Cavapoo
Cavapoo Puppy Development: Week by Week
Puppy development happens in defined stages. Here's what's happening in your Cavapoo puppy's brain and body from birth through the week they come home.
August 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Why Development Stages Matter
Puppy brains develop in distinct windows, each one shaping the dog they'll become. Understanding these stages helps you recognize why we wait until puppies are at least 10 weeks old to send them home, and why what happens before that week is as important as everything you do after.
Weeks 1–2: Neonatal Period
Newborn Cavapoo puppies are completely dependent. Eyes and ears are sealed. We practice Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) — five brief daily exercises shown to improve stress tolerance, cardiovascular function, and learning capacity.
Weeks 2–3: Transitional Period
Eyes open around day 14, ears open around day 21. Puppies begin standing, walking wobbly, and interacting with littermates. Teeth begin erupting. First social learning begins.
Weeks 3–7: Primary Socialization Window — The Most Important Phase
This is the critical window. Whatever a puppy encounters here is filed as normal. Our puppies during this window meet children, men, women, experience varied flooring, hear appliances and outdoor sounds, ride in cars, and are handled extensively for ears, paws, mouth, and body.
First Fear Imprint Period: Weeks 8–11
A sharp scare during the fear imprint period can create lasting associations. Your puppy's first week home should be calm and positive — no large parties, loud events, or overwhelming environments.
What 10 Weeks Ready Means
- Fully weaned
- Two sets of vaccines complete
- Deworming protocol done
- Socialized to household sounds and varied surfaces
- ENS program complete
- Littermate social learning complete