Recently someone posted a developmental chart on here of the stages a puppy goes through in those first weeks and months and it was really eye opening for me.
It is not just the "health" of the puppy that is to be considered but the "training" and "schooling" really that a puppy gets from his mother and littermates from 8 to 12 weeks. They learn about how to get along in the pack, pack behavior and other "rules" for getting along with other dogs and people that we cannot teach them and that after a certain age is impossible to teach. They learn how to " bite playfully " with other dogs so as to not hurt them, how to "be submissive" in the right situation to avoid getting attacked and a lot of other behaviors that...if they miss, they suffer for their entire lives in some areas. This is partially how shy, timid, fear biting, overly aggressive or dogs with other behavioral are developed I think. Once it happens, it is hard to correct.
I will try to locate the chart and post the link again because this is an important issue.
