Physically- His new coat will start coming in a
wide strip down his back and by the end of this period, new coat may be
evident over most of his body, though it will not have the length and
thickness of the adult coat.
Your pup may look leggy, lean and "all
ears." His body may appear to grow in spurts, sometimes being
longer than tall and growing faster in the rear than the
front. At times, he may seem very out-of-proportion.
His
stomach can handle bigger, less-frequent meals. His permanent teeth
have usually grown in completely and they continue to grow until around
eight months. This is the most destructive age, when his favorite
occupation seems to be to chew, gnaw, and tear things apart. Let him
vent his natural instincts on appropriate toys and tr to use up his energy
with plenty of exercise and play.
Sometime during five to seven months of age, a second pear
period occurs. Usually, this is just the age at which the owner
wishes to start showing his pup. If your pup is suddenly afraid of
things he previously took for granted, he is entering a fear stage.
This is temporary, and you needn't shelter him from the world. If showing,
you may want to wait a while as you do not want him to associate a
negative experience with show rings or judges! Just
be sure that any new experiences he has are positive. Be patient and
help him develop self-confidence during this stage.
Psychologically- This is a crucial period. In
wild-life, packs are formed at the beginning of winter, when spring-born
pups are five or six months old, and this is the age when domesticated
dogs need replacement activity and, above all, leadership! They start
to develop territorial instincts which can lead to aggressive behavior if
not controlled.
A pup who is always allowed to have his own way now may be
spoiled forever. His budding sense of social dominance and subordination
makes it vital for you to establish your authority without destroying his
self-confidence. Restrict lessons to those requiring energy and
willingness, which he possesses in abundance, rather than self-control
which is practically nil now.
What he needs most - He needs lots of outdoor play,
a generous, drier diet, chewing toys, loving kindness, and a slightly
higher standard of discipline.
