Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 20:41:32 GMT -8
As everyone knows we’ve recently had an abundance of pups, be them under or over 6 months of age. With this, I’ve noticed a few unknowing of what their pups should be capable of at their particular ages and as such, I’ve devised this guide for them to go off.
I hope you all find it helpful and insightful. If you know of anything to be added, or anything that requires changing, feel free to let me know.
I hope you all find it helpful and insightful. If you know of anything to be added, or anything that requires changing, feel free to let me know.
[⇨ Please Note: 4 Weeks = 1 Month ⇦]
Birth to Two Weeks:↪Most pups are born with dark fur, round heads and are generally unable to regulate their own body heat. They are also born with closed eyes, ears and a ‘plugged’ nose. Due to this, most new-born pups rely on taste and touch to find their food and mothers warmth. Pups have a good sense of balance, though they are limited to a slow crawl in the beginning and are also limited to sucking, licking, whining and yelping.
Weight Gain: Females 2.6lbs, Males 3.3 lbs per week for the next 14 weeks.
2 Weeks to 3 Weeks:↪At around 2.5 weeks, pups finally open their eyes, their eyesight is poor to begin with and as such they cannot perceive most forms. Their eyes also appear to be blue to begin with. Between 2-3 milk teeth should become present, and meat is ‘regurgitated’ and introduced to their diet.
↪Pups will then begin to stand and walk, vocalizing more with growls, whimpers and squeaks alongside a few high-pitched attempts at howling.
3 Weeks to 5 Weeks:
↪At 3 weeks of age, pups begin to appear outside of the den, where they are allowed to play at its entrance. Their ears begin to raise and hearing improves greatly while the tips flop the slightest and their canines and premolar teeth grow in.
↪At 4 weeks of age, adult hair will begin to grow around the nose and eyes and the pups will be noticeably disproportionate with large feet and a large head. Their howls will begin to gain strength and their mother is comfortable leaving them in the den alone while she hunts.
↪At 5 weeks, dominance and play fighting will begin as well between the litter alongside the gradual weaning from their mother’s milk to solid meats.
8 Weeks to 12 Weeks:
↪At 8-10 weeks of age, the den will be abandoned and the pups will be moved to the rendezvous site, their weaning complete pups will feed on any kill the adults bring back. Their adult guard hairs will become apparent and between 8-16 weeks their eyes will gradual change from blue to their adult color, their vision is now clear.
↪At 12 weeks of age, pups will begin to follow the adults on hunting trips for short periods before returning to the den by themselves to wait for the adults return.
14 Weeks to 27 Weeks:
↪Growth will to 1.3 lbs of weight gained per week over the next 3 months.
↪Between 4-6 months (16-24 weeks), milk teeth will start falling out and adult teeth with start to grow in. Their appearance will soon become indistinguishable to that of the adults and the pups will begin to accompany the adults on hunts for longer periods.
27 Weeks to 51 Weeks:
↪At 7-8 months pups growth will slow even further, for females .07 lbs per week and for males .4 lbs per week.
↪The pups will begin to travel with the pack and are ready to actively begin hunting.
↪At 12 months of age their skeletal growth should be complete and their status within the pack should start to take place with their dominant or submissive behaviors becoming clear.
This information has been sourced and based from another webpage, so all rights respectfully go to them.
Link: www.wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-info/biology-and-behavior/pup-development/
Link: www.wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-info/biology-and-behavior/pup-development/