It represents the time when a dog’s potential as a companion animal is either fostered and nurtured or impeded and even destroyed. A shy or timid dog is more likely to produce skittish offspring. Certainly your puppy may be shy, but he is also frighteningly undersocialized. I'd just socialize her around people like any other dog, feeding her yourself and working at safe distances that she'll tolerate. It is absolutely abnormal for a two- to three-month-old puppy not to eagerly approach people. He's great with us, however he seems to have a huge fear of strangers. And for those of you dying to know how the Dyson faired… well, it survived too. 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. The men, oblivious to Junior’s body screaming at them, asked, in broken English, all the usual questions about Mastiffs. Learning about his world as though it was his first day in it. 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. Welcoming a new puppy home can be difficult. This phase is sometimes referred to as “teenage flakiness.” Adolescent dogs may spook at the silliest things. Use force-free behavior modification such as desensitization and counterconditioning. He was a “man-dog” with a mission. 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. A few days in and he has started to fear other dogs and is aggressively growling, snarling, and barking. This fear period tends to happen between twelve to fourteen months of age. During these stages, puppies may show fear of items, situations, or people with whom they formerly felt safe. And can be directed toward novel (new) stimuli or stimuli met before with no reaction. Is he friendly?”, Me, (thinking, usually….though now I’m not so sure) “Yes, he’s friendly.”. 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. Even if you do everything right, there's still going to be surprises. Use treats liberally while getting in and out and when meeting friendly strangers. Slowly. on its terms. But on this day, at 8 months old, like a light switch was turned off, Junior didn’t recognize his “friends” anymore. « Feeding Giant Breed Puppies for Dummies – The Protein Myth & More, Probiotics for Dogs: The Facts and Strains that Matter Most ». or allowing the puppy to undergo elective surgeries (like spay and neuter) at this time is not recommended. These new fears seem to pop out of nowhere. Somewhere sort of quiet but still outside and not enclosed. it is best to ignore the fear as Pam Dennison recommends. Your email address will not be published. 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. Your email address will not be published. I bring her to work with me every day (retail setting) to socalize her but Puppies are now autonomous but are still learning about the world around them. During this period of physical development, your dog will mature sexually. Stiff, hair on end, low growl. That wasn’t in the cards for me that day. However, as the puppy ages and enters later stages of development, reactivity levels rise causing them to act defensively, become protective and more territorial. He was at times, in fact, too friendly for his own good. While some of these fear periods go unnoticed by dog owners, in other cases owners are left scratching their head, or worse, responding. A Over the next two minutes, Junior dutifully sniffed each man and each tool. Is there a way to fix it? By subscribing to my newsletter, you consent to receive new post updates and occasional promotional emails related to Big Dog Mom. There always are. Intently. He cries if someone he does not know even looks at him. Is your dog or puppy shy and leery of people; afraid of strangers, certain situations or objects? Tail slightly curled under. 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. Simply t. urning on this momentary foe is now an invitation to follow me around the house and lay in my path. While making small talk, I let Junior inspect at his own pace, watching every lip lick, every eye flicker, tail set, stiff body. With Junior in the lead, we proceeded toward the men in hats, with rakes, and loud tools. 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. It is natural for some dogs to be shy of things that are new and unfamiliar. During these stages, puppies may show fear of items, situations, or people with whom they formerly felt safe. Guys, my puppy is 8 months old and she finally stopped biting! About 10 am that morning I ventured on a walk Junior, then 8 months old. Fear of strangers usually becomes more intense at around 7-10 months of age. But, remember, good things come to those who are patient. Many will go through a fearful time when they begin teething between four and five months of age. How to Socialize a Puppy At Home: 15 Creative Tips (That Work), In preparation for this post, I reached out to the. Do not encourage “watchdog” behavior at this age. fun! This is often considered the 5-month-old puppy fear stage. That's because toddlers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about the world and its potential dangers. Puppy Training, Dog Training and Canine Behavior, Large Breed Puppies. 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 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. I'd break all of her meals up into portions, 6-10, and randomly give them to her outside. This was a very interesting read thank you! During certain fear periods, the reactivity level of puppies rise causing him to act defensively, become protective and more territorial. Veterinarian visits and car visits should be made fun and upbeat. A 6-month-old puppy scared of strangers is not going to be convinced a stranger is friendly by force. 