Adolescent timidity

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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I remember Tawny going through this, and it was very boring! Pen has now decided that there are lots of scary things out there, she is 5 months old. Tell me it won't last long?
I don't even get the scary things - we came back from our mini walk this afternoon and a lorry was unloading in the yard, older dogs were called to heel but Pen galloped over to say hello to the lorry driver. Why is that not scary?
Yet MIL's dogs barking next door are VERY scary indeed. You can't do last widdles while under attack!
 
The natural reaction to a pup like yours is to offer consolation and perhaps reassurance. The problem with that is that if we do then we're rewarding behaviour which we don't want. I'd generally advise that the owner ignores the problem, and if it persists, then gently start to insist upon obedience. Such pups may also be reliant upon the existing 'pack' company and as yours, when she met the lorry driver, she may be more confident when she has other canine support.

In your shoes I'd probably concentrate on a one-2-one period of bonding, leaving ALL other dogs, including and especially Tawny, at home. If she's bonding with and becoming reliant upon other dogs rather than you, then the longer it continues, so it will progress. Her behaviour pattern isn't unusual but whether it continues or not, will be up to you I'd suggest.

Alec.
 
She is most likely going through the second fear period that most pups have. Fear is an emotion, not a behaviour, so you cant reinforce it by giving comfort. I would keep everything easy for her, don't push her to like anything, give her distance from anything she thinks is scary.

The fear period may only last a few weeks, the less bad experiences she has during this time the better.
 
She does spend a lot of time alone, she only gets walked alone (yesterday, when we met the lorry we were just doing a mid afternoon bimble round the barns). She doesn't get any reassurance for it, it is ignored, nor does she get made to confront things, well except we do have to stay outside until last widdles have happened. Tawny did it too, and she was the most confident pup, but different things triggered her. Strange men mainly, and children.
Funnily enough, if she walks past MIL's gate at any point she likes to go and stir up the terriers, even when they get cross with her.
Puppies!
 
MotherOfChickens said:
Quarrie's kicked in at about 7 months-strange dogs and strange men. passed after 2-3 weeks.
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I did think this was a bit early, hopefully it will be brief, like Quarries.
I just took her for a lovely walk, my OH does it normally. We went out for about 15 minutes, round a big field. She was fine, pootled along in front doing the smells. She likes to glance round and check you are there, but I look at that as a plus. We didn't meet anything or anyone to see how brave she was feleing.
 
Teaselmeg said:
She is most likely going through the second fear period that most pups have. Fear is an emotion, not a behaviour, so you cant reinforce it by giving comfort. I would keep everything easy for her, don't push her to like anything, give her distance from anything she thinks is scary.

The fear period may only last a few weeks, the less bad experiences she has during this time the better.
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Completely agree with this. I wouldn't push her threshold boundaries at all for the next 2-3 weeks, just concentrate on keeping up your training and avoiding things (where possible) that you know might freak her. If she does get freaked then you can reassure her. As Teaselmeg rightly says, rewarding a dog with attention can reinforce a behavior but it does not reinforce an emotion.

From memory my last dog's second fear period came at 8 months and lasted around 3 weeks
 
I don't tend to reassure - I might say in a nice voice 'Oh don't be a muppet, you silly pup' but that is about it.
I hadn't noticed it before Tawny, but I suppose my kelpie was alwasy fearful of everything and she was the only dog I had from a pup prior to this lot.
 
Clodagh said:
I did think this was a bit early, hopefully it will be brief, like Quarries.
I just took her for a lovely walk, my OH does it normally. We went out for about 15 minutes, round a big field. She was fine, pootled along in front doing the smells. She likes to glance round and check you are there, but I look at that as a plus. We didn't meet anything or anyone to see how brave she was feleing.
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his came out of nowhere and I was a bit nervous as we'd already agreed to have Fitx and we couldnt be that flexible on dates for picking him up. all seems to have worked out fine though-sure she'll be back on track in no time.
 
Well she isn't bothered by thunder. We just had a hell of a storm and I was outside unblocking the storm drains as the house was flooding. She was out with me trying to rescue her bone, which she had left on the lawn. Talk about drowned rat.
The downstairs ceiling just caved in too, and she is now eating the plaster. Fun, fun!
Oh for a modern bungalow.
 
Thistle said:
I was tracking the storm on lightningmaps.org it went round us but you could see some huge hits near you
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It was impressive. Shame it wasn't dark to really get the lightning better. We had 10 mms in 10 minutes! The hall ceiling needed doing anyway.
 
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