The American Leopard Hound is a purebred hunting dog that was bred for hunting hogs. It is a beautiful dog with either brown, yellow or blue eye color. Their coat is spotted with white, merle, brindle, black, blue, and other colors.

The American Leopard Hound gives birth to 5-8 puppies at a time. It is important that you know the puppy’s behavior in different stages, so you can provide the required nursing and training for them.

Newborn Puppies

The American Leopard Hound puppies are not able to see and hear as soon as they are born like any other puppies. The completely depend on their mother from warmth to defecate as they cannot generate heat and feces on their own. They should not be taken away from their mothers because they can die soon. They need their mother’s milk which contains colostrum which is rich in antibodies that protects the puppies from any serious disease.

Neonatal Stage (0-2 Weeks)

In this stage, the American Leopard Puppies need a lot of sleep and they should only wake to drink milk. Sleep helps them to grow and by the second week, the puppies grow twice the size. The mother keeps them warm and licks their tummy so the belly stimulates to defecate.

They should be left to their mother from cleaning to eating and bathing should not be done for a few weeks. Keep the mother in a warm place and provide proper food so she can do the same for her puppies.

American Leopard Hound newborn Puppies
American Leopard Hound newborn Puppies.
Image Source: Ault Field – AmericanListed.com

Transitional Stage (2-4 Weeks)

The transitional stage is an important phase for the American Leopard Hound puppies as it is the period where the physical development advanced. Their sealed eyes start to open in 10-12 day but they will not be able to see things clearly. They can hear sounds and noises around their surroundings at the end of the second week. This is the period where they start to get familiar with the environment and get to know their mother and other littermates.

Between 3-4 weeks, the puppies start to take a little walk slowly, wag their tail, and bark in a low, cute voice. The mother has a great influence on puppies at this time. They copy her behavior and follow her guide.

Socialization Stage (4-16 Weeks)

By this time, the puppies can see clearly and starts walking, running around. This is a time when they get scared easily but are also mischievous. It is a perfect time to socialize them and expose them to the outside world besides family. The socialization should be done carefully as it is a time where they accept anyone around them as their family members. Take them to a park and introduce them carefully to human beings and canine.

American Leopard Hound puppy in a car seat
American Leopard Hound puppy in a car seat.
Image Source: Fallinpets

Juvenile Stage (4-6 Months)

This is the stage where the puppy required reward-based training. They are curious at this age and want to explore the things around them. The teeth will grow and their biting and chewing increases. It is natural that they bite and chew things which are due to their growing teeth that cause itching. You can control their biting and chewing behavior by giving them dog toys and manufactured bones.

Adolescent Stage (6-12 Months)

This the time where you American Leopard Hound loses the puppy face and gains an adult look. In this stage, they are physically and sexually matured where they experienced their first heat. However, breeding or mating at this age is not good for their health and should be involved when they are 2 years old.

American Leopard Hound Puppies With their Mother
American Leopard Hound Puppies With their Mother.
Image Source: Goldenacresdogs.com

Training should be done with new tricks and commands. They should be enrolled in agility for mental stimulation. Although they look matured and adults, they still bear their puppy behavior which will stay for some more months. Provide them with required supplements and diets for a healthy life of your dog.

Visit Doglime for more information about puppies development.

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