Puppy Development Fear Periods
Try to avoid frightening the puppy during this time, since traumatic experiences can have an effect during this period.
Puppy development fear periods. A second fear period can happen during the fifth of sixth month of development, but can happen a bit later, during puppy’s adolescent period (any time between 6 to 12 months of age). The most critical period for puppy development is the age six to eight weeks (everything that happens prior to this is to do with setting the foundations of the animal & why it is essential that you have chosen a good breeder). The fear can be of.
The puppy responds only to warmth, touch, and smell. Critical periods in puppy development. This period is when the most rapid learning occurs.
They already have a fur coat but they cannot yet control their own body temperature. We now know that the first fear period peaks at 8 weeks. Eyes and ears are open, but sight and hearing are limited.
Fear periods are a normal part of puppy development, but they also can be overwhelming for dogs. Tail wagging begins and the puppy begins to control body functions. This also coincides with a very critical socialization period.
Most people realize that puppies have a fear period, however are unaware that there are actually up to 4 recognised fear periods. If the puppy perceives an event as traumatic, he may generalize it and it could affect him for the rest of his life. So to take a puppy from everything it knows such as the breeder, littermates and mum at this critical time can have serious repercussions.
Great care should be taken to avoid fearful reactions during this stage. Newborn puppies are born at the end of nine weeks of pregnancy, with their eyes and ears tightly closed. Puppies experience two fear periods during their development, and each fear period lasts for about 2 to 3 weeks, on average.