Fear periods…What are they?
For the first two months of life, puppies are supercharged exploring the world with their mother as their safety net. The calm presence of mum reduces the stress hormones produced, helping them to explore more.
Roughly between 8-11 weeks of age, their first “fear period” occurs. This period’s timing and intensity vary in different individuals and breeds. It likely correlates with the development of the “fear centre” of the brain – the amygdala.
This time is also within their “Socialisation period”, which spans 3-12 weeks of age. During this time, events that occur can have longer-lasting effects on the puppy than if the same event happened at a different time.
What does this look like?
In the first two months, they will likely approach anything or anyone new with much interest. In the fear period, they are more cautious; they may look and watch more to assess the situation before acting and taking their time before approaching. They may even decide to move away or not approach.
Another one? Afraid so, the second fear period:
This occurs around 6-14 months of age, the timing and intensity varying with each individual.
Not as much study has been done on adolescent dog development as on younger puppies. However, this fear period is considered to occur due to their neural system balancing between independence and social dependence.
During this time (6-9 months), there is the highest risk of relinquishment to shelters, which is unlikely to be a coincidence.
What you may notice in your dog during the second fear period:
- Hesitant to approach things – new or familiar.
- Reluctant to approach a stranger.
- Becoming very still or freezing when approached by a person or dog.
- Previously learnt behaviours seem to be forgotten.
- Increased independence and interest in the world around them = reduced recall.
- Easily distracted.
During this time:
- Young dogs are susceptible to one-off learning events, affecting their long-term behaviour.
- Their communication (body language) can be quite different from adults and so often misunderstood. This can result in our well-meaning interactions being scary for them.
How can we help?
Overarching concepts to follow:
- Watch and learn their body language – tail position, ear position and facial tension all give us clues to how they are feeling. If you haven’t done so yet, take the time to learn about what different dog body language means. You might be surprised by what has changed in our knowledge over the last few years. – Watch this space for Kalmpets Dog Body Language Webinars.
- Avoid punishment – if they are already feeling unsure, by escalating our input (e.g., yelling or a stern voice), we are only making them feel more uncertain or scared about that situation rather than better.
- A fearful event can have lasting effects on their learning – seek help promptly if any significant events occur, such as a dog attack or other traumatic experience.
- Manage your expectations and have patience. Some things may take a little longer than previously. Your dog is still taking in a lot about the world. For example, they may stop and look around more on a walk – let them take in the sights and smells for a moment before encouraging them to keep moving.
- Less is more
- One interaction with a calm dog is better than ten dogs with a wide range of social skills.
- Provide lots of opportunities to chew, sniff and rest at home rather than trying to have loads of outings. It is easy for your dog to feel overly tired during this time, and we all know how hard it is to manage our emotions when tired.
More specific tips:
- Advocate for your dog – If you notice they are staying very still, lowering their head or backing away in response to another dog or someone trying to pat them – Make sure you speak up for them and give them more space until they are ready.
- Work at the distances the puppy is comfortable in. If they can remain calm around another person at 10 meters, chill at this distance rather than forcing them to approach.
- Any behaviour change could also be caused by something sore or painful. – e.g. an ear infection, muscle soreness or nausea – Always consider a check-up with your vet if there are any sudden changes or ongoing concerns.
- For anyone handling your dog – including you, your friends, and your vet – Ask them to take it slow with your dog, watch their body language, and let them choose to approach when they are ready rather than move directly towards them. Let them get used to new spaces first before touching them.
When to seek further help and assistance:
- If your dog is barking, growling or snapping at new people or dogs.
- If their behaviour is escalating.
- If they take more than a few minutes to recover – e.g. cowering under the table for 15 minutes when you have a visitor or barking and not approaching a new object at home for more than 5 minutes.
- They do not want to return to a place where something scary happened – e.g. if another dog barked at them and don’t want to go to that part of the park anymore.
- If you are unsure if your dog’s behaviour, it is always best to reach out.
Kalmpets has solutions to suit each dog’s individual needs. Click here to get support for your dog’s behaviour problem today.