Simply t. urning on this momentary foe is now an invitation to follow me around the house and lay in my path. And fortunately for Big Dog Mom, sweeping has never been easier with these two BFFs. I'd just socialize her around people like any other dog, feeding her yourself and working at safe distances that she'll tolerate. Stiff, hair on end, low growl. A few questions Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums > Doberman Specific Chat > Puppy Corner > 3 month old Mila- crate training and fear of strangers FREE Resources | VALUABLE Information | ALL Things BIG DOG. But, remember, good things come to those who are patient. Even with simple instructions you'll have people that screw it up, not knowing how to give the treat, looming, reaching for her, all manner of crap that you don't want to fix. My 4 month old seems to have developed stranger anxiety suddenly. Unless, her temperament problem is really serious, you can help her, but please start now. Hi everyone, I am only new to this forum so hopefully I am doing it right I have a gorgeous cute puppy called Kerry, she is a cross between a Cocker spaniel and a King charles, she is 9 months old and as i said she is gorgeous, really cute, so easy to train ( sit, stay, come, toilet train etc.) The men, oblivious to Junior’s body screaming at them, asked, in broken English, all the usual questions about Mastiffs. He backs away when they try to pet him, and wont come when they stand next to me. A few days in and he has started to fear other dogs and is aggressively growling, snarling, and barking. But on this day, at 8 months old, like a light switch was turned off, Junior didn’t recognize his “friends” anymore. This can occur in dogs that were separated from their siblings very early on and who don't know any other dogs in their adopted family. Hair still on end. No worries.”. Mastiff Puppy 101: Wild Puppy to Gentle Giant, Guaranteed! Shipping the puppy or allowing the puppy to undergo elective surgeries (like spay and neuter) at this time is not recommended. Things like vaccines, cold examination tables, taking rectal temperatures, placing the puppy on a scale. From agitation to curiosity, he made friends once again with the vacuum cleaner. We walk him, we take him to dog parks. Stay tuned to Big Dog Mom™ for more on puppy development prior to 8 weeks. In early fear periods, you may not notice any change in behavior. See How the Puppy Reacts The pup's response to fear depends on the circumstances and how confident (or not) the pup may be. If people come to our house he won't He's great with us, however he seems to have a huge fear of strangers. While making small talk, I let Junior inspect at his own pace, watching every lip lick, every eye flicker, tail set, stiff body. Your dog may be afraid of other dogs due to a lack of socialization.In other words, your dog didn't have enough contact with other dogs when it was a puppy. She shares her life with her husband, two children, and the inspiration for Big Dog Mom™, her two Mastiffs, Junior and Sulley. By the time a puppy is 10 – 12 weeks old, he will have been accustomed to feeding and grooming himself. This is not a separate stage of development but a component of the Socialization Stage which starts at 3 weeks old. 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. Interestingly, dogs whose genetic heritage has programmed them to be alert and focused outward will often have a more pronounced fear period. So, for example, if a broom falls over and almost hits a puppy, this can lead to an adult dog that’s afraid of anything that looks like a stick. 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. Guys, my puppy is 8 months old and she finally stopped biting! And lastly, consider that most of the social rules are taught and reinforced by mother dogs during weeks 6 through 8. During this time, a puppy is very sensitive to traumatic experiences and a single scary event may be enough to traumatize the puppy and have life-long effects on his future behaviors. And can be directed toward novel (new) stimuli or stimuli met before with no reaction. Whether it’s a 3-month-old puppy suddenly scared of everything or an otherwise outgoing 6-month-old puppy scared of strangers whom they have decided are a threat that must be protected against. Just go on the basic training and they will start barking in no time. Is he friendly?”, Me, (thinking, usually….though now I’m not so sure) “Yes, he’s friendly.”. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is also within this stage that at least 50% [READ: Nature Versus Nurture and the Drivers of Canine Temperament] of the dog’s eventual temperament is developed. Here are a few helpful tips you can use with your puppy during a fear period to ensure you make it through unscathed. Tail slightly curled under. For example, why is he afraid of strangers. Mostly men but pretty much all people. 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. I have a 4 month old Great Dane puppy who is very fearful of pretty much everything, but she is especially skittish around people when she's out of the house. The timing of fear periods are given in ranges, however, when they occur in an individual puppy it is as defined as the day they were born. 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. The Fear Imprint Period (or Critical Period) occurs at 8 – 10 weeks old. Everything about the experience of traveling to a new home can cause fear in a puppy, so avoiding those things during this fear stage is important. Control their environment so they don’t feel they have to defend themselves. A Simply turning on this momentary foe is now an invitation to follow me around the house and lay in my path. Let’s make an impact together, creating one bomb-proof big dog at a time. Veterinarian visits and car visits should be made fun and upbeat. We have a 4 month old German Shepard puppy that we've had for about 4-weeks now. She has decades of experience as a big dog owner, over 30 years of which has been devoted to health, nutrition, and behavior of large and giant breed dogs. Consider what Dr. Jen states in The Dark Side of Socialization: Fear Periods and Single Event Learning, “The dangerous part is this: during this particular developmental stage, your dog’s brain is on a hair trigger, exquisitely sensitive to anything “bad” that may happen. Somewhere sort of quiet but still outside and not enclosed. This phase is sometimes referred to as “teenage flakiness.” Adolescent dogs may spook at the silliest things. These new fears seem to pop out of nowhere. Owners may suddenly and out of nowhere notice their 6-month-old puppy scared of strangers or a 6-month-old puppy “scared of everything” as they scramble to figure out why. on its terms. