The Transition phase:

This second phase is approximately between 10 and 21 days. This phase precedes the socialization period. The puppies open their eyes, start to crawl around and start hearing. Their eyesight develops slowly.

Around the 3rd week their eyesight is fully developed and their sense of smell also reaches full strength. During this period the puppies explore and play with each other.
The puppies initially drink mother's milk/puppy milk, but towards the end of this phase they are also started on solid food (porridge).

At two weeks the puppies receive their first worm treatment.

Puppies can already become infected by worms in the womb.
Because a worm infection can adversely affect the development of a puppy, it is important to deworm puppies properly. It is important to follow the deworming schedule.

During this period (3 to 4 weeks) the first teeth also emerge.

The socialization period is between 3 to 12 weeks and can be divided into two phases, the imprinting phase (3 to 5 weeks) and the actual socialization phase (5 to 8 weeks).

The imprinting phase:

This is an important period in the life of the puppies. During this period, the puppies explore, play with mother and littermates, respond to loud noises, wag their tails, eat their first solid food and also leave the nest to pee or poop. It is therefore important that the puppies experience as many different impressions and sounds as possible.

More visitors also come to look at the puppies and they therefore come into more contact with people. This is called socializing. This first socialization period must be done quietly so that the puppy can process everything properly.

The puppies are dewormed again at 4 weeks.

The socialization phase:
At the age of 5 weeks, the puppies start eating kibble. The puppy likes to chew on something because the teeth continue to emerge during this period.

At 6 weeks the puppies are dewormed again.

At 5 to 8 weeks, the puppy is taught through play how to behave socially towards its brothers, sisters and other conspecifics. In this way, a 'ranking order' is formed between the puppies in a playful manner. They practice defense and escape behavior.

If necessary, the puppy is corrected by the mother dog. The nest bond is strong but will gradually decrease.

At the age of about 7 weeks, curiosity about his environment starts to gain the upper hand.
During this period, the puppies must be given the opportunity to explore many things and come into contact with different people, children and animals.

It is striking during this period that the puppies try to imitate/adopt the behavior of the adult packmates. Make sure you are able to let them play with a stable dog and keep them away from unstable and more importand, anxious dogs.

During these weeks the puppies have grown well, become more stable in their movements and more mature. They had their first vaccination, has been checked by the vet and is chipped.

He is ready to enter the next phase: home with his new boss.

The socialization period continues with his new owner. His world is becoming much bigger, it is important to take the puppy everywhere so that he can gain as many positive experiences as possible.

During this period the puppy learns very quickly and will not forget this for the rest of his life.

The puppy will now also learn our language, the words 'yes' and 'no' are important in raising your puppy. Never punish the dog for overconfident behavior, it makes him insecure.

At 8 weeks the puppy must be dewormed again.

At 9 weeks the puppy receives its second vaccination. The puppy will go to the vet for the first time with its owner.

During the first examination, the vet always checks the puppy carefully, for example he checks the teeth, the eyes and ears are examined, the heart and lungs are listened to, the abdomen is checked to see if there is an umbilical hernia, the puppy is weighed, if a male is checked to see whether the balls have descended and, if necessary, the chip is checked.

Normaly after the 2nd (12 weeks) vaccination you can take your puppy to puppy training in a group. It is important that the puppy comes into contact with other dogs in the coming period (from about 8 weeks).

We at Happy Dog Country Club start before that age. We start at the age of 7 weeks in a private trainingof 30 minutes. We can teach you and your puppy the most basis things that a dog needs in his life. With this start the next training will be so much easier. A pup is so easy to train all these basics.