Have you ever hear about the "Fear Periods" in dog training? Have you ever wondered what it means and how it applies to your dog?
The fear periods are times in the juvenile canine's developmental process where interactions have a deep impact. Sometimes experiences during these times can lead to phobias down the road.
Fear periods are usually (general guideline for each puppy) range from 8-10 weeks; 16-20 weeks; 6 months; 10 months; 14-18 months. Not every single puppy will go through a fear period during one or more of these times, but I think it's important to at least be aware of these typical time frames and be on the lookout for any changes in your pup's behavior. Fear periods - how to recognize them: if the pup is all of a sudden afraid of something they were fine with before - be it a situation, person, object. "Afraid" can be retreating mode - backing away, running away, cowering - that kind of behavior. Or it can be seen with more "go away" behaviors - growling, showing teeth, etc. Or, it can be a mixture of both - cowering and showing teeth or any mixture of conflicting signals.
So what does all of this mean to you? Well, it means during these times when you see these reactions in your puppy to be extra patient, extra slow, and extra kind. It does NOT mean that you keep your puppy in the house and "protect" it from all of the things that are scaring it. During these times it is recommended that you consult a dog trainer for tips to successfully help your puppy through these learning periods. Remember, just because we are scared does not mean that stop going out into the world!
