Brainwaves and the Newborn Pup
Almost every book one reads on newborn puppies clearly states there are no brainwaves present in these puppies.
When there are no brainwaves present in a human being, they are considered brain dead; they cannot even breathe on their own. Maybe they need to get a machine that can accurately measure puppy brainwaves because they clearly are breathing on their own. They squirm, cry, nurse, pump their little paws against their moms, some of them doing so very loudly. They sleep, wake, and are able to make their way back to mom. If they had no brain waves, clearly none of this would be possible.
When the puppies are born, both their eyes and ears are glued closed. Their mother must lick them to allow them to urinate or defecate which has led some people to say this is proof they have no brainwaves. However, they again are breathing and doing all sorts of activities which would be impossible without brainwaves. Perhaps they are somehow sealed closed in these areas as well or it itsimply that this function of their bodies is not yet all the way developed.
Who is to say when puppies or any animals actually start having brainwaves? A pregnant kangaroo’s fetus is able to climb up her body in order to develop inside her pouch. How would it be able to breath, much less climb without active brain waves? This viewpoint, of course, is not scientific; it is simply logic and common sense.
Because newborn pups can think, imprinting of puppies can begin immediately after birth. This is true especially after the first pup has escaped the whelping bed which usually happens between 12 and 14 days. At this time, different scents can be presented to the puppies.
At birth, they have ribbons of different colors around their necks for individual identification. This is imprinting in itself as these puppies will always view a collar as a natural part of their lives.
By the time they are four weeks old and getting around well, very lightweight puppy leashes can be attached and they will drag these leashes around. They are very aware of the leashes as some pups will actually drag their squealing littermates around the room. The leashes are removed after a few minutes. Leash imprinting makes the puppies also accept the leash as something to be expected and they do not fight it.
Brain waves and intelligence in dogs is a very controversial subject. Even those who believe there is little to no brainwaves in the newborns believe that by 5 weeks, the pup will have the same brainwave activity as an adult dog. By the age of 22 to 30 weeks of age the brain itself is actually identical to the adult dog.
Some studies show the brains working the most effectively first in children, then puppies and then cows. Horses are very low on the list. Anyone who has ever owned a horse and a cow knows there is something very wrong with this analysis.
Maybe we need different ways to measure the brains in different species. So many people who use the findings mentioned in this article will literally avoid the idea that dogs have thought feelings or emotions. As dog owners, we know that isn’t true either.
Cathy Jordan is the Editor of onlinepups4sale.com.au