The dependent phase
This brief stage in your puppy’s life is marked by his need to be close to you. It includes the all-important window for socialisation, which we looked at in the previous chapter. Your role during this phase is to make your puppy feel safe and secure in our human world, to teach him to be friendly, and to make the most of the opportunities that your puppy’s dependence offers you. In particular, this is an opportunity to establish a great recall response, and a close bond with your puppy.
The dependent puppy is afraid of losing contact with his grown-ups, so you can place him on the ground just about anywhere, set off in one direction, and he will trot along after you. The faster you move, the more he will want to stay with you, and the more times you change direction, the more he will concentrate on what you are doing. His primary goal is to make sure that the contact between you is not broken. This lovely inherited behaviour was essential in wild dogs, where separation from the family could have tragic consequences for a puppy.
Sadly, many new puppy owners are not aware of this wonderful following instinct that all young puppies possess. Afraid of losing their precious pups, they keep them securely on a lead throughout this period, missing out on the time that their puppy should be spending learning to follow them. They then take the plunge and let the puppy off the lead to give him his freedom for the very first time as he enters ‘emerging independence’. This can be disastrous, because the puppy that is becoming independent may have little sense of danger, and no fear of getting lost.
During the early part of the dependent phase, your puppy is physically quite vulnerable. He tends to cling around your feet and is often small enough to trip over. He investigates everything he finds with his mouth and is open to injury and poisoning if not properly supervised. His immune system is not fully developed and his digestive system is prone to the occasional upset. If he gets sick, he may become dehydrated quite quickly, and if he seems unwell, you should not delay seeking veterinary help.
Just as we do with toddlers, it is easier to care for the dependent puppy if you make a few changes to your home and garden before he arrives. We’ll look at those in the final chapter of this first part of the book.
The dependent puppy is afraid of losing contact with his grown-ups, so you can place him on the ground just about anywhere, set off in one direction, and he will trot along after you. The faster you move, the more he will want to stay with you, and the more times you change direction, the more he will concentrate on what you are doing. His primary goal is to make sure that the contact between you is not broken. This lovely inherited behaviour was essential in wild dogs, where separation from the family could have tragic consequences for a puppy.
Sadly, many new puppy owners are not aware of this wonderful following instinct that all young puppies possess. Afraid of losing their precious pups, they keep them securely on a lead throughout this period, missing out on the time that their puppy should be spending learning to follow them. They then take the plunge and let the puppy off the lead to give him his freedom for the very first time as he enters ‘emerging independence’. This can be disastrous, because the puppy that is becoming independent may have little sense of danger, and no fear of getting lost.
During the early part of the dependent phase, your puppy is physically quite vulnerable. He tends to cling around your feet and is often small enough to trip over. He investigates everything he finds with his mouth and is open to injury and poisoning if not properly supervised. His immune system is not fully developed and his digestive system is prone to the occasional upset. If he gets sick, he may become dehydrated quite quickly, and if he seems unwell, you should not delay seeking veterinary help.
Just as we do with toddlers, it is easier to care for the dependent puppy if you make a few changes to your home and garden before he arrives. We’ll look at those in the final chapter of this first part of the book.
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