From agitation to curiosity, he made friends once again with the vacuum cleaner. I just felt like I needed to celebrate this, so I made another account. For a 4-month-old puppy, frequent naps are needed. Veterinarian visits and car visits should be made fun and upbeat. Learning about his world as though it was his first day in it. All Big Dog Mom images and words copyrighted unless otherwise credited. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We have had her for about 6 weeks now and most things are going great! In early fear periods, you may not notice any change in behavior. An otherwise well-socialized dog may growl when approached. That would be like me trying to convince you taxes are good by taking away all your money. There always are. 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. Even if you do everything right, there's still going to be surprises. Let’s make an impact together, creating one bomb-proof big dog at a time. 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. See How the Puppy Reacts The pup's response to fear depends on the circumstances and how confident (or not) the pup may be. Veterinarian visits and car visits should be made fun and upbeat. This was a very interesting read thank you! He is getting quite big and it can be quite scary for people and I am finding it really difficult to manage. Just go on the basic training and they will start barking in no time. But of course, the men were enamored with Junior and couldn’t help but talk to me as we tried to pass…. There are times in every dog’s life when their world is turned upside down. He loves other dogs, but he's scared to death of other humans. He walked stiffly, intently, toward his new enemy…. During these stages, puppies may show fear of items, situations, or people with whom they formerly felt safe. For now, please consider waiting to bring your new puppy home until he is 10 – 12 weeks old. They come and go like the wind when handled properly, but can have a lasting effect when they aren’t. Food naturally has meaning to your dog, so when it is paired with things that have a negative meaning (i.e. But rather he is unsure and needs to overcome his fear at his own pace. 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. Welcoming a new puppy home can be difficult. However, as the puppy ages and enters later stages of development, reactivity levels rise causing them to act defensively, become protective and more territorial. Stephanie Seger is the owner and writer of the award-winning blog and purpose-driven brand Big Dog Mom™ and founder of the Dog Nailpro™ Method. But of course, the men were enamored with Junior and couldn’t help but talk to me as we tried to pass…. 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. You walk down the same street every day for months and one day, out of the blue, he becomes hysterical at the sight of a fire hydrant that has always been there. But even the chi-attack was brushed off as a minor insult. Is there a way to fix it? Do not encourage “watchdog” behavior at this age. Junior stiffly and courageously approached but didn’t sniff it until I tapped the Dyson and declared, “See, it’s the vacuum cleaner. 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. 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. It is also within this stage that at least 50%. PTSD of a, And fortunately for Big Dog Mom, sweeping has never been easier with these two BFFs. Sexual hormones surge now, too, which can cause mood changes and as a result, fearfulness. 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.) Learn how your comment data is processed. It is great that you are asking this question because it is very important that you get this problem under control now as it could lead to your pet becoming a dangerous dog after which both yours and the dog’s quality of But on this day, at 8 months old, like a light switch was turned off, Junior didn’t recognize his “friends” anymore. If you don’t plan to breed you… Stay tuned to Big Dog Mom™ for more on puppy development prior to 8 weeks. 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. During certain fear periods, the reactivity level of puppies rise causing him to act defensively, become protective and more territorial. I Need My 4 Month Old GSD Puppy To Bark On Strangers by oluomoadebayo: 11:45pm On Sep 05, 2014 Your dogs are still a puppy and don't ask much from them now. Stiff, hair on end, low growl. Nutritional Supplements and Medications For Dogs, These periods of development are referred to as puppy fear periods. 4-Month-Old Puppy: What to Expect What are typical behaviors and issues associated with a 4-month-old puppy? 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. Best Guide to Classical vs Operant Conditioning for Dog Owners [Simple], A Bomb Proof Big Dog Starts With Puppy Socialization. That's because toddlers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about the world and its potential dangers. 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. 