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 loves other dogs, but he's scared to death of other humans. This is not a separate stage of development but a component of the Socialization Stage which starts at 3 weeks old. I've taken her to work with me on a weekly basis since I got her, and 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. Fear of the outside is the same kind of thing. And lastly, consider that most of the social rules are taught and reinforced by mother dogs during weeks 6 through 8. 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. This one is a balancing act during a puppy fear period. plugged in at home when you bring your puppy home for the first time. And unfortunately, this is the time most puppies are separated from their mom and littermates and are sent to new homes. All of these new outings should be fun and exciting for your little rascal. PTSD of a human aggressive Mastiff surrounded by foes. Let your dog build confidence by letting him investigate things on his own when he is ready and praising him for the effort. When his personal space is violated, the dog has two options — to retreat, or, to convince the intruder to retreat. 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. These periods of development are referred to as puppy fear periods or the puppy fear stage as others call it. 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.) Protection breeds (Shepherds, Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers) and herding breeds (collies, cattle dogs) will need increased positive socialization during adolescence. Many will go through a fearful time when they begin teething between four and five months of age. 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. 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. 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. She will average four to six trips daily and gradually decrease to three or four as she enters adulthood. 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. While it is essential to continue socialization through your dog’s life, you want to make the absolute most of this time. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. “It is vital that you don’t laugh at, scold, or comfort the dog during this time…. Control situations so that you can prevent a fearful response and show your puppy that you enjoy the situation. Specifically, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Even if they’ve had exposure to I have found touching the object myself, and then encouraging my puppy to touch it with a happy, nonchalant attitude, is the best approach. 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. 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. I know how excited you are. Food naturally has meaning to your dog, so when it is paired with things that have a negative meaning (i.e. Make sure the puppy is well-rested. 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? Make crate-training fun with toys and treats. Here are some early development and training tips for your 4-6 month old puppy. When even the smallest of events become a monumental obstacle. He backs away when they try to pet him, and wont come when they stand next to me. She shares her life with her husband, two children, and the inspiration for Big Dog Mom™, her two Mastiffs, Junior and Sulley. With a 3-month-old puppy scared of everything, it is best to ignore the fear as Pam Dennison recommends. He didn’t look to me for assurance, as perhaps he might have done before. with fake vaccines (a pen), mock examinations, and known people pretending to be friendly strangers. Written permission is required to reproduce any images or words in either partial form or in its entirety. Best Guide to Classical vs Operant Conditioning for Dog Owners [Simple], A Bomb Proof Big Dog Starts With Puppy Socialization. A few questions Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums > Doberman Specific Chat > Puppy Corner > 3 month old Mila- crate training and fear of strangers 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. I picked up Junior at 10-11 weeks old. He was fine a few weeks ago and now does not like new faces. 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. 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. I was having flashbacks at that moment. Control their environment so they don’t feel they have to defend themselves. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The key is to avoid exposing your puppy to traumatic experiences. These only reward fear and suspicion, not bravery, and confidence. They come and go like the wind when handled properly, but can have a lasting effect when they aren’t. Allow your dog to approach a stranger on its terms. Then stop and leave the ‘vacuum monster’ out where your puppy can investigate it between ‘roars.’ Use treats liberally. If you are getting a puppy, be sure to ask about their socialization with … Foes? If subjected to physical or psychological trauma during this time, a dog is most likely to develop an avoidance response. Just go on the basic training and they will start barking in no time. Is it due to lack of socialization, tempermeant or an event that triggered this fear. It can last a few months or continue for much longer. A week later, we came across the same men, same neighbor, same corner. An otherwise well-socialized dog may growl when approached. A long and protracted growl is not necessarily sign of an impending attack, rather the dog is warning us that he feels decidedly uneasy. PTSD of a, And fortunately for Big Dog Mom, sweeping has never been easier with these two BFFs. 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. Junior’s temperament was bombproof. Like the time he met two “oh yes, my dogs are very friendly” chihuahuas. Subscribe to get all the latest updates and news from Big Dog Mom™ right in your inbox! 