Guide: puppy fear periods
Puppy Fear Periods: Why Your Puppy Is Suddenly Scared
Puppy fear periods are short, normal phases when a confident puppy suddenly becomes wary of things it ignored the day before. The American Kennel Club describes two: one at about 8 to 11 weeks and another between 6 and 14 months. Each usually passes within a couple of weeks, as long as the puppy is not pushed or frightened further.
When puppy fear periods happen
| Fear period | Typical age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First | About 8 to 11 weeks | Often overlaps with the move to a new home |
| Second | 6 to 14 months | Tends to come earlier in small breeds than in large ones |
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), a fear period can appear suddenly and generally lasts no more than two weeks (AKC).
What a fear period looks like
- Startling at a trash can, a statue or a flapping bag
- Backing away from a person the puppy liked last week
- Refusing to walk past a certain spot
- Barking at ordinary noises
- Hiding behind your legs
The second period can be confusing, because a ten-month-old looks like an adult. In fact it is still developing, and it has not forgotten its training.
How to help during puppy fear periods
The AKC’s advice is simple (AKC):
- Let the puppy choose the distance. Do not pull, carry or lure it toward the scary thing.
- Reward curiosity. Praise and treat any step toward it, or even a calm look.
- Keep training short and easy. Ask for things the puppy already knows, so it can win.
- Choose quiet outings. A crowded store is too much for now.
- Stay relaxed yourself. A cheerful, matter-of-fact owner is reassuring.
It is fine to comfort a frightened puppy. Being afraid during a fear period does not mean the puppy will be fearful for life.
What not to do
- Do not punish fear. It teaches the puppy that scary things also bring trouble.
- Do not force a meeting. Holding a puppy while a stranger pets it makes things worse.
- Do not stop going out. Keep life normal, at a distance the puppy can handle.
Puppy fear periods and the first week at home
Most puppies go to their new homes at about eight weeks, which is right at the start of the first fear period. Therefore, keep the first days gentle. Limit visitors, avoid loud outings and let the puppy explore at its own pace.
Our new puppy checklist covers the first 48 hours, and the first night with a new puppy plan helps with bedtime.
When fear is more than a phase
Talk to your vet or a qualified behavior professional if the fear lasts longer than a few weeks, spreads to many situations, or comes with growling and snapping. Early help works best.
Meanwhile, steady, positive socialization is the long-term protection. See our puppy socialization checklist and puppy development stages.
Related guides
- Potty Training a Small Breed Puppy: A 30-Day Plan With Crate Training
- Puppy Separation Anxiety: Signs, Prevention and What Helps
- Crate Training a Puppy: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Puppy Biting: Why They Do It and How to Stop It
- Leash Training a Puppy: From First Harness to Loose Leash
See all our puppy guides, or meet our Havapoo puppies for sale and Goldendoodle puppies for sale.
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