The Fear Period: 4 Best Ways to Handle the Fear Period

Here are the best ways to calm your dog's anxiety, fear, and stress during the fear period:

• During the fear period (5-7 months), dogs may become scared and anxious around people, unfamiliar objects, other dogs, etc.
• A weighted blanket designed for dogs is a great help; it can calm anxiety & fear from the fear period to adulthood. Use a weighted blanket in everyday life and in scary situations such as thunderstorms, fireworks, or separation anxiety.
• Continue training and socializing your dog.
• Be consistent with boundaries and rules.
• Handle problematic behaviors in a positive manner.

What is the Fear Period? When a dog begins to reach sexual maturity, around 5-7 months, hormones flood the dog's system, making the dog insecure and afraid. During this period, the dog may see "ghosts," meaning it becomes scared of completely harmless things. A dog that was previously calm and fearless may now become scared and anxious around things it wasn't afraid of before. It's common for the dog to become scared of people, other dogs, animals, unfamiliar objects, fluttering things, cars, noises, or its own reflection. It's also common during the fear period for a dog to develop a negative association with something it's afraid of. For example, your dog may be scared of a car on a certain street and therefore not want to walk on that street in the future.

Weighted Blanket:  a weighted blanket designed for dogs can be very helpful (it's important that it's made for dogs!). Such a weighted blanket provides even & gentle pressure over the entire body, creating long-lasting calmness. It's an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety throughout the dog's life. The blanket can also be used in scary situations such as thunderstorms, fireworks, or separation anxiety.

Continue Training and Socializing: Even though your dog may seem like it has already learned everything, it's important to continue training and expose it to different situations and people. Socialization is key to avoiding fears and unwanted behavior later in life.

Be Consistent with Boundaries and Rules: During the fear period, your dog may test boundaries and challenge authority. It's important that you remain consistent with the rules and boundaries you have established to prevent your dog from developing bad habits.

Handle Problematic Behaviors in a Positive Manner: If your dog develops problematic behaviors, such as chewing on furniture or pulling on the leash, it's important to handle these behaviors in a positive manner by using reward-based training instead of punishment. Positive reinforcement is more effective for shaping desired behavior in your dog.