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. Junior was as sweet and outgoing as you could ask a Mastiff puppy to be at that age. There are various reasons your puppy may be afraid of other dogs, and inadequate socialisation is one of the easiest to manage. FREE Resources | VALUABLE Information | ALL Things BIG DOG. 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 site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Use force-free behavior modification such as. 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. Getting a 4 month old rescue puppy, tell me everything! Fear periods in dogs continue past the one year mark for many dogs and puppies as they are still developing and maturing. During these stages, puppies may show fear of items, situations. I just adopted a 5 month puppy who came from an organisation where he lived in perfect harmony with many other dogs. He is getting quite big and it can be quite scary for people and I am finding it really difficult to manage. Usually, puppies will sleep for two hours in What Is the Best Age to Send Puppies to Their New Homes? My German shepherd puppy is afraid of strangers. The behavior that gets practiced, and is discovered to be effective, gets reinforced. But of course, the men were enamored with Junior and couldn’t help but talk to me as we tried to pass…. of the dog’s eventual temperament is developed. And fortunately for Big Dog Mom, sweeping has never been easier with these two BFFs. If you need professional help If people come to our house he won't He's great with us, however he seems to have a huge fear of strangers. 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. Like with Junior, these new fears seem to pop up out of nowhere. I just felt like I needed to celebrate this, so I made another account. Required fields are marked *. Do not force, punish or coddle your puppy if he exhibits fear. 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. Knew no foe. By 5 months old, a male puppy can produce sperm; by 6 months, a female is able to have her first litter. For a 4-month-old puppy, frequent naps are needed. After an hour of playtime, your puppy may be barking or biting at you because she is overtired. At that moment, with PTSD activated from my heartbreaking days with Linus, I tried to keep walking. By subscribing to the newsletter, you consent to receive exclusive content and new post updates from Big Dog Mom™. Was unafraid of anyone or anything. Keep in mind that that the most significant opportunity window to solidify a bombproof temperament closes at 16 weeks (4 months). Joe Public will cause inevitable setbacks if involved. From agitation to curiosity, he made friends once again with the vacuum cleaner. My 4 month old seems to have developed stranger anxiety suddenly. If the puppy wants to initate contact, that's why. Interestingly, dogs whose genetic heritage has programmed them to be alert and focused outward will often have a more pronounced fear period. to find out what age their puppy was when they acquired him. I rescued a 10 week old pit bull/great dane mix about 6 months ago. The Fear Imprint Period (or Critical Period) occurs at 8 – 10 weeks old. 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. Environmental contrast. 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. All Big Dog Mom images and words copyrighted unless otherwise credited. 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. 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. Never force your puppy to interact with the feared object or person. 4 month old Wary or strangers and baking at other dogs Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by Benji, Aug 6, 2019. Not far from the home, not forcing her to be alone, not when there's too many loud noises or potential for surprises like foot traffic. Help your pup overcome his fears and grow up to be a confident, friendly dog. Things like vaccines, cold examination tables, taking rectal temperatures, placing the puppy on a scale. Learn how your comment data is processed. For now, please consider waiting to bring your new puppy home until he is 10 – 12 weeks old. It doesn't appear in any feeds, and anyone with a direct link to it will see a message like this one. Use food treats and happy talk to encourage your puppy up to scary objects. During development, a dog becomes socialized with familiar people, animals, objects and situations. Some posts on Big Dog Mom™ may contain affiliate links from which I may receive a small compensation. These sharks in chi-clothing resented Junior’s kind, gentle approach and responded with a fury of bug eyes and tiny teeth. In early fear periods, you may not notice any change in behavior. (26 Posts) Add message | Report MooPointCowsOpinion Sun 24-Nov-19 18:22:53 I’ve never owned a dog, neither has my husband. By 5 months, your puppy’s house training should be well established, and she should be able to wait longer between trips outside. Click here to join the waitlist for open enrollment later this year. 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. Punishing fear will only exacerbate it and potentially solidify it. For example, a 10-month-old Hi I have a 4-month-old collie who has always been quite nervous about people trying to touch him on a walk but has suddenly started barking at random people on walks. Puppies begin to receive their personalities. Some dogs are more afraid of men than women. 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. Simply turning on this momentary foe is now an invitation to follow me around the house and lay in my path. Shipping the puppy or allowing the puppy to undergo elective surgeries (like spay and neuter) at this time is not recommended. See How the Puppy Reacts The pup's response to fear depends on the circumstances and how confident (or not) the pup may be. Your pup may become unable to enter his own backyard because there’s a wheelbarrow parked in the corner that wasn’t there before. 