills such as potty training, crate-training, not chewing precious items, not whining when you leave the house for short periods, and socialization.
There is a puppy teething timeline. The first teeth erupt at around two to four weeks. By four to five months, a puppy’s 28 deciduous teeth will start to fall out, to be replaced by permanent teeth.
It’s never too late to socialize an adult dog if these skills have been missed in puppyhood, but it is best to start early if possible.
While puppies are still growing, they should be fed the best puppy food you can get your hands on. This varies according to breed because they have different nutritional requirements.