In this article I\u2019ll explain what a fear period is and when it\u2019s likely to occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And I\u2019ll set forth what you should do to help your puppy<\/a> get through this trying time.<\/p>\n\n\n Puppy fear periods are certain times when a pup is more sensitive to her environment and extremely aware of the world around her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They are a normal part of puppy development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although your puppy may have appeared to be confident and you have trained her to perform various behaviors, it may seem as if her world\u2013and yours by extension\u2013has fallen apart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Suddenly your puppy becomes insecure and worried about even seemingly harness items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your pup may even physically appear like an adult dog. But remember that even adolescent puppies are still developing emotionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t despair. Your puppy isn\u2019t being difficult or defiant. She\u2019s just going through a fear period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most fear periods last between two to three weeks. And you can help her get through it unscathed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a critical time in your puppy\u2019s development. She\u2019s very sensitive and impressionable to new developments in her life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coincidentally, it\u2019s also the time that most puppies go to their new homes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a very difficult time for puppies anyway because they\u2019re leaving their mother and littermates for the first time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to socialize your puppy to new environments, people, and friendly animals during this period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So there\u2019s a delicate balance in introducing your puppy to new situations without forcing her to accept settings that she\u2019s not able to deal with at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just be sure not to force her into new situations she can\u2019t handle yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the time frame is longer than the first fear period, it seems to come out of the blue when your pup suddenly becomes fearful during this window of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Smaller breeds usually enter into the second fear period earlier than larger or giant breeds do because they generally mature earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will usually notice a dramatic change in your puppy\u2019s personality and body language when she enters a fear period. It literally seems to take place overnight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One day, she\u2019s happy and confident and the next she seems to have fallen apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each puppy\u2019s fear period varies greatly. Some suffer mild behavior changes whereas others show more extreme behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to read your puppy\u2019s body language<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Signs of a puppy entering a fear period may include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can be very upsetting to see your usually sweet, playful, welcoming puppy change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The sudden onset of certain behaviors is strange to most puppy parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But don\u2019t panic! <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy had a good temperament before the sudden onset of the fear period, she should again become the great puppy you knew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It just takes time, patience, and making sure that you don\u2019t force your puppy into situations that she can\u2019t handle during that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each puppy\u2019s an individual. But there are certain events that trigger many puppies who are experiencing a fear period. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember: even one negative experience during a fear period can have life-long effects on your puppy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So you need to be your puppy\u2019s protector and not have anyone or thing frighten her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I used to promote my dog training business at a local pet shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a very fancy boutique-type place with pristine, shiny wood floors. People would often bring in their puppies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I used to observe that dogs who weren\u2019t exposed to such a shiny surface were afraid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Either they didn\u2019t want to walk on the floor at all. Or they walked cautiously as if they were walking on hot coals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Had they been exposed in a controlled manner to such a surface it wouldn\u2019t have been a big deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t just wait for a fear period to pass. It\u2019s still important to continue socializing your puppy during her fear periods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You just can\u2019t flood her with experience she isn’t able to adjust to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you force her to accept people, other animals, or situations that overwhelm your puppy during a fear period, it may have life-long adverse behavioral effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t want her to experience any traumatic events during this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help your new puppy, give her several days to settle in before doing any real training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that the method by which your puppy\u2019s transported to you isn\u2019t a traumatic experience to her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If feasible, have her transported by car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Try not to have her transported by plane if possible. If she must be transported by plane, make sure that it\u2019s in the cabin, not in the cargo area which can be very noisy and scary to puppies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A friend of mine\u2019s Aussie puppy was transported by plane in the cargo area during the first fear period. The dog is a few years old now and has a strong fear of certain noises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy is suddenly not the social butterfly she was yesterday, let her move away from the person who wants to pet her. If she\u2019s on leash, just happily say \u201clet\u2019s go\u201d and walk away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell people that you\u2019re training and they can\u2019t engage with your puppy at that time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t make a big deal about it or have a tight leash. You don\u2019t want your puppy to sense that you\u2019re stressed. Pups can read our body language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If an object is scary, do the same thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When my sheltie Amber was a puppy, she suddenly became frightened of a truck at a shopping center we often went to as part of her socialization program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She froze in place, then hid behind me. I just said \u201clet\u2019s go,\u201d and moved further away from the truck where she wasn\u2019t fearful anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy wants to approach the feared item, as long as there\u2019s no danger, let her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Caveat though with people or animals: you have to be sure that they won\u2019t approach the puppy and put her over her tolerance threshold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also don\u2019t force or lure her to what she fears. She needs to explore the world at her own pace during this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Praise and reward with great treats any curiosity or interaction with what he fears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n PRO-TRAINER TIP: <\/em><\/strong>Have a supply of great, <\/em>yummy treats<\/em><\/a> that your puppy can\u2019t resist ready as a reward.<\/em> These treats can even be small pieces of boiled, de-boned chicken that most pups can\u2019t resist. The pieces should be small, no larger than a pea. Always have your reward treats ready before giving your obedience cue.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This may even be looking at it from a distance that she doesn’t show fearful body language. Or it may be looking at it, taking a step towards it, or sniffing it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But note that if your puppy normally takes treats and doesn\u2019t during any interaction, she\u2019s probably too stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Add distance or even end that socialization session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you act stressed, your puppy will feed off that and her fear will escalate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, just act upbeat and take your puppy to a distance or area where she\u2019s not fearful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For young puppies, training sessions<\/a> should be short anyway\u2013five to 10 minutes at most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure that you always end your sessions on a positive note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Train only while your puppy is still engaged in the session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Use lots of treats, praise, and play to reward your puppy for good behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t use training methods that can scare a puppy. This includes training her to use an electric fence during a fear period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Training using positive reinforcement will be especially helpful because it increases a puppy\u2019s confidence in the world around her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Play with your pup<\/a>. If she enjoys fetching, have her fetch toys she likes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Have her interact with puzzle toys that aren\u2019t too difficult. Make sure that she\u2019s enjoying the experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Enrichment toys can help build a puppy\u2019s confidence in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This will also help your puppy become used to new items while enjoying herself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Use puzzle toys<\/a> that distribute her kibble or treats, which automatically makes most pups have a good association with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy is too wound up before exposing her to new situations, exercise her first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Play fetch. Have her do a few obedience commands with praise and treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You just want to take the edge off, not tire her out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy\u2019s in a fear period and is afraid of traffic, take her on walks where the streets don\u2019t have any or very little. