My 22 month old lab Cooper has started barking at the most silly noises....refrigerator starting up, a car door closes, the wind. But also, when he goes outside, if there is a light on at a neighbors, he barks! These are things that happen every day....the noises and lights I mean. Is he scared? He seems very jumpy....uptight. He has had a lot of exercise every day because he goes to day care so you would think he would "crash" after coming home and having his dinner. I feel bad for him because it's as if he can't relax and go into a deep sleep. He will sleep fine through the night. No problems there. Just wish he could be more relaxed. I know his sense of hearing is extraordinary and hears things I don't....but what is this about lights? Does anyone have a similar experience? Thanks. And HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Google up on fear periods and see if anything you find reasonates. BEcause it just started this could be the reason.
If anyone has reliable - as in verified by research - sources about fear periods in dogs I'd love to have them. I have traced back various references to "fear periods" (actually critical periods, with the terminology then changing to sensitive periods) to some research done as early as 1953 through to the 1980s. This is about 4 periods in development, but it is not about sudden periods where a dog gets scared of things as it is older. None of my more up to date reference books and DVDs contain the concept of 'fear periods', over and above the critical socialisation period and then the puppy becoming more wary at the end of this. Patricia McConnell uses the term "Juvenile Onset Shyness" and describes it like this: Juvenile Onset Shyness (fear of unfamiliar things or people developing from around 5 to 9 months of age). I’m curious about the breed effect–it appears to me to be especially common in herding and guarding breeds, but I don’t believe there has been any study that compared it’s occurrence in different breeds. Anyone know of any? Of course it varies from a short, temporary period of mild fear of unfamiliar things to all out fear-based aggression, but I’m curious if there is a breed-specific predisposition. We do know that shyness is highly heritable, so it would make sense to be affected by breed and lines within a breed. Anyone seen any research? - See more at: http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/th...rward-several-steps-back#sthash.HGbEByR3.dpuf If anyone has more information (and by that I do not mean links to websites, I mean research and reliable work done by reputable behaviourists) I'd love the references please.
I just have what I have observed with 3 puppies. I find that as they gain independence, they also naturally gain some fear. So at around 5 months they begin to be spooked by this, that or the other. What bothers them depends entirely on the dog. When they feel this way they look to us and other dogs who are with them to see how we react. If we react with confidence/no fear/nonchalance then they learn that the 'thing' is nothing to be afraid of. If they see us getting anxious they may pick up on this. They can also associate bad experiences with some unrelated things. This is why when our guide dog pups are introduced to new equipment we make sure all experiences with the new equipment are positive for weeks before we go anywhere where the opposite may happen. They have long memories too. Tatze hurt her mouth quite badly when coming in our patio door (she had picked up a stick, tried to run in at full pelt, and jarred her mouth). She is still, two year later, afraid to come through that door!
http://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2015/04/different-dog-breeds-different.html WEll here is one study and here's the Mary Morrow research that the link in the article above does NOT go to without a further search: http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(15)00031-3/abstract It's only the abstract but there's enough to see that the research did measure cortisol levels. I do like to see theories backed up by research, by accredited Veterinarians or Animal Behaviourists whose credentials I can check, with the degree they were granted and what school they got it at. IN the case of fear periods the Dr. Google advice I found to not coddle, not force was bang on for Oban and it did indeed seem to fit when he suddenly was leery of garbage cans. It lasted two weeks with him. I did find advice from dog training websites I respected though, even if they didn't have credentials to a particular study quoted.
I thought of something else. OP, if this continues, since it applies to noise and sight, I have the horrible thought that perhaps a VEt check is in order. Old dogs with failing hearing and sight can have very similar reactions. I suppose it would be a long shot but you do hear or read of people having an illness, fever, that either temporarily impairs both hearing and sight, or worse permanently. I think you'd notice other things amiss but ........
