The puppy's develoment is an extremely
important subject for all of those who are involved and dedacated within the
canine world. It is difficult to find complete, precise and practical information
concerning this subject. I ferreted nearly everywhere in books to find more
literature and what I could gathered was collected progressively between my
lectures and my experience as a breeder. Thus I will present to you in parallel
the theory of the various stages of development of the puppy and the actions
which a breeder and/or an owner must take in a day to day life to maximize the
development of his companion.
First of all, we will gather in 4 parts, different periods of evolution of a puppy. The newborn period (0 to 14 days), the transitional period (14 to 21 days), the socialization period (3 to 12 weeks) and the youthful period (12 weeks 'til 1 year). Even inside of the socialization period, we find several stages of development which are important to know and to understand. But let us start with the newborn period.
The
Newborn period
The new Coton owners are very surprised to learn that the puppies are born deaf
and blind. Indeed, they are completely dependent on their mother's care to nurse
them and to maintain their body's temperature.
The feeding frequency is of 7 or 8 times per day, in short periods which constitute
the single activity of the puppy during his first days of life. The rest of
time is devoted to sleeping, which occupies approximately 85% of the 24 hours.
Reflex will help the puppy to eliminate. 
The
mother will deal with these functions by massing the small belly with her tongue
and thus causing the urination and the defecation.
During this period, the primary concern of the puppy is the search of milk and heat; to avoid any cold and pain.
For the breeders, this is a very crucial period, as they have to handle the puppies on a daily basis. Manipulation of the puppies will help their brains to mature faster. While weighting them, it is good timing to turn them around to help stimulate their balance. Caress and contacts stimulates their tactile receptivity. That's way, the puppies can have a better muscular coordination and a better response to new stimulations.
The
transition period
The moment the eyelid opens, it is the beginning of the transition period that
goes from the 14th through the 21st day . 
The
eyes will open between the 10 and 16 day (during that period, it is necessary
not to have too much lighting or too intense) The vision will be functional
on the 16 or 17 day. Consequently, the tactile and olfactive reflexes which
help the puppy to locate the nipple disappears gradually, since they are replaced
by the vision. The first tooth appears towards the 21e day but often a little
bit later with the Coton. The puppy then develops a tendency to put things in
his mouth if he has the chance, will also start biting his siblings and your
finger….
It
moves in an awkward and hesitant way because its coordination is not perfect.
The reflexes of elimination remains present and is always initiated by the mother.
However, at the end of the transition period, the little Coton will start to
defecate and to urinate without the
intervention of the mother, but also without knowing where to do it.. as well
in the nest or outside of it. The puppy is awaked much longer, up to 35% of
the 24 hours, and the activities diversifies. The vision is functional but the
puppy is unable to appreciate the differences in heights and does not seem to
be able to evaluate the distances very well. It is thus necessary to be very
careful because they can fall down from a stair, a table, etc...
The little white ball starts to explore his surroundings and his breeder gives him stimulating objects that will be especially used during the socialization period.
The
socialization period
The socialization period is VERY VERY important for the development and the
future of your Coton companion. We will divide it into 2 parts: from 3 to 6
weeks and 7 to 12 weeks. The socialization period largely influences the future
of the dog… What wouldn't have been learned during this period, will be more
difficult to acquire in the future.
From 3 to 6 weeks
The
beginning of this period is marked by the opening of the auditory canal which
will stimulate an extraordinary increase in social behaviors. During this period,
the little fury white ball is attracted by everything that moves and heard. This
is a very favorable period to establish friendly ties with its siblings and with
other species, such as human, cats, etc... This early adaptation will avoid many
problems later on.
More
and more, the young Coton will play and explored different objects of his environment.
He will acquire his load of experiments. It is thus necessary to provide him
with a maximum of stimulation's. Until now, we maintained with the assistance
of the mother a clean nest for our small friend, free of obstacles. Now, the
cleanliness of the nest is our responsibility as well as the variety of stimulation's
which the Coton puppy will have during the next weeks.
NOW IS THE TIME TO REALLY GET INVOLVE!
Now, will be the time to modify the size of the nest and to divide it into two:
the adventure playground and the rest area. This last must be clean at all times
and covered with fabric, while the adventure playground is covered with paper.
As soon as 4 to 5 weeks old, the puppy will differentiate texture that will
help him to identify the site where he must relieve and thus begin his education
with housebreaking
The
inside playground, as well as the outside playground receives toys which are
different in colors, which produces different noises and
which have a different texture and size. In this space, it is necessary to provide
the puppies with all kinds of things (tunnels, limp of various sizes, the carpet).
In the rest area, they can sleep in a small kennel, as the image of a burrow,
a few days later you can replace it by a small bed, and giving again a kennel
or a bed of different form couple days later….
