Fear Periods in a Dog's Life

[lizbud]

I've always hear that dogs go through a fear period or
(time of great stress) once at 8-12 wks. old and then again
at about 4 mos. old. I've read recently that dogs can also
have several more after maturity. During these times some
dogs become very fearful of loud noises, or unfamilar things,
etc .
The article I read said that bad experiences during this fear
period can set a dog's character for life. Has anyone read
anything like this, or know from experience that this is so?

[angelpuppy]

I have read tons of dog books and magazines religiously for years now, and I have never heard of a "fear period"....I also have never experienced this with either of my dogs. Am I missing out on this info, or what?? Anyone else know?? Frankly, it sounds a bit like an "old wife's tale" to me.....

[KYS]

I never heard of a fear period in till a few years ago when
I joined an Akita list, and heard breeders and trainers
mentioned this term that puppies may experience
a fear period.
In a book called Good Owners Great Dogs mentions
a puppy going through a Fear Period stage between the
age of between 8 and 11 weeks.
Not sure about the several fear periods.

[lizbud]

KYS,

Yes, that's a very good book on dog behavior. I really like
reading anything relating to animal behavior and dogs in
particular.

I really don't think this is an "old wife's tale". This period in
developement is sometimes called critical phases, or sensitive
phases in canine developement. Canine research into the
various stages of growth & mental development have been
going on for 40+ years. Here are two links to articles that
touch on the subject I mentioned.

http://www.k9events.com/puppies.htm

and http://www.napgs.com/ppaws/essay.html


I just wondered if anyone noticed such a phase in their pup.

[Dixieland Dancer]

Fear periods are very real and should not be taken lightly! It can and does set things in a dog for life if not handled correctly or not at least understood. If you don't think it happens then watch a pup closely from 8 to 16 weeks and chances are you will "see it" if even very briefly. In most dogs it is so fleeting that your average dog owner "misses it". Seperation anxiety is a biggie that manifests itself out of this "fear period".

Before 8 weeks most pups are boundless bundles of energy and have no fear at all. Then small fears start to creep in. I'm not going down those steps, I'm not going near "that thing" or it will eat me up! No matter how much coaking you do, the pup refuses. It is at this time when you need to be the gentle persuader and confident handler of your pup. If you are then your pup will not have issues dealing with this. However, if you handle it wrong and force your pup to do something and then he does end up getting the living scare of his life, then you have issues to deal with in pups life that could of been prevented if only you had used a little more caution.

Ever hear stories of "my dog just refuses to go up or down stairs" or "as long as I'm around everything is fine but when I leave...." . Most of these are fear related traumas that the dog never got adjusted too.

It can happen anytime between 8 and 16 weeks and then again at different stages until around 18 months. Don't worry about it but be aware it does exist and understand what your pup may be dealing with.

[tatsxxx11]

I'm with Candy. I read a lot about that fear period when I first got my Star. There was one specific week, I recall, around 3 mos., when they are especially prone to life long trauma if exposed to a sudden, fearful situation. I remember the vacuum handle fell right in front of her and made a very loud noise. To this day she is very frightened when anything slams or falls loudly in front of her. She cowers with tail tucked tight and goes into hiding! And this is a dog who under all others circumstances is fearless and full of confidence!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Hi, Dad! It'z me, Casey; callin frum da Rainbow Bridge!

Lemmie tell 'em bout da Train Ride I took wiff you...

Me an Dad wuz werkin onna Belt Line RR engine radio wun day. I dint usually get up onna engines kuz the stepz wus reel steep; but I wuz bored sillie kuz there wuzzint ennie RR guyz around ta throw a stik fur me. *UP* I went. Skairt Dad sillie when I gib him a noze inna butt - INSIDE da engine cab!! I wuz sittin inna co-pilot's seet lookin out da winnow when allua sudden...

Our buddie da Engineer hopps on an sez we gotta move our 1501 Engine ta get da 1502 out fur a 'Hot Move'. Akx Dad iffin HE wunts ta drive?? (Dad used to ride wiff em iffin we wuz there late inna day - an they'd let him drive summtymez. *I* alluz hadda stay inna offis. ) Course Dad sez *YES!* an sitz down inna drivurz seet. (Kid wiffa BIG toy! ) "OK BACK, 1501" sez da radio.

