By Heidi Clayton
I would like to remind everyone that raising a puppy is a marathon, not a sprint. Many people, particularly those with large-breed dogs, tend to equate physical size with emotional maturity. Dogs are not full-grown physically until they are roughly 18 months of age. It’s important to remember that mental maturity can take just as long. Having patience with your puppy and all of the issues that go along with raising them will pay off in the long run.
A very important part of puppy development is recognizing when your dog is going through a fear period. Every dog regardless of make, shape, or size goes through two fear periods in life. The first fear period occurs when the puppy is between 8 and 12 weeks of age. I have found in my own litters of puppies that their first fear period occurs at roughly 8 to 9 weeks of age, which is why I don’t place my puppies in homes until they are 10 weeks. A good breeder will already be safely exposing their young puppies to people, places, and things. They will recognize right away when one of their puppies is suddenly shy or afraid of something that is normally no big deal. My preferred method of handling the fear is to comfort my puppy and give them lots of treats and love when in the presence of what is suddenly scaring them. I also dial back their mental stimulation for a day or so. Most fear periods at this age do not longer than 24 to 48 hours.
The second fear period normally takes most puppy owners by surprise. Most times, you are rolling along raising your puppy, and then suddenly loud noises, cars, the vacuum or even plastic bags that normally do not faze your puppy become the scariest things they have ever seen. The second fear period is typically between 6 and 14 months of age.
I just had my 7-month-old puppy at a trunk or treat event, where I did not expect her to have an issue as she has been to several dog shows without a hint of hesitation. Suddenly, while walking along as happy as could be, she heard loud noises and began to cower and shake. For a puppy that is otherwise on the tip of her toes looking for loud fun, I knew straight away she was entering her second fear period.
First of all, don’t panic when you see it. Your calm and confident manner will send the message to your puppy that they are going to be OK. Comforting a scared puppy is never wrong and does not cement fear because the fear is already there. Telling your young puppy that they are OK helps them learn that looking to you for guidance is safe and that you will help them.
After seeing Kabuki shake, I decided to turn around and take her back to the van where the stimulation was at a lower threshold. I talked to her and gave her treats during the return walk and assured her that all was well. Once back at the van, I let her decide who and what she wanted to interact with.
Never force a scared puppy to confront what is scaring them. Allowing them to set the pace and rewarding them with both food and treats for interacting with the scary thing is the way to go. Forcing a puppy to do something scary can permanently scar them from trusting you.
Once back at the van, Kabuki recovered quite quickly and was happily jumping around and greeting people within about 10 minutes. I made sure to praise her for being happy. I also gave her treats for checking in with me.
The adolescent fear period is a normal part of puppy development. It is an unavoidable part of the emotional development of all dogs. If your puppy starts to display fears, have patience and show them lots of love. Before you know it, it will pass.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
