Oooh, it's Going to Get Me! Solutions for Frightened Canines
Fearful puppies need extra effort and special attention if they are to overcome their fears and become confident, well-adjusted adults. There are a number of reasons why puppies might be afraid.
Lack of early socialisation
The most common reason is lack of adequate socialisation and habituation early in life (see How to socialise a litter for information on how it should be done). If your puppy missed out, you will have to make a determined effort to turn back the clock. Socialisation and habituation done after the 12-14 week cut-off time is harder work and a slow process. However, as the puppy gets older, it will get more and more difficult so it is important to start straight away and, going at the puppy’s speed, get them out and about as much as possible.
Bad experiences
Another reason for puppies to be afraid is bad experiences. A puppy that has been badly scared or hurt by something will have a specific fear of such things, unlike the under-socialised puppy that will be scared of nearly everything. This could be anything from black Labradors to teenagers wearing trainers. Helping a puppy get over specific fears is easier as there is only one thing to work on.
Motherly fears
If the mother of the puppies was fearful and was allowed to demonstrate her fear in the presence of the litter, they will have learned to be wary of the same things she was worried about. Usually, these are specific fears but fear of strangers is common and something that needs lots of work to overcome.
She may also have passed on genes that make the puppies more likely to be fearful and reactive. These genetic predispositions are much more difficult to overcome.These are the reasons is why it is important to see the mother when buying puppies and to ensure that she has a good temperament.
Overcoming fears
To overcome fears, you need to work slowly and appreciate that things that may be harmless may seem terrifying to your puppy. Break it down into stages:
- Identify the fear (e.g. men in hats, collies, strangers)
- Stop all exposure to the frightening thing unless you are working on it
- Find a way to make the frightening thing less scary (e.g. get some distance away, keep the frightening thing still)
- Arrange for your puppy to have small controlled exposures to the reduced experience (check your puppy’s body language and postures to ensure he is not afraid)
- Encourage your puppy to relax and have fun during these controlled exposures by offering food treats and games.
- Gradually build up the intensity of the exposure over successive sessions as your puppy becomes less afraid.
- Go back a stage if your puppy shows signs of distress or anxiety.
- Continue until your puppy is relax and confident around the thing he once found scary.
Use our handy socialisation tool to guide you.
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