Socialisation

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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Ffee has always been a friendly little pup, but as of last week she has decided everyone is scary. Even people like MIL and stepson who she sees regularly are now to be avoided. I sort of remember the others doing this and think I just ignored it. So, would you ignore or push on?
Should she still go out to the feedstore and so on, which is no very worrying, or leave it a couple of weeks then start again?
She is 4 months.
 
I think I would carry on as normal, just be matter-of-fact about it but make it as pleasant an experience as possible. Could you ask the people in the feedstore to give her a suitable treat/play with her? Is she perhaps beginning to feel travel-sick. We have had that in the past but have carried on regardless tbh, just trying to build up short journeys. One Lab needed sedative tablets for travelling for several months until she was about a year old. She grew out of it.
 
I think I would carry on as normal. Bo was fine out and about when we got him, and you know what he’s like now. As CC and WGSD have suggested, the honeymoon period is over now and he’s settled and showing his true self. Plus you know a bit of his life before us. We’re working very slowly with him as he’s older and more set in ways, whereas Ffee is still a baby and learning. To her I guess it’s a big wide world to learn about? You’ve said the others went through a similar stage, and by carrying on as normal, they’ve all turned out perfectly level headed and happy.
 
I don't think it is travel sick, she loves going in the car. She is just as nervous when people came to the house. Something must have triggered it but I have no idea what. I hope just an age thing.
I just spoke to the friend who has her brother, he has done a lot more socailisation than I have but now can't get the pup to stop mugging strangers and jumping up! A compromise would be good.
 
Secondary fear period? Carry on as normal but don't harass her if that makes sense. Let her look at stuff and don't push her into contact with things she's scared off, let her retreat and do a bit of counter-conditioning work. She'll get through it with no lasting effects if you give her time and space (and biscuits). If you push them, crowd them or get cross you can compound the fear. The scary people can sit still and small and ignore her while you feed her biscuits or play a game with her at a distance where she's comfortable enough to take food without snatching or engage in play. The distance will gradually get shorter and eventually scary person can feed treats of offer a toy. It may be that one day she just forgets it and goes straight up to them....

But yes. It's normal. One of mine got spooked by wheelie bins at that kind of age and the other one was fine apart from a forestry work sign in the woods which he growled at and skirted right round for a few weeks. Lol.
 
Poor Ffee, although it is many years since we had a pup (so I've forgotten how we would handle this!) we had an elderly Labrador (the wonderful Spot) who developed Dementia and went through a period of fear and anxiety relating to all sorts of daily events that never used to trouble her such as walking over bridges, post arriving through the letterbox, the oven timer bleeping and being picked up to be loaded into the car. We offered her reassurance and did not force her to confront a situation, her fear was very real to her, the bridge, for instance, she suddenly became afraid of overnight having previously walked over it twice daily for 3 years. She was supervised in every crossing and nothing untoward had happened but she suddenly could not even approach it without trembling, panting and becoming very distressed. We would take her favourite toy with us in a walk to be pulled out as we approached the bridge and used it to distract her. I think Spot's brain was going through the same sort of upheaval that a puppy brain goes through at certain stages of their development, albeit for a different reason. I think Ffee's is age related fear and she'll grow out of it but it is still distressing to watch, if you deal with it in a positive way and let her take her time it will only strengthen your relationship.
 
Just thinking back, for donkey's years all of our Labs have had adult dogs to show them what to do. Are you taking Ffee out and about with the others? If not, that is what I would do.
 
PapaverFollis said:
Secondary fear period? Carry on as normal but don't harass her if that makes sense. Let her look at stuff and don't push her into contact with things she's scared off, let her retreat and do a bit of counter-conditioning work. She'll get through it with no lasting effects if you give her time and space (and biscuits). If you push them, crowd them or get cross you can compound the fear. The scary people can sit still and small and ignore her while you feed her biscuits or play a game with her at a distance where she's comfortable enough to take food without snatching or engage in play. The distance will gradually get shorter and eventually scary person can feed treats of offer a toy. It may be that one day she just forgets it and goes straight up to them....

But yes. It's normal. One of mine got spooked by wheelie bins at that kind of age and the other one was fine apart from a forestry work sign in the woods which he growled at and skirted right round for a few weeks. Lol.
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The me feeding her treats is a good idea. I will do that. :-)
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Just thinking back, for donkey's years all of our Labs have had adult dogs to show them what to do. Are you taking Ffee out and about with the others? If not, that is what I would do.
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She does both, but always with Tawny to a 'scary' situation. :-)
 
Are you taking Ffee out and about with the others? If not, that is what I would do.
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See, I avoided this due to a maladjusted older dog, and in fact they're still walked separately more often than not. Hopefully you have better role models than my big white eejit! :p

Sharkpup had a behavioural regression/fear period at around the same age (including a sudden aversion to his collar and lead which was very trying...) Although I was quietly freaking out that I'd picked a nervous puppy I tried not make a big deal of it and let him get on with it. Certainly no forced interactions with anything or anyone. No problems now and it actually did wonders for his recall as he's entirely uninterested in other people or dogs, whereas I think paying too much attention to it risks ending up like your littermate's situation where people are A Big Deal.
 
blackcob said:
See, I avoided this due to a maladjusted older dog, and in fact they're still walked separately more often than not. Hopefully you have better role models than my big white eejit! :p

Sharkpup had a behavioural regression/fear period at around the same age (including a sudden aversion to his collar and lead which was very trying...) Although I was quietly freaking out that I'd picked a nervous puppy I tried not make a big deal of it and let him get on with it. Certainly no forced interactions with anything or anyone. No problems now and it actually did wonders for his recall as he's entirely uninterested in other people or dogs, whereas I think paying too much attention to it risks ending up like your littermate's situation where people are A Big Deal.
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I think that is why I am overthinking it! I was so determined not to get a nervous pup I met both parents to check they weren't timid and then thought 'Oh no' GGD's link explains it really well, and I will just ignore it.
Oh, and I wouldn't take her out with Pen who is a bit OTT sometimes, if I feel she needs company it is with one of the older two. Freind with littermate said his pup follows it's elders all the time out on walks, whereas thankfully Ffee potters around doing her own thing.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
That's interesting and makes a nonsense of the legislation which suggests that pups should be leaving mum at 8 weeks.
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Trouble is, if it goes much later you miss out on such a lot of socialisation time. It is a double edged sword! I have never had an 8 week old behave fearfully.
 
Clodagh said:
Ffee has always been a friendly little pup, but as of last week she has decided everyone is scary. Even people like MIL and stepson who she sees regularly are now to be avoided. I sort of remember the others doing this and think I just ignored it. So, would you ignore or push on?
Should she still go out to the feedstore and so on, which is no very worrying, or leave it a couple of weeks then start again?
She is 4 months.
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Carry on. Keep taking her out & about as usual. Yes, she will display fear, she's still a baby, ignore the undesirable behaviour & praise the positive.
 
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