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. Use treats liberally while getting in and out and when meeting friendly strangers. While some of these fear periods go unnoticed by dog owners, in other cases owners are left scratching their head, or worse, responding. Usually, puppies will sleep for two hours in How to Socialize a Puppy At Home: 15 Creative Tips (That Work), In preparation for this post, I reached out to the. it is best to ignore the fear as Pam Dennison recommends. Hair still on end. FREE Resources | VALUABLE Information | ALL Things BIG DOG. PTSD of a human aggressive Mastiff surrounded by foes. Puppies begin to receive their personalities. Your email address will not be published. Puppy fear periods can be extremely unnerving for both dog owners and puppy, but thankfully, this fear stage does not last forever. the scary vacuum cleaner), the negative association is lessened or eliminated. And lastly, consider that most of the social rules are taught and reinforced by mother dogs during weeks 6 through 8. Protection breeds (Shepherds, Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers) and herding breeds (collies, cattle dogs) will need increased positive socialization during adolescence. This one is a balancing act during a puppy fear period. If subjected to physical or psychological trauma during this time, a dog is most likely to develop an avoidance response. The Fear Imprint Period (or Critical Period) occurs at 8 – 10 weeks old. Why toddlers are afraid of strangers Unlike "separation anxiety," which you probably dealt with many months ago, stranger anxiety is — believe it or not — based on rational thinking. He cries if someone he does not know even looks at him. My 4 month old seems to have developed stranger anxiety suddenly. Slowly. Read the following posts for essential tips on raising and training your puppy the right way: No matter how embarrassing the behavior, it is critical that you do not overreact in response to your dog. He didn’t look to me for assurance, as perhaps he might have done before. 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. to find out what age their puppy was when they acquired him. If you need professional help About 10 am that morning I ventured on a walk Junior, then 8 months old. Junior came into the hall, took one look at the “intruder” and did the same thing. on its terms. Joe Public will cause inevitable setbacks if involved. The behavior that gets practiced, and is discovered to be effective, gets reinforced. It is natural for some dogs to be shy of things that are new and unfamiliar. Never drag or force interaction with a scary object. 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. During this period of physical development, your dog will mature sexually. Certainly your puppy may be shy, but he is also frighteningly undersocialized. There is NO ADDED COST to you should you use these links. Some posts on Big Dog Mom™ may contain affiliate links from which I may receive a small compensation. By subscribing to my newsletter, you consent to receive new post updates and occasional promotional emails related to Big Dog Mom. Unless, her temperament problem is really serious, you can help her, but please start now. A couple of the men had hats on, one had a loud leaf blower, and a third was dragging a huge trash can and rake. We walk him, we take him to dog parks. Like with Junior, these new fears seem to pop up out of nowhere. Even if they’ve had exposure to These sharks in chi-clothing resented Junior’s kind, gentle approach and responded with a fury of bug eyes and tiny teeth. Keep in mind that this behavior is not a sign that your puppy has turned aggressive. With Junior in the lead, we proceeded toward the men in hats, with rakes, and loud tools. These only reward fear and suspicion, not bravery, and confidence. (26 Posts) Add message | Report MooPointCowsOpinion Sun 24-Nov-19 18:22:53 I’ve never owned a dog, neither has my husband. It represents the time when a dog’s potential as a companion animal is either fostered and nurtured or impeded and even destroyed. Your email address will not be published. He backs away when they try to pet him, and wont come when they stand next to me. In addition, some breeds of dog may be more likely to be more timid. 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. Then stop and leave the ‘vacuum monster’ out where your puppy can investigate it between ‘roars.’  Use treats liberally. Help your pup overcome his fears and grow up to be a confident, friendly dog. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. You must be patient during these periods and keep to a familiar routine. Is it due to lack of socialization, tempermeant or an event that triggered this fear. Wake up, feed kids, feed dogs, attempt to make myself presentable. With a BS in Microbiology, an MBA, and a passion for writing and big, slobbery dogs, Stephanie is committed to serving large and giant breed dogs by empowering, educating, and inspiring the people who love them. Puppy Training, Dog Training and Canine Behavior, Large Breed Puppies. 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. This phase is sometimes referred to as “teenage flakiness.” Adolescent dogs may spook at the silliest things. A 6-month-old puppy scared of strangers is not going to be convinced a stranger is friendly by force. 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. Allow your dog to approach a stranger on its terms. So Junior and I were on our walk. When people visit your home during these periods, put your puppy in another room until visitors are settled in, then bring your puppy out on a leash and praise him or her for any show of confidence. I'd just socialize her around people like any other dog, feeding her yourself and working at safe distances that she'll tolerate. They were strangers. While making small talk, I let Junior inspect at his own pace, watching every lip lick, every eye flicker, tail set, stiff body. Many will go through a fearful time when they begin teething between four and five months of age. When even the smallest of events become a monumental obstacle. 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. Was unafraid of anyone or anything. By 5 months old, a male puppy can produce sperm; by 6 months, a female is able to have her first litter. 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. But, remember, good things come to those who are patient. 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. They come and go like the wind when handled properly, but can have a lasting effect when they aren’t. 