Cheyenne's Howl

Printed in Mountain Messenger on Friday April 11, 1997

Pup Development

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Hey, what happened to Spring? The weather was so warm and beautiful and now we're back down to freezing. Actually cold weather is fine by me. I have two coats that I wear all of the time. The under or lower coat is like wool and keeps me plenty warm. The upper coat is made up of long hairs known as guard hairs. When it snows the snow will be held off of my lower coat by these guard hairs and actually freeze over me. This keeps me warm and dry. I prefer to sleep outside and many times when I wake up you can't see me because I am completely covered with snow. Dad made me a really nice house. He took an igloo style dog house and buried it. He then made a stone entrance so it looks like a cave. My roommate, Shawnee, and I both fit inside and we stay plenty warm, even when the weather is below zero.

  As I told you in past columns, we wolves can regulate our body temperatures. The pads of our feet don't freeze because we keep the temperature in our feet just above freezing. Our body works almost like it has built in thermostats and sends warmth where it is needed. The newborn pups, however, are unable to regulate their body heat. They rely on their mother to keep them warm during the first couple of weeks. There are lots of changes in the pups during this time. They develop quickly and their eyes begin to open. Even though the eyes are fully open, they are unable to see shapes. Their keen eyesight will develop over the next several months. At the end of the first couple of weeks, their baby or milk teeth start to come in. By the time they are three weeks old, the puppies are able to hear and eat some solid food. They no longer crawl on their stomachs. They now check in at about seven pounds and are able to walk on all four legs. They are also beginning to have more control over their body temperatures.

During this early period, the pups never leave the den. Their only contact is with each other and their mother. The socialization period begins at this time. Growling and play fighting take place. This helps to establish the dominance relations among the littermates. This social order and group cooperation is learned at an early age, as it is important for the survival of the pack. Emotional attachments are formed and bonds are made between the littermates, and in the weeks to come, with the adult members of the pack. Since I was removed from my birth mother at two and a half weeks of age, I do not remember her. My new Mom and Dad brought me home when I was four weeks old. They are the leaders of my pack and I will always be attached to them. Reinforcement of emotional ties between parents, other pack members, and the pups are extremely important. This is one reason, if you decide to have one of us as a companion animal, why it is so important for you to devote a great deal of your time to be with us. We need constant companionship, love, and respect. If you cannot devote a large portion of your daily time to be with us, please get us a four legged companion. We will all be much happier.

Cheyenne