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. the top 5 things you need to know about fear periods in dogs. That's because toddlers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about the world and its potential dangers. At that moment, with PTSD activated from my heartbreaking days with Linus, I tried to keep walking. and being handled by strangers, are all experiences that you want to make sure you are doing, but not right in the middle of a fear period if they can be avoided. A better approach is to allow your puppy to investigate whatever he fears on his own and praise/reward any initiative he or she takes. He was at times, in fact, too friendly for his own good. What Is the Best Age to Send Puppies to Their New Homes? Use treats liberally for this fun exercise. The consequences of removing puppies from their littermates and mothers even earlier than 8 weeks are both far-reaching and impactful. Use force-free behavior modification such as. Never drag or force interaction with a scary object. Fear of the outside is the same kind of thing. Your email address will not be published. Things like vacuuming can still be accomplished, but just do it one room at a time while your pup is 8 to 10 weeks old. Fear Imprint Period (or Critical Period) (8-10 weeks; range 7-11 weeks): Adolescent Fear Period (12 weeks – 6 months): Flight Instinct Fear Period (Approximately 6-9 Months (range 6-14 months): Adult Fear Period (Approximately 12 – 18 Months): How to Know if your Puppy is Going Through a Fear Stage, 5 Tips For Helping Your Puppy Conquer Fear, How to Take the Fear out of Puppy Fear Periods, Great Resources and Information About Puppy Fear Periods. Foes? I have found touching the object myself, and then encouraging my puppy to touch it with a happy, nonchalant attitude, is the best approach. Click here to join the waitlist for open enrollment later this year. They may crouch, shake and try to run away, submissively urinate or, tell the scary thing/person to go away by showing an aggressive display, which may include snarling, lunging, or other unruly behavior. In addition, some breeds of dog may be more likely to be more timid. Some dogs are more afraid of men than women. For more ideas on things you can do with your puppy prior to 16 weeks, read: In preparation for this post, I reached out to the Big Dog Mom Community to find out what age their puppy was when they acquired him. But rather he is unsure and needs to overcome his fear at his own pace. He was fine a few weeks ago and now does not like new faces. The person needs to stand still and not make eye contact. Junior came into the hall, took one look at the “intruder” and did the same thing. During these stages, puppies may show fear of items, situations. Required fields are marked *. No. With Junior in the lead, we proceeded toward the men in hats, with rakes, and loud tools. Never force your puppy to interact with the feared object or person. How you handle these puppy fear periods will determine whether you have a bomb proof big dog on the other side or the “alarm” of the neighborhood. He didn’t look to me for assurance, as perhaps he might have done before. That would be like me trying to convince you taxes are good by taking away all your money. Many will go through a fearful time when they begin teething between four and five months of age. In a poll of 69 respondents that brought their puppy home before 6 months old, 48% said their puppy was either 5 – 7 weeks or between 8-10 weeks old. We've had visitors of the house give her treats, and it definitely works, so should we start using this method with all people she encounters? By 5 months, your puppy’s house training should be well established, and she should be able to wait longer between trips outside. Food naturally has meaning to your dog, so when it is paired with things that have a negative meaning (i.e. A shy or timid dog is more likely to produce skittish offspring. By subscribing to the newsletter, you consent to receive exclusive content and new post updates from Big Dog Mom™. It usually passes somewhere between 18 months and 2 years. I know how excited you are. This was a familiar scene with friendly strangers. Like the time he met two “oh yes, my dogs are very friendly” chihuahuas. This is often considered the 5-month-old puppy fear stage. Is there a way to fix it? By Nancy Frensley, CAP2, CPDT Behavior & Training Manager Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society, The Dark Side of Socialization: Fear Periods and Single Event Learning, Puppies Taken from Litter Too Soon Develop Behavior Problems as Adults by Karen Becker, DVM. I just adopted a 5 month puppy who came from an organisation where he lived in perfect harmony with many other dogs. Consider waiting to bring your new puppy home until he is 10 - 12 weeks old. Then stop and leave the ‘vacuum monster’ out where your puppy can investigate it between ‘roars.’ Use treats liberally. “It is vital that you don’t laugh at, scold, or comfort the dog during this time…. Even if you do everything right, there's still going to be surprises. Intently. If you have found yourself saying “Help, my 3-month-old puppy is scared of everything!” Or “I don’t know what happened, my 4-month-old puppy used to be so outgoing!”