Puppy Development Fear Periods
Most dog owners will never witness this very first fear period considering that most puppies go to their new homes at 8 weeks, so it's worth noting that when referring to the first fear period, it's the one taking place at 8 to 10 weeks as described below.
Puppy development fear periods. During fear periods, puppies become more sensitive and aware of the world around them. As you can see, this period overlaps that of the previous definition and children or animal should not be allowed to hurt or scare the puppy — either maliciously or inadvertently. Critical periods in puppy development.
Generally speaking, puppies go through two potential fear periods during puppyhood. Young dogs go through two separate “fear periods” as they grow, which are essentially times when the pup is extremely sensitive to bad experiences. Eyes and ears are open, but sight and hearing are limited.
The human socialization period begins at seven weeks and ends at 12 weeks. 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). We now know that the first fear period peaks at 8 weeks.
Your puppy is coming into a new home, leaving behind his mother, and litter mates, and is being introduced to a new family. They are dependent on their mother or another heat source to keep them warm. Try to avoid frightening the puppy during this time, since traumatic experiences can have an effect during this period.
Newborn puppies are born at the end of nine weeks of pregnancy, with their eyes and ears tightly closed. Concurrently, the fear impact period begins at eight weeks and ends at 11 weeks. He cannot regulate body functions such as temperature and elimination.
He cannot regulate body functions such as temperature and elimination. Eyes and ears are open, but sight and hearing are limited. What does a fear period look like?