That article, and the abstract, Snowshoe, refers to the end of the first sensitive phase of early puppyhood (the cricial socialisation period), and the beginning of being wary after that. It does not mention a later 'fear period' in older dogs.
Interesting reading but the study is based upon only 98 dogs over 3 breeds, non of which are in the gundog/retriever classification. For any real evidence of "fear periods", for me there has to be a lot more dogs involved over all breeds. An increase in cortisol could be expected in any dog who is under stress but stress does not necessarily equal fear. Yvonne I would lean towards Mags advice and try to ignore the barking and reaction but appear confident that there is no reason for concern and hopefully Cooper will soon stop.
Yes, well, back to the original post. I'd have a vet check too, just to rule out anything. I personally (although defer to anyone with more material or experience) do not think any stage of natural development would cause a dog of 22 months, nearly 2 years, to become suddenly fearful. When you mention lights, I'd have his eyesight checked. I have read an article about fearfulness in dogs being related to poor eyesight. The only thing I can think of is: is his life a bit too routine? I don't mean to be critical about this, busy lives, work and family do drive us all to routine, and I have had this with my dog. When he was isolated from new experiences after an operation, he became very spooky at really odd things - a car door slamming in the street and so on. The solution, or part of the solution, was to take him to a new place everyday, and his confidence soon returned.
Julie, maybe the routine is getting to him.....Cooper has been going to day care almost every weekday.....I will be having bi-lateral knee replacements in a couple of months and not able to walk him (pain) so he goes to day care and then, Sat and Sun have a friend that comes and "runs" him for an hour each day. Still, at home we go outside for a bit while I clean up his poo!!! and he runs around and sniffs around. But, yes, maybe this is getting too routine for him. I have no dog walkers in my area, unfortunately. I am told by day care ladies that he plays all day with several of the larger dogs there and he is very tired when he gets home. I never thought of the routine bit, so thanks for pointing that out. Will get him out to the beach to run.....I can take a chair for myself .Will have his eyesight checked by vet next week....I imagine it's lights he is barking at when it's dark because that is all I can see.....maybe he hears things that I don't and I think it's lights. Thank you ALL that responded to this....I read the articles you sent. Most of them are for younger dogs....he is almost 2 years old but some of it can certainly apply. He is such a sweet dog.....just want him to be happy, relaxed and enjoy life....Again, THANK YOU!
Well, it doesn't really sound like more running and playing is what he needs - I'd say more things like busy high streets, markets, things like that - where he'd hear a range of strange noises and sights. But only speculating. These days I hesitate to suggest people have a session with a good trainer/behaviourist because I'm doubtful that there are very many good pet dog ones around, but it might be worthwhile to have a hour with someone that would do a home visit and perhaps could see things with a second pair of eyes that it's hard for you to spot.
By the way, I've emailed Patricia McConnell asked her to cover fear periods (or the myth of them, perhaps) in a future blog (she asked for suggestions from the readers of her blog)...so fingers crossed she might.....along with thunder shirts....and, er, a few other things.
Wonderful, Julie. Thanks. Will look forward to it. As to getting a trainer in to see what is going on, that's a great idea. Will pursue it now that the Holidays are over! Thanks for all your suggestions.
Wanted to update this situation with Cooper. Took him to vet's and his hearing and eyesight is spot on. So that can be ruled out. Decided to try this at night: instead of putting him out into his fenced in area which is the backyard where woods are, am letting him out the front door (no fence) and he is OK with that. He goes out into the dark without a problem .... stays out for about 10 minutes...I make sure I leave the front storm door (glass) open so he can see plus there is a light next to the front door. So it seems as though it's the back of the house he is unhappy with at night. So it's not darkness he is spooked at but the backyard! So interesting. He will still bark at a stationary light!! I have also called a trainer.....we don't have behaviorists here unfortunately.....and she has been backed up due to the Holidays but we are looking at end of January for her to come and investigate...... Thanks to all for your responses......always interesting information from all of you. I just loooove this Forum.