. Knew no foe. I actually deleted my previous account I posted on here with because I thought I was done with needing the subreddit, but then decided to come back to share this news because OMG - did I ever have a tough time with my little shih tzu biting. Protection breeds (Shepherds, Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers) and herding breeds (collies, cattle dogs) will need increased positive socialization during adolescence. PTSD of a human aggressive Mastiff surrounded by foes. A long and protracted growl is not necessarily sign of an impending attack, rather the dog is warning us that he feels decidedly uneasy. There is NO ADDED COST to you should you use these links. When even the smallest of events become a monumental obstacle. Junior was as sweet and outgoing as you could ask a Mastiff puppy to be at that age. But, remember, good things come to those who are patient. When his personal space is violated, the dog has two options — to retreat, or, to convince the intruder to retreat. They may start barking at people entering a house or become fearful and startle at benign items like trash cans, drain pipes, or even Dyson vacuum cleaners. He will have learned to socialize with other dogs, and the dog’s personality would have had some time to develop. This particular puppy fear stage is believed to be related to the surge in growth that occurs at this age which may cause some physical discomfort. PTSD of a, And fortunately for Big Dog Mom, sweeping has never been easier with these two BFFs. I know how excited you are. 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. Coincidently, this fear period in puppies coincides with the time when they are commonly separated from their dam and littermates and are sent to new homes. There are various reasons your puppy may be afraid of other dogs, and inadequate socialisation is one of the easiest to manage. Puppy Training, Dog Training and Canine Behavior, Large Breed Puppies. Junior’s puppy wiggle was back! About 10 am that morning I ventured on a walk Junior, then 8 months old. Use treats liberally while getting in and out and when meeting friendly strangers. If you don’t plan to breed you… These only reward fear and suspicion, not bravery, and confidence. This one is a balancing act during a puppy fear period. 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. Puppies begin to receive their personalities. These new fears seems to pop out of nowhere. Do not encourage “watchdog” behavior at this age. Here are some early development and training tips for your 4-6 month old puppy. For now, please consider waiting to bring your new puppy home until he is 10 – 12 weeks old. Fear periods in dogs continue past the one year mark for many dogs and puppies as they are still developing and maturing. Sexual hormones surge now, too, which can cause mood changes and as a result, fearfulness. Noticeable changes in puppy behavior can occur as early as 12 weeks when an owner will lament that their 3-month-old puppy is suddenly scared of everything. Do not overdose your puppy with scary loud noises and exposures during his fear periods. I've taken her to work with me on a weekly basis since I got her, and Throwing random therapies at him might work, but it would benefit you both to know why he reacts the After an hour of playtime, your puppy may be barking or biting at you because she is overtired. Stages of development when puppies are hyper-aware of the world around them and learn to respond with a survival instinct like their wolf ancestors. Even if they’ve had exposure to Today, when we were Your pup may become unable to enter his own backyard because there’s a wheelbarrow parked in the corner that wasn’t there before. In broken English, “He’s BIG! Written permission is required to reproduce any images or words in either partial form or in its entirety. So Junior and I were on our walk. Allow your dog to approach a stranger on its terms. You must be patient during these periods and keep to a familiar routine. And unfortunately, this is the time most puppies are separated from their mom and littermates and are sent to new homes. These sharks in chi-clothing resented Junior’s kind, gentle approach and responded with a fury of bug eyes and tiny teeth. It doesn't appear in any feeds, and anyone with a direct link to it will see a message like this one. Things like vaccines, cold examination tables, taking rectal temperatures, placing the puppy on a scale, nail trims and being handled by strangers, are all experiences that you want to make sure you are doing, but not right in the middle of a fear period if they can be avoided. Do not force, punish or coddle your puppy if he exhibits fear. 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. Use treats consistently and liberally to make positive associations! He cries if someone he does not know even looks at him. Puppies are now autonomous but are still learning about the world around them. Keep in mind that that the most significant opportunity window to solidify a bombproof temperament closes at 16 weeks (4 months). Pam Dennison states in You Can Train Your Dog, “One day he’ll be fine with something or someone, and the next day he’ll be terrified…. There are times in every dog’s life when their world is turned upside down. Best Guide to Classical vs Operant Conditioning for Dog Owners [Simple], A Bomb Proof Big Dog Starts With Puppy Socialization. If subjected to physical or psychological trauma during this time, a dog is most likely to develop an avoidance response. We have had her for about 6 weeks now and most things are going great! A dog that has a general fear of all strangers—rather than a specific fear of men or children, for example—may be genetically predisposed to being fearful. It is absolutely abnormal for a two- to three-month-old puppy not to eagerly approach people. For example, a 10-month-old Fear of strangers usually becomes more intense at around 7-10 months of age. the scary vacuum cleaner), the negative association is lessened or eliminated. He was a “man-dog” with a mission. Control situations so that you can prevent a fearful response and show your puppy that you enjoy the situation. 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