Enjoy this week’s doggy advice video as we chat about how dogs often suffer from a sensitive fear period when they’re young where many things startle, scare or worry them. For an unfortunate few this fear can be long lasting, even life-long.
The first fear period
This week’s Down Dog Digestible is all about the first of two key times in a puppy’s life when scary things can have long-lasting consequences – the first fear period.
We chat about how dogs develop, how they find out about the world and why they have no fear at first. Then they hit the first fear period, just when they come to their new home – and things that startle, scare or worry dogs in that sensitive fear period can be long lasting, even life-long.
Find out why Gus is still wary of our kitchen area, why one of Patrycja’s dogs was terrified of plastic bags, why one of Gareth’s previous dogs hated metal chains and why one of my previous dogs hated black dogs.
How socialising your puppy can help overcome these fears
Careful socialisation is the answer! And if your puppy does have a scary experience, please ask us for help, sooner rather than later.
We’ll chat about a lesser known period, the second fear period, next time.
You can find today’s Digestible here along with all the others from previous weeks.
Please do write in and ask if you have a question you’d love us to answer. I want to make sure these Digestibles answer any doggy queries you have.
Enjoy!
Keep safe,
Carol