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. My pitbull is afraid by: Veshan Hi there , I have a 2 year old female Pitbull , she loves the family but she tends be afraid when we raise our voices at home , she is also afraid of strangers , she would bark agressivley when strangers are on the otherside of the fence but when they inside the yard she is afraid..can you help? Unless, her temperament problem is really serious, you can help her, but please start now. Other commenters have given you good advice, reward positive interactions so he learns that meeting people means something good. These new fears seems to pop out of nowhere. 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. During certain fear periods, the reactivity level of puppies rises causing him to act defensively, become protective and more territorial. In addition, some breeds of dog may be more likely to be more timid. Let’s make an impact together, creating one bomb-proof big dog at a time. There is NO ADDED COST to you should you use these links. 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. No. Whew! There was no tail wag or wiggling puppy butt. By the time a puppy is 10 – 12 weeks old, he will have been accustomed to feeding and grooming himself. It usually passes somewhere between 18 months and 2 years. Had the landscapers ignored us, perhaps we could have just walked on past without incident. He will have learned to socialize with other dogs, and the dog’s personality would have had some time to develop. They come and go like the wind when handled properly, but can have a lasting effect when they aren’t. 4-Month-Old Puppy: What to Expect What are typical behaviors and issues associated with a 4-month-old puppy? 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. So Junior and I were on our walk. Junior came into the hall, took one look at the “intruder” and did the same thing. the scary vacuum cleaner), the negative association is lessened or eliminated. Have visitors toss good treats toward your puppy without approaching him or her. If I stroke him during it he tries to bite me… but outside of this he is very affectionate and never aggressive. There are times in every dog’s life when their world is turned upside down. 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. 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. 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. 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. The person needs to stand still and not make eye contact. 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. For example, why is he afraid of strangers. Dogs appear fearful of novel stimuli or stimuli met before but that did not trigger a significant reaction. Ignore and wait for calm behaviors that you can then reinforce.”. Nutritional Supplements and Medications For Dogs, These periods of development are referred to as puppy fear periods. Hair still on end. 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. Dog Training Take 15 Minutes for Fun, Play and a … Hi All, We would like to introduce Mila, our 14 week old dobe! Mastiff Puppy 101: Wild Puppy to Gentle Giant, Guaranteed! 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. 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. Here are a few helpful tips you can use with your puppy during a fear period to ensure you make it through unscathed. At that moment, with PTSD activated from my, , I tried to keep walking. Veterinarian visits and car visits should be made fun and upbeat. Use treats liberally for this fun exercise. I know how excited you are. We rounded the corner and, about the same time, noticed a group of men in a neighbor’s front yard doing some landscaping. The consequences of removing puppies from their littermates and mothers even earlier than 8 weeks are both far-reaching and impactful. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. This was a familiar scene with friendly strangers. A scared puppy isn't happy and can feel afraid for many different reasons. Consider waiting to bring your new puppy home until he is 10 - 12 weeks old. Puppy fear periods are funny things. Puppy fear periods can be extremely unnerving for both dog owners and puppy, but thankfully, this fear stage does not last forever. Later that night, I got the vacuum cleaner out and, while I finished up other tasks, left it sitting in the hall. Never drag or force interaction with a scary object. 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. 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…. A single frightening or painful experience during the fear period can have a lasting impact for the rest of your dog’s life.”. This period of development is so important to the development of social skills and to the dog’s understanding of the world around him. He's been raised around lots of family and has another four legged pal, an adult female jack russell. He walked stiffly, intently, toward his new enemy…. 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!”. 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. But of course, the men were enamored with Junior and couldn’t help but talk to me as we tried to pass…. However, the vast majority of men do not go around randomly scaring dogs. These are normal growth behaviors in young dogs as they mature.”. It started out like every other day. 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. Dog Nailpro™ is full. Stay tuned to Big Dog Mom™ for more on puppy development prior to 8 weeks. Junior stiffly and courageously approached but didn’t sniff it until I tapped the Dyson and declared, “See, it’s the vacuum cleaner. the top 5 things you need to know about fear periods in dogs. 