Fear periods do not affect every puppy, but they can be intense moments that alter the emotional state, making them much more vulnerable. Not everything is something we have to push through and it’s okay to just step back and remove some of the pressure from our puppies and ourselves and let time do its job. Fear periods are a normal part of development, and we can help our puppies through them by just giving them a little space to keep growing up.

Foster your bond with your new puppy by rewarding them often, playing and adventuring together, and just hanging out. Remember that not everything has to be a structured training session and sometimes it’s even more beneficial to spend time doing nothing but enjoying each other’s company.