Compared to other animals, dogs are still more popular in raising as pets because of the various characteristics that humans love. They are not only loyal, adorable, but also brilliant.
And sometimes, the facts about them also make us feel interested and help us more understand this species.
There are a host of pictures that can act like a dog’s journey movie where you can get into the real facts and learn about the life cycle of dogs. It adds to your knowledge of dogs and their behavior at different stages of their life so that you can cope with the real-life situation while rearing your own puppy.
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So, do you fully know about the natural life cycle of a dog? And how should you raise them in each stage?
Find out the answer in this article. We will give you knowledge about the life cycle of a dog as described by a dog lover.
What is a dog’s life cycle?
Introduction
The lifespan of a dog will vary by species. However, for dogs that are popularly raised, they can live for less than 10 to 20 years. And the stages in their life cycle are the same, including the Embryo stage, Puppy stage, Adolescent stage, Adult stage, Senior stage, and finally Death.
Therefore, we will analyze these periods as calculated for the more common species. The following is a table of age measurement for dogs by each stage.
#1: Embryo Stage
For medium-sized dogs, from conception, puppies will be in the womb for about 58 to 68 days.
For small-sized dogs like Chihuahua, Japanese, Beijing, etc. and those with less than four calves/litter such as Rottweiler, Golden, etc., it will take more than 2 months.
Just like humans, initially, fetuses in dogs begin to form an implant in the mother’s womb. The development and completion of the basic functioning of the puppy’s body start from 6 months of pregnancy. So, when the puppy is still in the womb, you need to provide enough nutrients for both mother and babies to be healthy and develop normally.
In particular, after six weeks of pregnancy, you should change the diet for the mother dog from 2 meals to 4-5 meals a day with the amount of food unchanged. Besides, it’s essential to supplement the two foods that are good for blood and bones – beef and duck eggs at 1-2 meals/week.
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#2: Puppy Stage (0-12 months old)
This is the first phase, but it is very important because it will affect the social skills of the pet. Therefore, you should let the puppies live with their siblings for at least the first eight weeks of life.
A puppy should be with his siblings until 8 weeks old
After birth, the mother will feed the babies entirely with breast milk, and after two weeks, the puppies can taste and smell.
If you are taking care of a newborn dog, you probably expect him to open his eyes. However, you will have to wait for one month. At this time, puppies also start to develop hearing and smell. Their teeth begin to grow as well, so you can feed them washy porridge.
In the first six months of the life cycle of a dog, puppies will need 2-4 times more food compared to adults to grow fast. Foods rich in nutrients such as fish, meat, and eggs should be included in your dog’s diet.
From 3-6 months old, puppies start to learn hierarchy in their herd because they often compete for each other when playing and eating.
#3: Adolescent Stage (10 months – 2 years old)
After 7-9 weeks, they complete their senses and play more. Later, they begin to explore their surroundings. Therefore, you should create conditions for them to go out to nature more.
At one year of age, if the dogs are not taken to the veterinary to have an ovary removed (female) or castration (male), they will go through a period of oestrus.
You can notice signs of puberty in pets. They also start to become more aware of gender differences in species and change behaviors. Sometimes, you can feel annoyed by dogs being very stubborn and naughty. However, it is reasonable because their hormones during this period are more active.
In particular, this is the right time for you to train your pet. They can perceive and very curious. In addition to the herd, they can also learn from their owners. You can teach them to eat, sleep, pee in the right place and many other lessons.
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#4: Adult Stage (2-7 years old)
Depending on different species, after 1-2 years of age, dogs begin to act more mature. At this time, they will still run and eat a lot, but you will no longer have headaches and be busy because of them.
Instead, your pets have been fully trained and become more obedient. You will feel the affection of your dogs every time you pet, feed them, or take them for a walk.
You can also teach them more advanced lessons to train their physical and mental health. Thanks to that, the dog’s life will also be happier.
#5: Senior Stage (6-10 years old)
Growing old is indispensable in a dog’s journey. They start this period from 6 years of age, while smaller species will experience it 3-4 years later.
The sign of a dog entering the senior period is that their functions are impaired. They move more slowly, eat less, and get sick more. Some will have hair loss or ragged.
As they get older, most of their time will be for sleeping. Some may even have poor memory or the inability to excrete themselves and have to use diapers, etc.
Someday, you may find your dogs no longer excited every time you return home from work. But it’s not because they are not happy.
So, please love them more and more.
To Sum Up
From the lesson about the life cycle of a dog as described by a dog lover, you’ll have the chance to get closer to your loyal friend. Above all, you can raise him according to each stage of maturity, helping him become a good dog.
If you need further guides on dog training, feel free to contact us or visit our website. We would surely hope that you will share the article with others if you find it useful. Thank you.
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