Fear Period
A fear period is a brief onset of fearful behaviour in an otherwise confident puppy. It is usually seen in young dogs. If an older dog is showing unusual signs of fear, it may be linked to physical or mental problems.
Credit: Illustration: The Spruce / Mary McLain
Signs of fear in Dogs:
Different dogs exhibit different signs, here are some of the most common ones. + Panting without exertion + Trembeling when not cold + Crouching, lowering body posture + Whale eye (showing the whites of the eyes), + Posturing (Moving body away from the object) + Hiding + Flattened ears, + Cowering + Lip licking + Drooling + Yawning + Tail tucked + Tail wagging stiffly, or predominantly to the left + Raised hackles (hair along the back of neck and spine) + Avoiding eye contact/averting the eyesItching Scratching without any reason + Vocalising (whining, barking, growling, teeth chattering, chuffing) + Submissive urination + Excessive fast paced licking of other individual + Biting or snapping + Pacing + Destructiveness + Clinginess to owner or trying to hide behind them + Grinding teeth. To learn more, please check out the page on FAS or click on the image from The Spruce.
What is it, when and why does it happen?
A fear or imprint period is a natural part of puppy development and often occurs around key milestones. During this time, puppies may startle and show higher reactivity than usual. In addition, they become extra clingy and show signs of fear towards new people or situations. These reactions are normal and should not be a cause for alarm. It is important to provide a safe and supportive environment for your furry companion during this phase.
It is crucial to handle these situations with patience and understanding. Avoid forcing them into uncomfortable situations. Instead, give them space to become more confident and comfortable at their own pace. This will help them develop healthy coping mechanisms and ultimately become well-adjusted adult dogs.
This fear period is a necessary step in their emotional and mental growth. While little research has been done in this area, some experts suggest it is a result of the brain reorganising itself. The first period would generally coincide with the puppy weaning off mum and starting to explore their world. A heightened sense of fear at this stage may have served to keep them safe. The second period usually coincides with sexual maturity, which in dogs can be a chaotic and dangerous experience.
These periods usually last between 2 and 4 weeks and can be pretty challenging. Some dogs may experience more than two fear periods, while others may not experience anything or may show no signs when going through one.
First one occurs around 2-3 months – This is a critical socialisation period and also happens to coincide with when most puppies are taken to their new homes. It’s important to be gentle, kind and understanding with your puppy during this period. During this stage, puppies are working out what is dangerous. Do not use any form of dominance-based training or scold or reprimand your puppy, as this can have lifelong psychological effects on them. It is essential to introduce your new puppy to their new home and family in a safe and controlled manner, creating barriers in your home and puppy proofing certain areas ensures that your puppy is making safe and good sound choices, and you are providing positive reinforcement rather than needing to stop or correct them.
The second one may happen around 6-14 months. - Usually by this time, your puppy has had all their vaccinations and has been on a few walks with you. You may start to notice that the puppy that would show appeasement signs, turn over and cower away from other dogs or people, may now begin to react by running away or growling, barking and lunging at them. During this fear period, puppies usually learn how to respond to things that they are afraid of. Correcting your dog in these situations can not only amplify your dog’s fear but also ruin the bond of trust between you and your dog. Instead, help your dog learn Calm, polite communication, redirect away from scary situations using positive techniques such as sniffing, eye contact or marking and rewarding Calming signals like a head or body tilt to express how they feel. It is important not to force your dog into any fearful situations, not only during this period but throughout their early years. Allow your dog to observe triggers from afar. Help them feel safe and confident around the triggers using techniques like Conditioning, Desensitisation, Shaping and a lot of positive reinforcement.
Remember, with love, care, and patience, this too shall pass.
What to do
- During fear periods, doing less is better than doing more
- At home, give your pup a safe place to be, and agency when outside to go in a direction they feel is safe.
- Go for quiet bush walks or walk at times or in places that avoid other uncontrolled triggers.
- Go on short sniffy walks rather than long ones.
- Switch normal walks for Backpack walks.
- Do things your puppy finds enjoyable, like enrichment or playing in the yard instead of walks.
- Go at your puppy's pace; Curiosity is the cure for fear.
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