Fear Periods in Adolescent Dogs

Have you ever heard of fear periods in dogs? Well, now you have!

Fear periods are the the most common reason adolescent dogs are surrendered to shelters nationwide.

What IS a fear period? A completely normal, critical period in a domesticated dog’s development where he will become suddenly fearful of stimuli he has been previously exposed to. A radical, critical reorganization of information in your dog’s brain.

In a nutshell, your dog is re-learning what is safe and what is not.

It is imperative that you handle these periods with grace and poise. Do not give up on your dog during these crucial developmental periods! We are here to help you not only navigate, but support your dog through these periods of seemingly irrational fear responses in a way that will leave them far more confident on the other side. After all, that’s what these developmental stages are all about: growth!

When do fear periods occur?

It depends! The first period occurs before adolescence, before the puppy is weaned from the litter. Then another, when the puppy is weaned and enters a new environment. The next period most commonly occurs somewhere between 6-14 months, depending on breed and other environmental factors. (Some dogs experience many fear periods in their adolescence!)

What does a fear period LOOK like?

Your dog will begin exhibiting fear responses in reaction to things they were previously never phased by: A trash can you pass daily on your typical route for your daily walks. A neighbor that your dog sees on a regular basis. Other dogs. Loud or percussive noises. Sudden movement. Touching of sensitive areas such as the paws and ears. Crate anxiety. There are endless possibilities!

This period can be extremely defeating and confusing for us as owners. We do everything right: early socialization, desensitization exercises, confidence building. And yet, we find ourselves having an embarrassing leash tug-of-war battle with our previously confident dog over a trash can we’ve passed every day for the last 3 months.

Guide your dog through this period! One way you can do this is bringing those tasty treats out and using them to create a positive association between the stimuli and something your dog enjoys. Begin working at the low end of your dogs threshold where they are exhibiting minimal stress and discomfort. Don’t throw them in head first! Work slowly, building closer and closer to reaching your end goal: a consistently positive reaction to the stimuli.

If you are struggling to navigate these challenging periods with your pup, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help. We know how challenging this can be for both members of your dog/handler team. We are an evidence based practice with science on our side!