Behavioral study using LH Weimaraners

Puppy Development

A study of early canine development using the LH Weimaraner as a subject. Puppy photo series from the 11th to the 50th day.

Courtesy of Irene M. G. Wordtmann, Germany

As a biologist, Frau Wordtmann is completing her graduate research. She has spent the last 2 years examining the behavioral development of LH Weimaraner puppies (from birth to the end of 8 weeks) to obtain a catalog of the behavioral repertoire.

A series of Frau Wordtmann's articles reflecting this research have appeared in the German Weimaraner Klub Magazine. Please observe the attached photos which display excellent views of puppy behavior, as well as identification of the young and mature LH Weimaraner coat.In Germany today, there are variances in the LH coat re: length, texture and amount of undercoat.

Photo index of Frau Wordtmann's study. Click on the

to view the photo.

11th day: sucking	11th day: a special form of sucking: “stemmsaugen” (Durre, 1994) = press sucking
14th day: early walking	17th day: stretching oneself
19th day: loneliness- howl	19th day: more howling
22nd day: contact- laying	25th day: early trial to eat meat, yum yum
26th day: play behavior, play biting and mouth opening	31st day: typical playface by mouth-opening with play intention
32nd day: clasping (play behavior)	34th day: active submission greeting by a puppy following a play invitation of an adult
34th day: play-invitation of an adult by showing typical playface	39th day: play-fight with agressive elements (ouch that hurt!)
40th day: play behavior, standing over	44th day: sneaking and pointing (chasing dead things is fun!)
45th day: antagonistic behavior element: knit-one’s-bridge-of-the-nose here: shown during a play situation (play face)	45th day: play intention by making a “bow” (Bekoff, 1974)
48th day: bared teeth as an inhibited kind of bite threatening	50th day: mouth wrestling or “jaw wrestling” (Fox, 1970) as a special kind of play game
50th day: play invitation by paw-lay on	54th day: play running