| Re: Acting Scared
There is a wonderful Sticky in the Puppy Development forum, by Poohbearsmom, called Critical Periods of Canine Development.
This portion may be of some help:
Second Fear Impact Period 6 to 14 Months
This period is otherwise known as Teenage Flakiness! In large breeds this period could extend longer since it is tied to sexual maturity. Incidents may occur more than once. This is a fear of new situations and is handled with the utmost patience. The dog is encouraged to work it out on his own. If anything, it is better to ignore the whole situation than to reinforce the fear by praising the dog or petting him while he is afraid. When you "reassure" a dog with pets and "it's okay, fella", you are telling him it is okay to be frightened and you are creating a potential problem. |