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Stages of fear

20 11:27:09

Question
My airedale is really well socialized, no problem, he walks with us on busy streets, he goes into shops, he meets a lot of dogs in the dog park and we live downtown montreal so there are a lot of action around here!   When we walk we do not fear anything and my dog feels okay with us.  

But it happened a couple of time that he shows a fear of an object and we can't figure out why.

Like our vacuum cleaner or his new bed...  We try to show him that there's nothing to fear, but he still approch the object, tail tucked and ears folded.

I just wanted to know if there were techniques that would make the fear go away faster than praise him as soon as he goes near and snif the object.

Thanks anyway.

Karine & Boston
Montreal

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Followup To
Question -
Hi,  I have a wonderful big Airedale that is going to be two in 2 months.

Is it possible that he is in a fearing stage?  I noticed that he is scared of anything new that appears near him.  

Is there a way of helping him being more secure with these new objects?  I taught him "snif it" so that he would snif whatever i point at, it worked for a couple of objects but he really acts like he's going to die if he lies in this new bed we bought for him. :)

Thanks.

Karine and "Boston"

Answer -
Hi Karine
You need to get the dog out on the streets and socialize him well, cross bridges, go to parks, let him sit and watch alot and learn from good dogs.
Dogs should not go through any fear stages if they are brought up properly.
My pups are taught to be fearless before they leave here.
Get him out daily on a leash and go for anything on the streets horns, mowers running, make him fearless of all.

Kind Regards
Patt
WWW.SCHREKNHAUS.COM

Answer
HI KARINE
I THINK WITH WORK AS YOUR DOING, AIRDALES ARE VERY PROUD, FEARLESS DOGS I HAD AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, BUT I TEMPERMENT TESTED EACH ONE AS I DO MY SHEPHERDS. IF A DOG IS SOMEWHAT TIMID AT THINGS, THEN YOUR GOING TO HAVE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE PUP.
AS YOUR DOING, SHOW IT THE OBJECT, I FEEL IN TIME IT WILL OUTGROW THIS FEAR FACTOR OF OBJECTS WITH YOU AS HIS LEADER AND LOOK UP TO YOU, RATHER THAN FEAR ITSELF..
KEEP WORKING AS YOU ARE, WALKING ETC.   KEEP SHOWING THE PUP A WIDE VARIETY OF OBJECTS EVERYWHERE, LET HIM SNIFF AND LEARN TO BE NON FEARFULL OF ANYTHING, IN TIME THIS WILL CORRECT ITSELF.  HE IS GOING THROUGH A SOMEWHAT STAGE OF SILLINESS I WOULD STATE RATHER THAN REAL FEAR.
HAND HIM A BISCUIT AND TELL HIM GOOD PUPPY.  KEEP REWARDING FOR ALL THINGS HE DOES AND HE WILL GET BETTER AND BETTER, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PUPS LIKE THIS IF ANY LOOK TIMID VERY YOUNG, I START TO DROP THE CAN OF STONES, RATTLE ALL KINDS OF NOISE AND RUN AND PLAY WITH THE PUPPY TILL IT GETS OVER IT AND IS EXPOSED TO OUTDOORS AND ALL THINGS BEFORE PLACING IN A HOME.
NONE OF MY PUPS HAVE ANY PROBLEMS BEING TIMID TO ANYTHING WHEN I AM DONE WITH THEM AND THEY LEAVE INTO NEW HOMES.  GOOD BREEDER ALL SHOULD WORK WITH PUPS AS I DO AND NOBODY WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
GOOD LUCK AND WORK AND LOVE HIM.

KIND REGARDS
PATT
WWW.SCHREKNHAUS.COM