THE PROGRESS PERIODS

The complex social life of the dog and his systems of communication with his kins, imply the training realized during the first months of his life. As is the case with all the animals, a puppy comes to this world with a certain number of inclinations to certain behaviour and reactions, which were previously established by its genetic inheritance and the informations which it had received during its intrauteral life. The development of its behaviour was the subject of many studies, which have given us 3 different periods starting from birth: the neonatal period (from birth up till the 14. day, in average), the transitional period (from the 15. day till the 21. day) and finaly, the period of socialization (from the 22. day till the end of adolescence). All the dates given as to determinate the age of puppies during the different periods of growth are only indicative, they may be increased in case of giant breeds which grow slower.

THE NEONATAL PERIOD
It starts from the moment when a puppy is released from the membrane of foetus. A little animal brought to world this way is fully depending on its mother. Its nervous system is not yet completed. Sceletal muscles are still only partially enerved, which highly limits the puppy's ability to move and to strike positions. This all changes at time the puppy is at age of about 14 days, when eyes get opened and the sense of sight begins to develope.

THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD
This period starts when eyes get opened. They are not functionable immediately after the opening of eyelids, it will take several days for them to become able to function instead of the sense of touch in different situations when the puppy is supposed to get oriented. Thence the primal reflexes will begin to vanish. This is the period when the development of the snensory system is completed, so tasting, smelling and hearing will soon begin to function. The end of the transitional period coincides with the completion of sensory development, which is marked by the appearance of the auditive perception.

THE PERIOD OF SOCIALIZATION
This is the most exciting period in the growth of a puppy. During this long period of its existance, the puppy will achieve all sorts of behaviour necessary for life in the pack – either they consider the rules of hierarchy or systems of communication – and also discover the component elements of the environment in which it lives. One of the important things that the puppy now learns is how to recognise those of his own species. Like all the warm-blooded vertebrates (birds and mammals), a puppy comes to this world not knowing to which of the species it belongs. Only by the special training will it, almost irretrivably, acquire this information. In order to make this possible it is necessary to weave affective relations (devotion) with the one that takes care of and protects the puppy (in normal conditions it is mother) and that the sensory organs function.