The most important thing to remember is the fact that as soon as the puppies
are at ease in an environment X, it is necessary to change it and thus increase
their luggage of experiments for the period of time where their capacity of
adaptation is maximum…Also, it is time to take them in various parts of the
house. More, they will have various experimentation, more easy it will be to
adapt them to all kinds of situation in the future.
In
addition to the physical modifications in their environment, it is necessary
to provide the puppies a 
very diversified sound environment.
Music, the noises of the house, songs, slapping of doors, etc…To facilitate
the training of all these noises, I recorded on tapes a lot of difference sounds
that we can hear every day at the city or the countryside. Daily, the puppies
listen at them. All these stimulations are as many assets which are given to
the little Coton for its future life.
At
6 weeks old, the puppy needs more space to play. During playing periods, the
'very lively Coton' learns how to communicate with sounds and visually with
its siblings. Each situation enables him to try out aural signals. He barks,
growls, groans with variety of sounds, each one making sense for the other puppies
of the litter. He also learns how to communicate visually with the movements
of its tail, the position of the ears and the attitude of its body. The puppy
develops his body language. It is a crucial period where the Coton will test
his attitude: attitudes of dominance and submission which the young dog seems
to know as soon as the age of six or seven weeks.
As
soon as five weeks old, it is necessary to take the Coton out, I do not mean
here to take the puppy in public places but to play outside in the garden …
So the little Coton will smell all of his new environment
and learns how to relieve itself outside. As regards the go to public places,
or in the city, many carriage bags are now available in the trade. They are
useful to take the puppy in public places without having them touching the ground
….That little walk will provide a lot of sounds and olfactory experimentation.
During
the socialization period, it is necessary that the puppy meets a lot of people
( man or woman) of differents ages. A good experiment will mean that it will
be easier for the Coton to learn all kinds of things and to be a very good companion
dog.
The Coton wants to do everything and wants to experiment everything's!!!! The breeder· must provide him the maximum of stimulation's! And to be done, · every day, the breeder must worried about answering these questions: · ' What did my Coton learn today? Which kind of new thing did he do?
From
7 to 12 weeks
Beginning with the 7th week, the Coton starts to find other species less attractive;
it becomes more distrustful. After 12 weeks old, the friendly contact with new
species is very difficult. That's why it is important to continue socialization
during these five weeks and in the same time to begin very light obedience training
concepts with the Coton.
During
this same period of time, the puppy will leave for his new family. The new owner
has to be award of the importance of continuing the socialization at home and
to experiment many things with the new members of the family. The preparation
of a few months diary suggesting at each week some activities is very interesting
for the new purchasers. One can find the following suggestions: 
two
outings per week in public places with the puppy, the maintenance of the nails
and the coat, visits in a veterinary clinic, etc…
It is also necessary that the Coton puppy acquires his first concepts of obedience. Here is what he should normally have learn at the end of this period :
His name. He must understand that with a particular sound (either he Fido or
Poupette) he must 'stop, look and listen' he must understand what you want to
say to him.
The word ' NO' means ' don't do that again'. It is so much surprising and funny
to see that one day the puppy understands exactly what such wor
d
means….
The word 'good dog' means ' do that again'. I like the way the puppy answered
a request
The words ' sit, down, come' are other words which the puppy must learn very
quickly to ease his adaptation to his new life .
This period is also the best time to teach housebreaking to the puppy. He must
know when and where to relieve himself . He must also learn to differentiate
a toy and what is not a toy.
The
youthful period
The majority of the researchs are all saying that the youthful period begins
at 12 weeks and goes up to one year. At 12 weeks old begins the phase of avoidance.
From this age, the Coton puppy as to acquire the last behaviors which will supplement
its adult repertory. He can also learn from other behaviors dictated by humans
in courses of obedience. Thus the puppy must know that:
the children are nice
Bite fingers, toes or faces are not allowed.
To ride in car is a positive experience and to remain sitted allows to gain
rewards.
The people like to touch and look at the ears, the throat, the teeth and the
eyes. They like to tighten the legs and to cut the nails…Vets are giving treats
Jump on the people… it is forbidden!
To be groom is pleasant and always rewarded by a treat…
Etc….
As you see, the word ' socialization' does not mean only taking out the Coton puppy once to the vet for the first shots. But a multitude of actions orchestrated in time, and planned according to the physiological development of the puppy. Each stages require its arsenal of toys and stimulating actions. It is possible to support the optimal development of a Coton puppy, but this challenge can be taken up only by one responsible breeder, conscious of the impact of its actions or its inaction on the development of the Coton puppy and by an informed owner who knows what he has to do.
Sara France Saint-Pierre, Nominingue
Québec, Canada
J0W 1R0
Tél.: (819) 278-3952 --- Email: sarafrance@cotonnerie.com