Fear stages in puppies - Page 1

 Do most GSD puppies go through fear stages? Are there typical ages pups go through fear stages?  I haven't had many pups in my life because most of my dogs have been adult rescues or rehomes, aside from one GSD I bought at 15 months. I've had a GSD WL pup and I fostered a Dutchie starting at three months of age through 2 years. Neither went through noticable fear stages. I'm entertaining getting a pup and would like to learn more about the fear stages I hear mentioned very so often. 

In my view any fear should be overcome in a few seconds. When they see something that startles them stand still or step back check it out and proceed. I would not own a fearful dog. Nerve issues can get you or the dog hurt.

I have never had a pup go through a so called fear stage. The pups that I have seen in a fear stage, are just plain nervy or fearful and don't come out of it.  Just my opinion, but people with pups in a fear stage are just trying to justify having a fearful puppy and have low expectations in what a strong confident puppy should be like.

I am a Newbie. I am also interested in the answers to your question. I just got an 11 month old male (have had him for 3 weeks now) from Czech working lines that is very "nervy" right now. Very sensitive to new environments and sounds. I am trying to gently expose him to new things and he seems to be doing ok. He hackles up someimes when strange people or dogs approach him or walk behind him during our walks, but recovers fairly quickly. He is doing better on new surfaces, but I still need to coax him a little to walk on them. My biggest challenge is his sound sensitivity.  He freaked when a skateboarder went by us with his skateboard roaring.  After the skateboard past, my pup was trembling,and it took him a good while recover from this. I accidentally dropped a big plastic gate on the wood floor and made a load sound and my pup ran out the door to the back yard. He came back after a minute (partially inside, back half outside, lol) to see what happened. I remember when I first got him, I was over eager to load the clicker with him. As soon as I pressed the clicker (it was in my pocket), my pup startled and backed off a little. Talk about sound sensitivity.  From then on, I decided to take it very slow and easy with him. Is this a fear period?This pup has been kenneled in rural Texas for 7 months, and I don't think much was done with him during that time.
I have read many opinions.  Some say bad nerves are bad nerves, no such thing as a fear period. Some say gsds, especially european lines, take up to 2 years to mature, and I should socialize my pup and expose him to my environment, and he'll be fine when he matures.

Why did you get this particular dog and what are your expectations for him? I would have returned him immediately, but that's because he's not what I want in a dog. He may be just fine for what you want though. My opinion is a dog like this can improve up to a point with a ton of socialization, but  will never be the super confident out going dog that I want for a good sport dog.

I agree with Greyhound girl. That's my experience with fearful dogs, too.

I had had only GSDs. Then I heard about the Shilohs and joined their message board. I kept wondering about this fear period thing. I'd never heard of it before. I also was scratching my head over why everyone was so big on extensive socialization. I'd taken my GSD pup out and about town, and that was enough to cover any of her socialization needs. We didn't do any formal classes until she was about 10 months old, and she turned out to be a very confident dog.

I've also heard Gustav say you can only take a dog with poor nerves so far with training and socialization, because a lot of the problem is genetic.

I would give this 7 mo. old pup a chance to get used to the big, wide world, as he's obviously come from a kennel where he was never exposed to very much. But if you don't see results within a couple of days/weeks, the problem is genetic, NOT environmental!

Here is what I know about fear stages.   For my knowledge, it is not a matter of the puppy being fearful (if they are fearful, this is a temperament issue), but a point in their mental growth where things are very impressionable.  Here is some notes and a good article I found.

8 --11 weeks  

Fear Imprint Period

Experiences a puppy perceives as traumatic during this time are generalized and may affect him all his life. It is a fact that a dog is most likely to develop an avoidance response if subjected to physical or psychological trauma during these four weeks.
This period falls within the human imprint period.  Anything that frightens the puppy during this period will have a more lasting effect than if it occurred at any other time.

6 - 14 months

Second Fear Period

Many dogs will show a rise in their level of reactivity (aggressive displays when startled or frightened) during this time. They may become protective and territorial. Incidents of teenage flakiness may recur.

Corresponds with growth spurts. Therefore it may happen more than once as the puppy matures.  May suddenly be apprehensive about new things or shy or timid of new people or situations.

The fear of new situations must be handled with the utmost patience. Continue positive socialization exposure, but be careful to avoid overwhelming situations. Flooding (throwing him in to "sink or swim") is to be avoided.

If your puppy appears apprehensive, avoid pressuring him. Allow him to approach as he is ready. Praise confidence. In the event of an aggressive display, provide space, not correction. You are his support system. When confronted by scary things, he needs you to give him space and time to acclimate and build confidence. He needs to feel safe.

http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/DevelopmentalStages.html
 

 

Paul & Greyhoundgirl, Thank you for your input. That is more or less what I thought, but wanted hear it from others. 

Csic, I'm not an expert, but I agree that a dog with bad nerves can only improve to a point. I know of people who have spent lots and lots of money on trainers and spent months or even years working with a nervy dog only to have it improve marginally. 

I've heard so many people talking about the "fear period"...but honestly I've never really understood what they're talking about...I mean maybe with all the dogs and/or puppies I've had I've been lucky...but I think it's more of everyone seeing and calling things something different...Like puppies and young dogs all have a period of socializing which to me just means seeing and experiencing new things...To me "socializing" is like putting stuff on a new CD...Everything is new...So you have to look at everything in that way...
Now the "fear period" is maybe what I see when a puppy/young dog observes new things and might hesitate for just a minute...but a good puppy...a good breeding will just have puppies that will step back and observe...then recovers and goes forward...Some are slower then others...But this period is also about having good leadership...the kind that comes from a puppy's mother and from "You"...To me it's also a super good thing to introduce an entire litter to new things together...that way they learn and rely on each other...
But you take what you get and you move forward from that...For instance...I use my other dogs...Puppies...Young Adults and Adults to teach the very young...

~Bob~

Fawn, Thank you for this information and link. .

So, if a pup is harshly disciplined by a human or shown extreme aggression from another dog between the ages of 8-11 weeks,  it has a lasting effect. That makes sense. because that is a very impressionable age. I don't quite understand why this would be called a fear period, but who am I to say?

As for the ages between 12 weeks and 14 months, I'd like to hear what others think about this. I do remember my pups (WL GSD and Dutchie) becoming a little more protective around the one year mark, barking a little more and so forth, but again, no fear, timidness or shyness at all. And I would not say either of these pups were heavily socialized nor was I intentional about exposing them to lots of different environments, surfaces, people, etc. but they were very adaptable and well balanced. They were naturally exposed to a lot of things and people because we had a small horse farm with a lot going on.