Dad startz flippin levurz ~ *Whooosh* go da brakes; *Rooaar* goez da big Diesel; *Shaaaake* goze da deck; goze ME! Dis ting'z *MOOVIN*!
*Clatter* thru da switch; *Whooosh* to a stop; "OK AHEAD, 1501" sez da radio. Nudder *Whoosh*; more Diesel *Rooaar*; *Clatter* back thru da switch...

Engineer buddie getz up an sez "Here Casey - sit inna seet so'z ya can see better." HEY! Lott better when ya can see out da winnow! Diz is PHUNN! I played FireMan Dawg fur da resta our lil trip - sittin onna seet wiffa fruntz onna winnow sill anna hed hangin out - Wind inna earz!

Onna way back - a big Amtrak whizzd by onna Main Line - Lotta ppl gawkin an pointin atta Shepherd Dawg, Tail Wavin, ridin shotgun inna switch engine!!

Eet yer heart out, Cinder Dawg!
You gotta long way ta go ta ketch up to ME!

Bye, Dad! Miss ya!
Gotta run - I hear God callin us to supper!

/s/ Casey, the Wun inna Millyun Dawg

[Sudilar]

On the GSD bb's they talk about this all the time. It is real.


WOW, Casey, I'm impressed!!!! You were fearless!!!!!!

[wolf_Q]

Nebo was terrified to stairs when he was younger. He was even scared of Reggie for a while. He got over it lol. But he is still petrified of vacuum cleaners. I know a lot of dogs are, but he really freaks out about it (coming from a dog who is scared of nothing now). When we first got him we went on that camping trip in our 5th wheel. My mom just *had* to vacuum it every day, and the first time he saw it, he ran up and hid under the bed. I bet it was probably much worse for him because it was in a small area. Any type of vacuum cleaner (or even something that makes the same sound) sends him running even now. He's a lot more scared of them then Reggie/Smokey (not that they really like them either).

He's a bit cautious of strangers too. Well, some people he comes and jumps in their laps, and others he will back away from...for no particular reason. He never growls or anything like that...just acts a bit scared around them.

[Cincy'sMom]

I've never read anything like that, but I think it has been true in Cincy's life. When we first got her, she was scared of noises. Sadie like to play with plastic bottles and the noise of that scraping across the drive used to send her into hiding. She got over that and then at about 10 mos., which happened to be 4th of July, she was afraid of noises again. She had heard lots of fireworks and was fine and then all of a sudden, one caught her attention and she ran to hide. She does a lot better know, but every so often a loud noise will scare her and she wants to hide again.

[lizbud]

I think some breeds don't "display fear signs" and are
able to hide it better. They still are disturbed by whatever
it might be, but don't necessarily run away from it .

Most GSD's that I've known have an "interested" look,
rather than a typical fearful reaction to new things. Buddy
was fearful/but interested in the sweeper. I made a game
of running the sweeper & asked him to "come on" & help
me with the sweeping. He thought it was a game. I
never pointed it at him or chased him with it, but let him
know how much fun I thought it was to use. Later, after
I would put the sweeper away, Buddy would sometimes
pick up his tennis ball & bring it to the sweeper & drop in
front of the sweeper, like, o.k. "let's play". It's a game
he later played all of his life whenever I was busy & didn'nt
stop what I was doing to play with him. Dogs, you gotta
love um... I do.

[angelpuppy]

Hmmmm...well, I have to say I'm still skeptical about the whole "fear period" thing...the classification of it more than its existence, really. After all, I think it is instinctual for dogs and people alike to be afraid of loud noises and such, and being afraid of new things (i.e., stairs, new people, etc.) is not so much a "fear period" thing as a puppyhood thing, or a life experiences thing. I guess it's just the arbitrary classification of a "fear period" that seems unnecessary to me. After all, we don't say that human kids go though a "fear period" from age such-and-such just because they are startled by loud noises and new experiences. Just my opinion...sorry, feeling a bit argumentative today. ^_^

[lizbud]

These periods in a dog's developement can be called
anything that you're comfortable calling it, but they do
exist and some dogs never get over a fear that is ignored
or not dealt with in a sensitive manner at the time it happens.

Here's an oldie but goodie article from the Atlantic Monthly.
It's titled "So Long to Bad Dogs".


http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97may/dogs.htm

[grassbur]

Thanks a bunch for the link to that article, lizbud. It's excellent.

Mac

[lizbud]

grassbur,

You're very welcome. I also enjoyed the read. Please feel
free to post links to any article you run across. I feel we can
all learn something new from them. Thanks.