Why Some Behaviors Don’t Appear Until Later In Life

And How to Train Through It

Older dog and younger puppy laying down together in a yard.

Have you ever had a puppy who seemed like any other normal dog until they hit about 8 months to a year old? Then they started showing some behaviors that were unusual for them, like barking at other dogs or are now fearful of new people? Or maybe you noticed they started stealing items more and would growl when you would try to take them away? Have you found yourself walking your pup in Uptown in Charlotte and suddenly they spook at random objects like never before?

You’re not alone.

Teenage dog scared of blue roller suitcase while outside for a walk.

Many times we raise our puppies to overcome their first “fear period” when they are around 8 to 11 weeks of age by introducing them to our families, friends, and neighbor’s dogs. Many people know that early socialization is important to set up puppies for success later in life, but why do they seem to hit a whole new roadblock when they become teenagers?

Dogs can actually experience a second fear period, usually when they are between 8 to 14 months old. During this time many families notice their dog becoming unusually shy, fearful, or reactive. It’s extremely important to tread cautiously during this period, and to work with your dog to help them overcome these fears.

A fearful black dog pulling back on their leash while on a walk, exhibiting fear and a resistance to continuing their walk.

If nothing is done to help your dog become counter-conditioned or taught about how to act in these reactivity centered situations, you could wind up with a dog who lunges and barks while on walks or one who tries to bite when you take away items. Reactivity and Resource Guarding are serious behavior modification issues, and should be addressed as soon as they being to appear.

Teenage lab mix lunging while on a leash, about to bark at a passerby.

This is why reaching out to a dog behavior expert during this time is imperative in order to help them become a confident and happy pet! At Canine Compass Dog Training, we come to your own home so your dog can work around the triggers they see on a daily basis in their own neighborhood! Whether you’re located in Mint Hill, North Charlotte, or Matthews, North Carolina, we can come to your home to train privately and directly with you and your dog.

If you give us a call today, you can discuss with a knowledgeable canine behaviorist to talk about what’s been going on with your pet to get you the answers you need.

Call us today at 980-999-3288 or email us your questions at CanineCompassDogTraining@gmail.com to get more information on how to best to approach behavior modification for your dog.