Watching with a more cautious interest
Watching the rain
The first week to ten days or so of Rosie's life with us, she was fearless. Big dogs, strangers, small darting children--it didn't matter. She'd watch with great interest, and, if she had the opportunity, she'd jump on their heads.
If I vacuumed, she'd sit, head cocked, and watch. The roaring noise was interesting to her, but not scary. Trucks, bicycles, rollerbladers--none of Riley's fear triggers meant a thing to her. She'd watch, or not, and go about her happy business.
In the yard, if we heard an unseen neighbor dog bark, she'd stop and listen and then go back to digging her unauthorized hole, or chewing on a stick, or racing after poor beleaguered Riley.
This used to be Riley's stick
I can pinpoint the day when she discovered fear--it was last Thursday. I cannot pinpoint the cause.
On Thursday morning, as we did our normal 8 a.m. walk around the neighborhood, she heard a dog barking in its yard. And she stopped. Would not take another step. I picked her up, and she was trembling. We were on the opposite side of the street from the dog, and the dog was in its house, but still, she was scared--the first time I'd seen her afraid.
I carried her a few yards and set her down and we walked on.
The next morning, it happened again--different house, different dog, same reaction. She was scared. I carried her past the danger, and then all was fine.
Is fear something that kicks in at a certain age? Or is it learned? If it's learned, how did she learn it? No creature has ever tried to hurt her. Still, it seems a healthy thing, to be wary of unknown surroundings, unknown dogs, the ominous sound of barking.
She is still happy to meet strangers, but I sense in her a new wariness. Where did it come from? What made it kick in?
13 comments:
I think Riley has been teaching her a few things.
I really do think dogs pick it up from each other. When Jack came to us, as old as he was already, he wasn't scared of the vacuum cleaner or anything else. Now, following Honey's lead, he leaves the room when I get the vacuum out.
I'm going with the nature.
If something bad happens I'm sure that would kick in in high gear.
I remember when my human babies would start showing fear. It must be a step in the brain maturing.
Hi Laurie,
Maybe it was something in the tone of the barks from the other dogs. Love the picture of her looking out the window.
Have a good day.
Patti
I think it is learned from peers. Like Babaloo, my dad had a neurotic cat afraid of everything it rarely came out from under furniture. He got a sweet kitten.. very loving. within a year that kitten is also psycho and hides all the time!
~Devon
She will be brave again soon. Maybe she is training you to carry her...kidding.
Jodie is the same way. I'll walk her and have her just sit at the end of our long driveway. Listening to noises. She has learned that noise isn't as scary as she thinks.
Jodie grew up on a huge farm without city noises.
Now, she lives in the woods and only hears dogs or cars when I take her for a walk.
The vacumn has always bothered her but then it's always bother me too.
My Lily started yelling at every buddy when she was 2. Go figure!
Hoppy Easter every bunny
Benny & Lily
She's going through her "fear period," something that happens to puppies from ages ten weeks to fifteen (I'm not sure about the precise age,but I'm sure there's information online). But it happens to most dogs, and then goes away.
It's from eight to eleven weeks--found it here: http://www.doberman.org/articles/puppy.htm
Looks like a good site on puppy development, and not just for Dobermans.
I think as the central nervous system grows more sophisticated, young animals, including humans, find fears crystallizing. Confident, gentle treatment by their parents or handlers can help them bridge those fears, I have faith. Hope Rosie doesn't grow too many fears!
Yes a puppy thing..it happens, some pups are more sensitive than others. When she starts to tremble distract her and keep your tone of voice the same..( I wouldn't pick her up..because that might become a learned response..tremble and shake and I don't have to walk...sometimes you must think like a dog)
I hope you will get her into another dog obedience class after the puppy one:)
it's fascinating to watch her grow and change!
and yes, she is already enrolled in obedience classes. she has two more puppy kindergarten sessions, and then we take a little break so we can go Up North. obedience classes begin may 15.
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