Puppyhood Eyes open between about 10 and 12 days. Usually 3-4 week-old puppies start to look for food additional to the milk from the mother. (Some bitches regurgitate food to this stage and this may be eaten by puppies as a normal happening). Weaning occurs at about 6 - 7 weeks.

Teeth erupt earliest in large breeds. Temporary (milk) incisors, canines and cheek (pre-molar) teeth are appearing from about four weeks. Permanent incisor teeth erupt between about two and five months and permanent canine and cheek teeth (pre- molars and molars) from four to seven months.

Sexual maturity. A male is not usually capable of siring puppies till he is about nine months old. A female will accept the dog when she is about seven or eight months old, but she is only sexually receptive during limited cycles, known as 'oestrus' (estrus) 'heat' or 'season'.

Oestrous cycle. The bitch first comes 'into oestrus' ('on heat', 'into season') at about seven or eight months of age. This lasts about three weeks and usually occurs twice yearly. She starts by becoming playful and perhaps disobedient. There is a slight discharge of mucus through the swollen vulva. Dogs are attracted but not allowed to mate (serve). The discharging mucus becomes bloodstained and reddish- brown after about 3-5 days. The bitch seeks the company of other dogs and is difficult to keep under control. She still does not allow mating.

In 3-4 more days, the discharge becomes almost colourless and more sticky. Mating (service) is now allowed. This is about twelve to fourteen days from the first signs of the cycle. It is the time of true oestus and may be called the period of desire.

After about another week the discharge disappears, the vulvas swelling subsides and this oestrous cycle is over.

Mating. Swelling of the sex organs (genitalia) during mating may cause the male to be 'tied' or 'locked' to the female for up to half-an-hour even though he dismounts. This is quite normal and the animals should be left quietly alone till they separate naturally.

Gestation. Pregnancy lasts about 63 days and when parturition (birth, whelping) is imminent the vulva swells and may discharge slightly. Milk production (lactation) usually begins and the bitch prepares a bed or nest in which to whelp (have puppies).

Pseudo-pregnancy. This condition of false pregnancy which occurs in some bitches is quite normal. Although not pregnant, the bitch may behave as if she is. In some cases the mammary glands enlarge, occasionally producing milk. A whelping bed may even be made.

An average quiet adult dog on a normal day has:

Temperature of about 38.5 C (101.5 F) taken just inside the rectum.

Pulse rate of 80-120 beats per minute at the femoral artery adjacent to the vein inside the thigh.

Respiratory rate of 10-30 per minute.