Clicker Training Confidence

[The Spotted Devil]

How old is she? Could be a fear period or around the first season............if I see this in a pup, they don't get any pressure like showing or training at clubs for a few weeks, they stay home, go to non-threatening places and generally are allowed to grow through it............I have seen dogs ruined by being under pressure at this age..............plus the damage to their reputation if they show fear in public..........

I was thinking along the same lines - my Em completely fell off the training wagon when she was teething (happened all at once like I've never seen before!) and right before her first season. I just took things very slowly and let her tell me when she was ready to pick up where we left off.

[dragonwoman]

How old is she? Could be a fear period or around the first season............if I see this in a pup, they don't get any pressure like showing or training at clubs for a few weeks, they stay home, go to non-threatening places and generally are allowed to grow through it............I have seen dogs ruined by being under pressure at this age..............plus the damage to their reputation if they show fear in public..........

I was thinking along the same lines - my Em completely fell off the training wagon when she was teething (happened all at once like I've never seen before!) and right before her first season. I just took things very slowly and let her tell me when she was ready to pick up where we left off.

Pays to take it easy, boys do it too, suddenly worry about things that didn't bother them yesterday, can't possibly do anything they have been doing for weeks......................given a few weeks off they bounce back..........and all the better for their "holiday"

[The Spotted Devil]

Yes my male Dally developed an unholy and inexplicable fear of Great Danes when he was around 9 months. His best mate at show training was a 96kg Mastiff and he hadn't had a scare with GDs - we had several at training. I didn't push him, just gave plenty of distance from them at training and kept him out of the show ring. It passed after a few weeks and he's been fine ever since.

[dotdashdot]

She's 6.5 months old, and no sign of coming into heat just yet (her Aunt came in right on 6 months, so I've been expecting it, but nothing).

I think this all stemmed from her first show, if I had known what it would do to her, I would take it all back. She was teething at the time and the very first judge was quite rough with her mouth. She got worse over the weekend, and I received conflicting advice re. keep going or pull her out.

I've been taking her out and about, and she is enjoying it - she showed a little bit of fear in a new environment the other day while my husband had her (so I didn't see it) but we went to 3 different places last Friday and she was quite happy the whole time.

At the end of the day, she is the most amazing little girl - at home she is my perfect puppy. She's a snuggle monster and a huge cuddler. I really feel that her naturally curious and spunky spirit will overcome this fear, as long as I manage it correctly!

[The Spotted Devil]

It might be a combination of things....Em fell apart a month out from her first season. She's brilliant now with hormones flowing - just wish I could trial her she's that on fire. Her recall goes to sh!t about a month out though.