Fear periods?

[lizzybeth727]

I know puppies go through fear periods, but what are the chances a 14-month-old would still be going through them?

Keegan's always been vocal, but the past couple of days his barking has reached a WHOLE NEW level. Today he was barking at the MICROWAVE. Which he sees me use EVERYDAY.

Or maybe he's just a crazy adolescent? I can't really think of anything else that's changed lately - exercise, training, etc. - that might possibly cause him to bark at EVERYTHING. Any thoughts?

[Kat09Tails]

Fear periods can occur up to 24 months old depending on the chart you look at so yep... totally possible.

The main thing to watch out for is dogs that just don't get over it or go into basket case avoidance.

[Maxy24]

Could have been spooked by something as well. Tucker's always on edge for a few days after the UPS man comes

[Doberluv]

What breed is Keegan again? Are you sure he's afraid of the microwave? Could it not be an "off shoot" of the herding instinct? I've seen dogs...my sister's is a good example where the herding instinct, I truly believe has gone hay-wire. Her sheltie barks and gets all worked up with every appliance, the ice maker, microwave, toaster, printer, hair dryer, on and on. Its so extremely excessive that he's developed a back-chaining situation where the things that precede working the ice maker (for instance)...like getting a glass out of the cupboard, getting the loaf of bread before putting it in the toaster etc trigger him to get all excitable and barking wildly. Its sprouted from mildly annoying to down right enough to make a horse leave its oats. I told her how to work the problem...things to do to break up those chains of behavior and some other tips to habituate him to these things and associate them with calmness, but she never does anything she's told. LOL.

[Saeleofu]

Logan definitely had a fear period around that age. He's now 2 1/2 and there's really NOTHING he's afraid of now.

[lizzybeth727]

Originally Posted by Doberluv

What breed is Keegan again? Are you sure he's afraid of the microwave?

Smooth collie, and yes, it was fear-barking.

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

Logan definitely had a fear period around that age. He's now 2 1/2 and there's really NOTHING he's afraid of now.

Yay!

He's still being extra vocal today. I was going to take him to get pictures with Santa, but decided against it. His past fear periods haven't lasted too long, hopefully next weekend we can visit Santa.

[Doberluv]

Oh poor boy. Yeah, I do remember little things that would pop up from time to time that scared my puppies, even when I thought they were all "growed." I'm sure this will pass.