Puppy protection: How long is it valid?
Regarding how long puppy protection applies among dogs, it is important to note another thing: Unconditional consideration for a puppy dog only applies within its pack and not when strangers meet.
In principle, the issue of puppy protection is not too relevant for the owners of a new puppy. Apart from the fact that small dogs only enjoy this protection in their dog family anyway – usually at the breeder’s – by the time they move to their new family, the dogs are usually already too old to still benefit from it.
Puppy protection is valid for this long.
To still enjoy puppy protection, they must be no older than about 14 weeks or a little over three months old. From the age of about eight weeks, however, it can happen that an older dog occasionally puts the cocky youngster in his place – without biting the physically inferior dog, of course. At the latest, after the first 14 weeks of life, however, the relatives of the puppies also expect that the young dogs now adhere to the rules of dog behavior.
Protection only in the own pack
Many people mistakenly understand Puppy protection as a free ride for a young dog. Because older dogs show consideration for him, nothing could happen to the puppy, even if he is sometimes too impetuous or pushy. However, since puppy protection is a behavior that serves the preservation of the species within its breed, only the dogs from the same pack naturally show consideration for the little ones – of course, this does not mean that most four-legged friends are not nevertheless well enough educated and socialized to spare a puppy a bit.
Caution with strange dogs
That’s why it means taking good care of your young dog, socializing, and training him well. Even if your dog still enjoys puppy protection, you should be careful outside or when dealing with strange dogs. Some puppies walk through the world as if they own it. This can go a strange dog on the dog run or the street already properly against the grain.
So that your little ruffian is not overwhelmed by a rushing adult dog and gets scared, you should always ask the owner of the other four-legged friend whether they have experience in dealing with puppies. Injuries caused by annoyed dogs are very unlikely but not impossible.
Therefore, it is best to give aggressive, very rebellious foreign dogs a wide berth so that a dog fight between him and your puppy does not even begin. Because once again: Puppy protection is not a free ride.
