Puppy

8 weeks +

Puppy

Puppies begin to learn to live with others. Behaviours learned in this phase will have a huge impact on a puppy’s life. This stage sees small and medium breed puppies approaching physical maturity, while large and giant breeds can take 18 months to 2 years to reach their adult size.
German Shepherd puppy sitting in black and white on a white background

Tailored nutrition for your puppy

A range of formulas that help build their natural defences, support healthy growth and digestive system development.

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Puppy Jack Russell sitting outside in grass by a large silver bowl.

Puppy nutrition explained

Puppy Beagle standing indoors eating from a red bowl.

How often to feed a puppy

Puppyhood articles

View all 21 articles
Puppy Golden Retriever sitting on an examination table in a vets office.

Dog vaccination schedule

Young Samoyed dog walking towards outstretched hands in a garden.

Introducing your puppy to family members

Dog Beagle sitting with a white head cone on his head.

Should I neuter my male dog?

Puppy Beagle running outdoors in grass with a dog toy.

Managing your puppy's weight and keeping active

Puppy dog lying down in grass chewing a toy.

Essential items for your new puppy

Puppy dog standing in a large red bowl being washed by its owner.

Grooming and hygiene tips for your new puppy

Puppy Labrador Retriever lying down on a wooden floor and chewing a ball.

Preparing your home for your new puppy

Puppy Siberian Husky lying down on an examination table in a vets office.

Kennel cough in dogs

Puppy Siberian Husky lying down being examined in a vets office.

Your puppy's first visit to the vet

Three puppies standing in a kitchen eating from the same silver bowl.

What to feed a puppy

Adult Weimaraner standing on a beach playing with a Weimaraner puppy.

When does my puppy become an adult dog?

Puppy dog lying down on an examination table in a vets office.

Canine distemper in dogs

Young Labrador Retriever lying down on an examination table in a vets office.

Canine hepatitis in dogs

Puppy Labrador Retriever sitting outside and receiving a treat for the action .

How to train your puppy

Puppy West Highland White Terrier sitting on an examination table in a vets office.

When to spay a female dog?

Young dog sitting on an examination table in a vets office.

Puppy vaccinations: canine parainfluenza virus

Puppy Saint Bernards sitting together in a field.

The key stages of puppy growth

Young Jack Russell sitting in a vets office being given an injection.

Puppy vaccinations

Puppy Beagle standing indoors eating from a red bowl.

How often to feed a puppy

Young Dachshund standing on an examination table in a vets office.

Leptospirosis in dogs

Puppy Jack Russell sitting on an examination table in a vets office.

Parvovirus in dogs

Nutrition

This is a key stage in the physical and sexual development of puppies, so ensuring they are eating food designed to meet the needs of this specific developmental stage is vital. See our puppy nutrition guide for more information, or take a look at our puppy products.

Health

This is a good time to start to set activity and exercise schedules for your pet. Getting into good habits now will aid development and set your puppy up for a healthy future. Speak to your vet about a vaccination schedule and whether you should consider spaying or neutering your puppy.

Development

Much of a puppy's height and muscle growth happens between six to nine months, depending on the breed size. Milk teeth are replaced by adult teeth, and an adult coat replaces the puppy coat. Somewhere between six to 12 months your puppy will begin to lift his leg, or enter her first heat period.

Jack Russell Terrier puppy sitting in garden
Golden Retriever puppy sitting outdoors
Schnauzer puppy playing outdoors

Behaviour

This is the stage where structure, activity and boundary reaffirmation are vital. Puppies have a natural capacity for learning at this age, so it's important that lessons learned during this time need to be adhered to, and training and wider socialisation needs to be maintained. This will help your puppy develop into a confident, well-behaved adult dog.

Environment

Ensuring that your puppy has their own set places for eating and sleeping, as well as a range of toys to play with, will help with natural development and understanding of basic house rules. Exploring a range of outdoor environments and being exposed to new experiences will stimulate learning, breed self-confidence and generate a stronger bond between puppy and owner.

Large and giant breeds

The growth process for puppies differs depending on their breed size. Large breed dogs can take up to 18 months to reach full maturity, while giant breeds are not considered fully grown until 2 years old. Up to eight or nine months, large and giant puppies experience rapid skeletal growth, with the remaining months focussing on developing muscle until they reach their adult bodyweight (70 times their birthweight in large breeds and 100 times their birthweight in giant breeds).

English Springer Spaniel puppy sitting outdoors
Siberian Husky puppies standing outdoors
Great Dane puppy standing in garden
Labrador Retriever puppy sitting in black and white on a white background

4-8 weeks

Weaning

As their eyes begin to open and first steps are taken, puppies begin to explore their new world.

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