Dog Life Cycle and Stages
A full dog’s life cycle includes puppyhood, puberty or adolescence, maturity or adulthood, and senior status. The specific amount of time a dog spends in each stage varies by breed and size.
Stage 1: Puppyhood
The dog gestation period is between 63-65 days. After this, puppies are born blind and deaf at birth. During the initial two weeks of life, puppies are unable to do anything and are dependent on their mother’s milk. They begin to bond with their mother and siblings. The puppy’s survival depends entirely on the mother. After 3–4 weeks, they begin to move. Sensory power grows, and the puppy learns to see and hear. Puppies start to eat other solid foods besides their mother’s milk.
Puppy weaning, which is initiated by mother, varies by species. Usually, by the end of 8 weeks, the puppy has stopped drinking his mother’s milk and shifted to food. Domestic puppies get all of their vaccines at this point. The puppyhood stage lasts for the first 6–15 months.
Stage 2: Adolescence
The adolescent stage differs among breeds, with smaller dogs often reaching it early. This stage of a dog’s life occurs between the ages of 8 and 18 months, based on breed variety. Hormones start to play a role at this point, and the dog may begin to act like a rebellious teenager.
The dog’s physical and mental attitude began to change as its reproductive hormones take action. The dog loses its puppy fur and grows to adult size. Female dogs go into heat, and male dogs are more interested in sniffing urine to mate with the females. In certain large breeds, the teenage stage might last until the second year of life.
Stage 3: Adulthood
This phase in dogs arrives after one or two years of age, and dogs are easier to control than adolescents. Smaller breeds may develop sooner than larger ones. Female dogs have their first cycle between the ages of 6 and 28 months of age, and it repeats twice a year after that.
This stage involves the dog being trained and practicing the skills given to it by its human partners. Dogs are fully developed as well as active. They like spending time together while going on outings. Their sexual activities are under control, and they appear more relaxed.
Stage 4: Senior
After 6 to 10 years of life, they enter the senior phase. Many dogs have oral difficulties and urinary incontinence. During this period, the dog is fatigued, has a reduced appetite, and take naps during the day. The dog seems inactive, and the muzzle turns gray, indicating aging. The dog’s metabolism also slows, causing it to gain weight. The average lifetime of dogs is 8–15 years; however, some dogs can live for more than 20 years depending on their care, nutrition, and health.
Dog Life Cycle – Diagram and Stages
The life cycle of dog has several stages starting with the newborn stage. Dog lifecycle age is categorized into several stages: puppyhood (0-6 months), adolescence (6 months to 2 years), adulthood (2-7 years), and senior years (7 years and older), with each stage having distinct developmental and behavioral characteristics.
The lifespan of dogs varies greatly depending on breed variety, but the standard lifecycle of the dogs is between 10 and 15 years. In this article, we will cover the life cycle of dogs and the various stages in detail.
Table of Content
- Dog Life Cycle and Stages
- Stage 1: Puppyhood
- Stage 2: Adolescence
- Stage 3: Adulthood
- Stage 4: Senior
- Anatomy of Dogs
- Scientific Classification of Dog
- Conclusion – Dog Life Cycle
- FAQs on Dog Life Cycle