Puppies respond to warmth, touch, smell.  Puppies cannot regulate body functions such as temperature and fecal/urine elimination.

Puppies' eyes and ears are open, but senses are limited. Tails begin to wag and puppies begin to control body functions.

Sight and hearing senses beginning to function well. Puppies are becoming aware that they are dogs.  Puppies need very stable environment at this juncture.

Puppies are beginning and fine tuning their socialization with one another and the mother.

Puppies have the brainwave of adult dogs.  Puppies have the ability to learn.  Puppies learn by association.  Puppy/human socialization and bonding begins.

Traumatic experiences have extreme effects during this time.  While this period is crucial to the dog/human socialization, care must be taken to avoid permanent learning of fear of human contact.

Puppies are cutting teeth and they like to chew everything. All biting and chewing of inappropriate objects must be discouraged at this time.  At this age, the puppies are developing and testing dominance.  Praise and displays of affection are very effective forms of positive reinforcement for disciplining puppies at this stage.

Puppies really assert their independence at this stage.  Much like children, during this phase, you may wonder if your puppy is temporarily deaf.  The puppies may not come when called or they may not immediately discontinue an undesirable action when reprimanded.  This period corresponds to teething periods, and behavioral problems become compounded by physiological development chewing.