Fear Period

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I think Noah is starting to go through his second fear period. He is 6.5 months old and I just noticed this week that he's starting to become afraid of things he doesn't know. A few mornings ago, I was walking him around my apartment complex and he froze in his tracks. He was staring at a pipe coming up from the ground. He was so afraid of it. I went over to it and touched it to showed him there was nothing to be afraid of, but he will still scared. Last night, I had the dogs outside and a girl was sitting on the entrance stairs with a suitcase. It was dark and Noah was really afraid of her suitcase. He tried to run away and I had to practically haul him up the 5 stairs to get to the apartment entrance.

How long does this phase last? I remember Sherlock sort of went through this stage around 6 months of age. He was particularly nervous about things at night and if someone was standing in the shadow, he would bark. He doesn't do it anymore. I really hope Noah does not start barking at things he is unsure of.

[sandy b]

I'll be interested too in what others have to say because Max at 9 months has started acting scared of loud noises and will try to hide. I'm hoping it's just a phase.

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Penny went through that and I think it stopped for the most part after she was about a year old. If ANYTHING was out of place in the yard, she'd go bonkers - barking at a ladder, etc. And she was totally spooked by bicycles and strollers - even if they were standing still! She grew out of it. I bet Noah and Max will, too.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Jane, I remember watching an episode of Dog Whisperer when Cesar was talking about "fearful aggression". Something about dogs that are agressive towards certain things and circumstances because they are actually fearful of it. I think the way he changed it was purposeful exposure to what intitiated the fear/agression response and the owner have a calm assertive energy. The energy desired in a dog is calm submissive. If this sounds like a bunch of garbledy-g*** it's probably because I have swiss cheese for brains and can't remember anything these days. (I am only 43 and it starts already LOL). But if you can watch Dog Whisperer episodes on National Geographic it may be helpful.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

So swiss cheese that I infact responded under the wrong post. This response belongs under your other one titled Aggression.

[Chris & Boys]

LOL - Don't be so hard on yourself, just consider that you have donated all your brain cells to the members of DK for the day! I mean, a girl can only do so much.

[Kim]

I remember that one - If it was the one I am thinking of it was the one with the agression towards rocks. I love the Dog Whisperer

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Dogs have "fear periods" off and on for the first two to three years of their life. During this time one really bad scare ( a small child running toward them screaming in a high voice, a bad thunderstorm, with no safe place to go etc) can take weeks to months of undoing. After that if a dog has been alot of places his/her trust in you will help him/her handle things he has not seen before more calmly ( reassurance never hurts) and a new experience that is not negative (painful) will not "stick' as easily.

Dogs don't see like we do. They notice details. Their mind works to protect them, by seeing every element in the scene, not just the scene that we see. I am always very nervous and alert in very new places because they "look different" to me. I fell as if I must take every single thing in to be safe. Places I have been or are very similar to places I have been are more comforting, because I see what I know will be there. This puzzles my husband who generalizes more easily than I do. Trainers will tell you that dogs do not generalize well. This means every new place has to be a lot of input. This means that "Girl sitting with suitcase" is entirely different than "Girl" or "Girl with cowboy hat" Dogs must learn all these categories and the earlier the better. That is why it is so important to "socialize" them early. It is also why learned behaviors must be practice not just in the living room, but in the backyard, on grass, on concrete, in the twilight and the sun. Peeing on grass is not the same as peeing on concrete. Not peeing in your house in not the same as peeing in someone else's house. You get the idea. The idea is to make each new experience positive, but not a big deal. You stay calm and dispense affection and treats. Don't force connection; but encourage it by giving the "Girl with a suitcase" a nice stinky treat - if she is willing and letting your dog FIND it.

[Debbie and Thomas]

My dog is now 7 months but he started several weeks ago to do the same thing. For instance the cover blew off our barbeque during the night and was draped over the bottom of the deck stairs. He barked at this cover like it was threatening him in some way and would not go down the stairs to the yard. I moved it and put it back over the BBque and he went to the yard but was very leery of this big black cover that he had never noticed before. Then last week, our neighbour hung three or four of her winter coats which she had just washed on her plant hangers along the back of her wood fence. Well, our dog was so scared of these coats blowing in the breeze. He kept backing up, barked, then backed up again and kept barking at these coats like they were some sort of threat to him. I brought him in the house and the next time he went out, the coats were gone. The world is, I guess, going to full of new things for them.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Our Springer developed a fear of feathers. He is fine with an entire bird, but feathers........ oooooh so scary!

[Debbie and Thomas]

now this morning, I put up the ironing board(this does not appear often!!) The doodle was absolutely terrified of this thing.

[Mommy2Max]

I'd be terrified too! ;)

[Debbie and Thomas]

You are so right!