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If she\u2019s scared of loud noises during that time, try to have her be exposed to quieter environments. You get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t let people or animals rush towards her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You still need to socialize your puppy<\/a> to new environments, items, flooring, people, and friendly animals that she will need to face during her lifetime. You just need to do it at her own pace and distance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do gradual introductions to new people and stimuli. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Always supervise all of your puppy\u2019s socialization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid children, dogs, adults, or situations that are unpredictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because most fear periods last only two to three weeks, remember that things will get better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of socializing a puppy is getting her used to vet appointments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies require a series of vaccinations to avoid life-threatening diseases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And your new pup may need to be professionally groomed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If possible, use a fear-free certified<\/a> vet or groomer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can even do some training set-ups to get her used to being groomed<\/a>. Have her eat a great treat while you gently handle her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Touch her legs, back, neck, tail, head, and underside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You should do only a few touches during each session, eventually having longer sessions when she enjoys them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do the same thing with brushing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At first just show her the brush and treat. Do this for a few sessions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then just touch her with the brush and praise and reward. Eventually, start grooming and brushing. This may take a number of sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If possible, have her perform an obedience cue\u2013praised and rewarded with treats of course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Have her play fetch or tug with a favorite toy. You want to relax her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pair scary things, events, people, and friendly animals with great treats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When she sees what she fears, start giving her a flow of a great treat\u2013like small pieces of deboned chicken. Just do this for a few minutes at most during the session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then move away from even the sight of the fearsome thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over many training sessions, you can move closer (sometimes just inches) to the feared thing to desensitize your puppy\u2013all while rewarding with great treats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can check with your vet<\/a> if something\u2019s appropriate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some holistic supplements and devices can greatly reduce a puppy\u2019s stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are calming tabs<\/a> and Rescue Remedy<\/a> which your pup would ingest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a product called Adaptil<\/a> which mimics the puppy\u2019s mother\u2019s pheromones and is supposed to have a calming effect. It comes in a plug-in, spray, and collar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is even music called Through a Dog\u2019s Ear<\/a> that is supposed to have a calming effect on dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy seems excessively fearful where she doesn\u2019t make progress or is reactive or aggressive, make an appointment with a behaviorist<\/a> or positive reinforcement trainer<\/a> with experience in such matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are certain actions that you should not take<\/em> when attempting to have your puppy successfully pass through the trying fear phases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you show your puppy that you\u2019re upset or excited, it will feed into her fear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies read our scent, tone of voice, and body language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So don\u2019t let her think that anything\u2019s wrong. Instead, do a \u201cjolly routine.\u201d Be upbeat and calm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if your puppy growls and snaps, don\u2019t punish her. Doing so will escalate the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just don\u2019t put her in situations that are too much for her to handle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And get professional help if you need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s crucial that you don\u2019t expose her to what she\u2019s afraid of too soon. Be your puppy\u2019s guardian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t let people or other things that she\u2019s afraid of approach her during this time if she\u2019s fearful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contrary to old beliefs, comforting a puppy when she\u2019s afraid won\u2019t be rewarding the fearful behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So tell her what a sweet puppy she is and pet her if she enjoys that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No! Instead, move her crate to an area nearby that\u2019s not too close to the vent. Continue to make her crate a welcoming, safe place<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, her fear of the vent should pass if she wasn\u2019t afraid of it prior to her entering a fear period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Puppy](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/puppy-fear-700x525.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhat Are Puppy Fear Periods?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
First Puppy Fear Period: 8 to 11 Weeks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Second Puppy Fear Period: 6 to 14 Months<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Signs That Your Puppy Has Entered a Fear Period<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What Are Puppies Fearful Of?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What To Do When Your Puppy Enters a Fear Period<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Allow your puppy to choose to move away or towards scary items and beings.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Allow your puppy to control distance to the feared items or beings.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t make a big deal about what your puppy fears<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Keep training sessions short<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Play games with your puppy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Always set your puppy up to succeed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Manage your puppy\u2019s environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Safely socialize your puppy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Redirect your puppy\u2019s focus from what she fears<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Counter-condition and desensitize her natural response <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use holistic remedies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Seek professional help if needed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What NOT To Do: Don\u2019t Try This at Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Don\u2019t make a big deal when your puppy shows fear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Don\u2019t punish your puppy for her fearful behavior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Don\u2019t push your puppy into situations she can\u2019t handle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Don\u2019t ignore your puppy if she seeks out comfort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
My puppy\u2019s suddenly scared of the air coming out of the vent near her crate. Now she doesn’t want to go in her crate. Should I lure her up to the vent with treats?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My puppy is afraid of my toddler now but wasn\u2019t earlier this week. What should I do?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Puppy](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/puppy-fear-periods-700x1050.jpg\")
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