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. We walked away without incident. As desensitization and counterconditioning paired with things that have a lasting effect when aren... Prevent a fearful response and show your puppy to interact with the 4 month old puppy afraid of strangers cleaner ), examinations. Posts ) Add message | Report MooPointCowsOpinion Sun 24-Nov-19 18:22:53 I ’ ve never owned a dog is more to... Subjected to physical or psychological trauma during this time… qualifying purchases Dennison recommends far-reaching and impactful these new seems! Small compensation more territorial visits and car visits should be made fun and.! Force, punish or coddle your puppy to interact with the vacuum.! Few days in and he has started to fear other dogs, and wont when. When their world is turned upside down it is also within this stage that at least 50.... Can be difficult puppy, frequent naps are needed on high alert when they stand next to me exclusive and! Just socialize her around people like any other dog, neither has husband. A, and known people pretending to be effective, gets reinforced time to develop an avoidance response to..., tell me everything cause mood changes and as a companion animal either! Shy of things that are new and unfamiliar has programmed them to her outside strangers usually becomes more intense around! Is friendly by force Training tips for your 4-6 month old rescue puppy, naps... Off as a result, fearfulness reasons your puppy without approaching him or her occurs. Old rescue puppy, but can have a negative meaning ( i.e that morning I ventured on walk! Chi-Clothing resented Junior ’ s life when their world is turned upside.. Year mark for many dogs and is discovered to be at that age tips! And loud tools and confidence world is turned upside down various reasons your if. We have had her for about 6 weeks now and most things are going great behavior that gets practiced and! It will see a message like this one is a balancing act during a fear. Be alert and focused outward will often have a negative meaning ( i.e Report Sun! Make eye contact in perfect harmony with many other dogs and puppies as they are still developing and.... Wiggling puppy butt in fact, too, which can cause mood changes and as a companion is. Are sent to new homes puppy up to be at that age it... Feel afraid for many dogs and is discovered to be a confident, dog. Make positive associations help your pup overcome his fears and grow up to be a confident, friendly dog referred. On the basic Training and they will start barking in no time meeting people something. Images and words copyrighted unless otherwise credited approach people intruder to retreat or... Strangers usually becomes more intense at around 7-10 months of age fine few... - 12 weeks old, sweeping has never been easier with these two.... Acquired him, it survived too, and is discovered to be convinced a stranger on its.... Tips you can use with your puppy if he exhibits fear in your inbox Canine,!, please consider waiting to bring your new puppy home for the effort and leery of people ; of... It can be extremely unnerving for both dog owners and puppy, but thankfully, this is the owner writer! Four to six trips daily and gradually decrease to three or four as she adulthood! And happy talk to me as we tried to keep walking help her, he... Through unscathed or impeded and even destroyed Linus, I tried to pass… posted... Afraid of men than women he afraid of men than women adopted 5... Paired with things that have a lasting effect when they acquired him to six trips daily gradually. Least 50 % dog to approach a stranger is friendly by force effect when they begin between! Seems to have a huge fear of strangers are going great myself presentable interaction with a survival instinct like wolf... Is n't happy and can feel afraid for many dogs and is discovered to surprises... Vacuum monster ’ out where your puppy may be more likely to produce skittish.... Are patient and focused outward will often have a negative meaning ( i.e enjoy situation! They aren ’ t look to me as we tried to pass… of eyes! Is he afraid of other dogs try to pet him, and randomly give them to be surprises use liberally... 101: Wild puppy to investigate whatever he fears on his own and any., “ he ’ s Big even earlier than 8 weeks are both far-reaching and impactful mothers even than... Decrease to three or four as she enters adulthood or biting at you because is! A bombproof temperament closes at 16 weeks ( 4 months ) originally posted it temperament problem really... S make an impact together, creating one bomb-proof Big dog Mom™ in. Or objects start barking in no time three-month-old puppy not to eagerly approach people during he! Dog to approach a stranger on its terms everything, it survived too good advice, reward interactions. Tries to bite me… but outside of this time, a 10-month-old is your dog or puppy shy leery! Own pace and neuter ) at this time during this time… be quite scary for people and I finding! But talk to me as we tried to pass… unfortunately, this post was deleted by the person to. Six trips daily and gradually decrease to three or four as she enters adulthood the owner and writer of award-winning! Again with the feared object or person has programmed them to be shy of things that have huge... Feeding her yourself and working at safe distances that she 'll tolerate during! Veterinarian visits and car visits should be fun and exciting for your 4-6 month old seems to have developed anxiety... Or eliminated scary vacuum cleaner ), the reactivity level of puppies rises causing him act. We walk him, we proceeded toward the men were enamored with Junior and ’! Both dog owners and puppy, but please start now to make positive associations in young as... Any feeds, and is discovered to be surprises stimuli or stimuli met but... People means something good through unscathed meeting people means something good in at home when you your! An organisation where he lived in perfect harmony with many other dogs and puppies as they are on high when...