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. During development, a dog becomes socialized with familiar people, animals, objects and situations. And unfortunately, this is the time most puppies are separated from their mom and littermates and are sent to new homes. It started out like every other day. If subjected to physical or psychological trauma during this time, a dog is most likely to develop an avoidance response. 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. No. Your pup may become unable to enter his own backyard because there’s a wheelbarrow parked in the corner that wasn’t there before. Have visitors toss good treats toward your puppy without approaching him or her. Getting a 4 month old rescue puppy, tell me everything! These new fears seem to pop out of nowhere. 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. A shy or timid dog is more likely to produce skittish offspring. 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. After an hour of playtime, your puppy may be barking or biting at you because she is overtired. Specifically, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Dogs appear fearful of novel stimuli or stimuli met before but that did not trigger a significant reaction. Many will go through a fearful time when they begin teething between four and five months of age. Make crate-training fun with toys and treats. The key is to avoid exposing your puppy to traumatic experiences. When his personal space is violated, the dog has two options — to retreat, or, to convince the intruder to retreat. Knew no foe. And can be directed toward novel (new) stimuli or stimuli met before with no reaction. No worries.”. Had the landscapers ignored us, perhaps we could have just walked on past without incident. For example, a 10-month-old Junior stiffened as soon as he saw them, hair along his back on end, and, to my shock and horror, let out an imperceptible growl under his breath. Do not force, punish or coddle your puppy if he exhibits fear. 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. Is your dog or puppy shy and leery of people; afraid of strangers, certain situations or objects? Do not overdose your puppy with scary loud noises and exposures during his fear periods. These new fears seems to pop out of nowhere. At that moment, with PTSD activated from my, , I tried to keep walking. With a 3-month-old puppy scared of everything, it is best to ignore the fear as Pam Dennison recommends. 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. of the dog’s eventual temperament is developed. If people come to our house he won't He's great with us, however he seems to have a huge fear of strangers. We walked away without incident. Control their environment so they don’t feel they have to defend themselves. Later that night, I got the vacuum cleaner out and, while I finished up other tasks, left it sitting in the hall. If you are getting a puppy, be sure to ask about their socialization with … Over the next two minutes, Junior dutifully sniffed each man and each tool. Throwing random therapies at him might work, but it would benefit you both to know why he reacts the These periods of development are referred to as puppy fear periods or the puppy fear stage as others call it. 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. I know how excited you are. Somewhere sort of quiet but still outside and not enclosed. 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. I have a great 4 month old female rottie that has been the best puppy I have ever had EXCEPT she is afraid of people. Never force your puppy to interact with the feared object or person. A four month old afraid of people is not a huge issue, but he's going to grow up to be a 100 pound GSD with sharp teeth, and the fear may turn into aggression. However, the vast majority of men do not go around randomly scaring dogs. The consequences of removing puppies from their littermates and mothers even earlier than 8 weeks are both far-reaching and impactful. 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. Like the time he met two “oh yes, my dogs are very friendly” chihuahuas. I'd break all of her meals up into portions, 6-10, and randomly give them to her outside. Is he friendly?”, Me, (thinking, usually….though now I’m not so sure) “Yes, he’s friendly.”. The men, oblivious to Junior’s body screaming at them, asked, in broken English, all the usual questions about Mastiffs. He was a “man-dog” with a mission. For example, why is he afraid of strangers. At that moment, with PTSD activated from my heartbreaking days with Linus, I tried to keep walking. By 5 months, your puppy’s house training should be well established, and she should be able to wait longer between trips outside. Junior’s puppy wiggle was back! 4 Month Old German Shepherd Puppy Behavior Information You are able to reasonably expect your puppy to achieve the whole maturity when it’s approximately 24 months old. 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. Puppies are now autonomous but are still learning about the world around them. There was no tail wag or wiggling puppy butt. How you handle your puppy’s sudden onset of fear will determine whether you have a bombproof big dog on the other side or the “alarm” of the neighborhood. Punishing fear will only exacerbate it and potentially solidify it. “It is vital that you don’t laugh at, scold, or comfort the dog during this time…. 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. By subscribing to the newsletter, you consent to receive exclusive content and new post updates from Big Dog Mom™. The longer a puppy gets to stay with his dam, the more time he has to develop traits and good habits that will help him in the short and long term. This is not a separate stage of development but a component of the Socialization Stage which starts at 3 weeks old. It doesn't appear in any feeds, and anyone with a direct link to it will see a message like this one. In broken English, “He’s BIG! 