Puppies are now autonomous but are still learning about the world around them. If subjected to physical or psychological trauma during this time, a dog is most likely to develop an avoidance response. Junior had seen similar men in our neighborhood countless times before, had heard leaf blowers, seen hatted men, and said hello every chance he got. it is best to ignore the fear as Pam Dennison recommends. Last update: Sep 10, 2020 1 answer. Me, (thinking, usually….though now I’m not so sure), The men, oblivious to Junior’s body screaming at them, asked, in broken English, all the, I was having flashbacks at that moment. This was a familiar scene with friendly strangers. The first fear period occurs when the puppy is about eight weeks old, which is why it is no longer advisable to take a puppy from its mother at such a critical point. Shipping the puppy or allowing the puppy to undergo elective surgeries (like spay and neuter) at this time is not recommended. It is likely that the onset of sexual maturity and the surge of sex hormones may have something to do with this phase. A puppy experiences another fear stage at four months of age, so be prepared with positive reinforcement and introductions to objects and situations. with fake vaccines (a pen), mock examinations, and known people pretending to be friendly strangers. At this stage, your puppy primarily experiences physical feelings (hunger, warmth, cold, etc.). Use treats liberally while getting in and out and when meeting friendly strangers. This fear period is believed to be tied to the dog's sexual maturity and growth spurts. Never drag or force interaction with a scary object. The Importance of Training Little Dogs. Specifically, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Adolescent Fear Stage. Adolescence brings many changes, including puppy fear stages. Dog Nailpro™ is full. Parenting instincts to soothe may kick in during puppy fear stages, but dogs do not understand comforting like we do. When he suddenly notices the neighbor across the street getting out of his car, or the landscaper in the distance with a leaf blower, and sounds the increasingly high pitched alarm. He was a “man-dog” with a mission. Your email address will not be published. Click here to join the waitlist for open enrollment later this year. This fear period tends to happen between twelve to fourteen months of age. In other words, it still might be a little too early to introduce him to the vacuum cleaner. Control situations so that you can prevent a fearful response and show your puppy that you enjoy the situation. The puppy stage is from birth until rapid growth stops. Common mistakes made during puppy socialization and how to avoid them, Why bringing a puppy home during before 10 weeks old is NOT recommended, and. Let’s make an impact together, creating one bomb-proof big dog at a time. One of the most critical times in a dog’s life, and arguably one of the most challenging, is between the ages of 6-9 months. During certain fear periods, the reactivity level of puppies rises causing him to act defensively, become protective and more territorial. Over 20 years professionally working with dogs, I have yet to see an eight week old puppy that barks at the doorbell or lunges and growls on leash when they see someone approaching. What Is the Best Age to Send Puppies to Their New Homes? When people visit your home during these periods, put your puppy in another room until visitors are settled in, then bring your puppy out on a leash and praise him or her for any show of confidence. This is not a separate stage of development but a component of the Socialization Stage which starts at 3 weeks old. Generally speaking, puppies go through two potential fear periods during puppyhood. Fear stages in puppies and dogs can be confusing to owners. Junior stiffened as soon as he saw them, hair along his back on end, and, to my shock and horror, let out an imperceptible growl under his breath. And we can bump that up to 49% when I add Sulley to that list as well since I flew him home at 8 weeks old. These periods of development are referred to as puppy fear periods or the puppy fear stage as others call it. A storm comes; the puppy runs to hide, and we start talking in a soft voice, offering treats and wrapping them up in a blanket to soothe them. Whew! When going through puppy fear stages the last thing you want to do is scoop them up and pet them. These weeks are a crucial time for the puppy’s brain development. By subscribing to the newsletter, you consent to receive exclusive content and new post updates from Big Dog Mom™. While it is essential to continue socialization through your dog’s life, you want to make the absolute most of this time. Fear periods can also manifest as defensive behaviors such as barking, growling or lunging. If one wandered too far away, she would bring them back. Fear Period in Young Dogs - Part 2. Junior came into the hall, took one look at the “intruder” and did the same thing. The first occurs fairly predictably at around 8-10 weeks of age. But of course, the men were enamored with Junior and couldn’t help but talk to me as we tried to pass…. You can expect your dog … While some of these fear periods go unnoticed by dog owners, in other cases owners are left scratching their head, or worse, responding. These new fears seem to pop out of nowhere. There is increasing evidence that suggests it is better for puppies to remain in the breeder’s home with the dam and littermates until AFTER the Fear Imprint Period to avoid anything that could be interpreted by the puppy as traumatic or scary. Puppy development involves a lot of stages and milestones as puppies grow into adulthood. 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