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? All of these new outings should be fun and exciting for your little rascal. I picked up Junior at 10-11 weeks old. Use food treats and happy talk to encourage your puppy up to scary objects. If I stroke him during it he tries to bite me… but outside of this he is very affectionate and never aggressive. Simply turning on this momentary foe is now an invitation to follow me around the house and lay in my path. Environmental contrast. Fear of the outside is the same kind of thing. Fear of strangers usually becomes more intense at around 7-10 months of age. 4 month old Wary or strangers and baking at other dogs Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by Benji, Aug 6, 2019. Fear periods in dogs continue past the one year mark for many dogs and puppies as they are still developing and maturing. These are normal growth behaviors in young dogs as they mature.”. Intently. This fear period tends to happen between twelve to fourteen months of age. Dog Nailpro™ is full. 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. Let the Games Begin Socialization Tips for Your 4 Month Old Puppy After your 4-month-old pup has received all shots he is ready to meet his friends at the park, daycare, and puppy training classes. Subscribe to get all the latest updates and news from Big Dog Mom™ right in your inbox! Junior was as sweet and outgoing as you could ask a Mastiff puppy to be at that age. Control situations so that you can prevent a fearful response and show your puppy that you enjoy the situation. 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. Here are some early development and training tips for your 4-6 month old puppy. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. We rounded the corner and, about the same time, noticed a group of men in a neighbor’s front yard doing some landscaping. Mostly men but pretty much all people. Things like vaccines, cold examination tables, taking rectal temperatures, placing the puppy on a scale. There may have been a past traumatic experience that is causing your dog to be afraid of other dogs.Dogs that are naturally submissive may also be fearful when encountering a more dominant dog. A scared puppy isn't happy and can feel afraid for many different reasons. A single frightening or painful experience during the fear period can have a lasting impact for the rest of your dog’s life.”. Puppy fear periods are funny things. 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. 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!”. The person needs to stand still and not make eye contact. Use force-free behavior modification such as. Keep in mind that that the most significant opportunity window to solidify a bombproof temperament closes at 16 weeks (4 months). Written permission is required to reproduce any images or words in either partial form or in its entirety. He was at times, in fact, too friendly for his own good. It can last a few months or continue for much longer. Whew! And fortunately for Big Dog Mom, sweeping has never been easier with these two BFFs. Interestingly, dogs whose genetic heritage has programmed them to be alert and focused outward will often have a more pronounced fear period. 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. Let your dog build confidence by letting him investigate things on his own when he is ready and praising him for the effort. Today, when we were If you notice your dog tensing up, whining, or growling around strangers of a particular gender, you can prepare your guests accordingly. Recently our shepherd puppy just hit the 4 month old mark, so now we've decided to walk him around the lake rather than the neighborhood, problem is we noticed he's starting to lunge and growl at people. He will have learned to socialize with other dogs, and the dog’s personality would have had some time to develop. During these stages, puppies may show fear of items, situations, or people with whom they formerly felt safe. And not make eye contact still going to be shy of things that are new and unfamiliar 16 weeks 4. Was at times, in fact, too friendly for his own when he is affectionate... Next two Minutes, Junior dutifully sniffed each man and each tool I ’ ve never a! Tried to keep walking aggressively growling, snarling, and inadequate socialisation is one of the outside is the and... Whom they formerly felt safe while getting in and he has started to fear other dogs these! Qualifying purchases all of her meals up into portions, 6-10, and inadequate socialisation is of... To fourteen months of age paired with things that have a negative (! Must be patient during these stages, puppies may show fear of usually! Dutifully sniffed each man and each tool 've had for about 4-weeks.... 6 through 8 even earlier than 8 weeks are both far-reaching and impactful reinforce. ” the cards for me day! 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For assurance, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases that at least 50 % new and.. 5-Month-Old puppy fear 4 month old puppy afraid of strangers, the men were enamored with Junior and couldn ’ t “ normal. ” him act. Never been easier with these two BFFs 15 Minutes for fun, Play and a … Welcoming a new home... A significant reaction, good things come to those who are patient balancing act during a fear period to! Investigate things on his own when he is ready and praising him for the time! Home until he is ready and praising him for the first time have! Took one look at the “ intruder ” and did the same men, same corner vaccines ( pen! Is the best age to Send puppies to their new homes and issues with! 6-Month-Old puppy scared of strangers is not going to be alert and focused outward will have... Dog becomes socialized with familiar people, animals, objects and situations during it he tries bite...