8 Month Old Fears & Anxieties

[Mackenziejw]

Hi guys! In need of some help with my 8 month old boy onyx. We have struggled with him and his anxieties since the day we brought him home at eight weeks something we thought would go away at first because he was just a baby, but still remains. He has these irrational fears of things that sometimes I don’t even know were happening. He’s very scared of homeless people, delivery drivers with trucks that make too much noise or with big deliveries. An example is even the main street near us. They just installed some artwork, and now he won’t walk by this one block because hes scared of the photographs on the artwork. Sometimes even just bags flying in the wind or random things on the side of the road that aren’t even moving. We have had two accidents lately where some thing in public has scared him to the point where he Peed and pooped inside a store once and then he Peed and pooped at the gym where my boyfriend works. how can we help him through his fears and his anxieties when we can’t even always understand what they are? I know exposure helps obvioulsy, but we take him on walks every single day we expose him as much as we can, but sometimes even at a park on a bench he can’t even sit still, he is just so Overstimulated at all times and we don’t know what to do because we don’t want him to feel this way we want him to be able to be calm at some point and not feel scared of all these things. We have tried everything we can think of but have seen little to no progress and are feeling defeated. Any advice he’s the sweetest boy, we love him beyond words and just want him to be confident and comfortable.

 

[LifeofRubie]

I don't have a whole lot of advice as we haven't had to work through this level of being unsure with our dogs (my lab is a bit sensitive with new things but he recovers and settles quickly), but have you done any work with a trainer? Either group classes, one on one, etc.?

I'm sure his lack of confidence is really frustrating, especially since he's looking much more mature and like an adult dog but still acting like he's seeing everything for the first time. Remember he is still very young! And it may just be there are things or situations he's not suited to and that is OK, too!

I'm sure more folks will chime in!

 

[JanS]

He's a handsome boy!

How do you react when he's fearful? It's best to be matter of fact about it and keep doing what you were doing or he's going to think you're reinforcing his fear of whatever it is. Stay calm and upbeat so he knows there's nothing to be scared of.

 

[Kswoodssue]

The AKC certified trainer we took class from does a Reactive Dog class. I think it would be helpful for someone to work with you and your pup together, with focus on this issue. It is also sometimes hard to determine what is fear and what is learned response or bad habits. Never coddle or reward this behavior. Be his unemotional rock when he needs you to be. Folks here say that we need to be the most fun thing in the room. If his focus is on you, it won’t be on the scary things. He is still a growing pup and learning every moment.

 

[EricA]

He's a handsome boy!

How do you react when he's fearful? It's best to be matter of fact about it and keep doing what you were doing or he's going to think you're reinforcing his fear of whatever it is. Stay calm and upbeat so he knows there's nothing to be scared of.

Much wisdom in this post from JanS.

Set an example for your dog by remaining calm.

Also, Don't give up. Keep on doing what you are and exposing him to the things that you want him to get comfortable with as much and as often as possible.

You don't teach a dog to not fear fireworks if you NEVER have them outside when fireworks are going off.

 

[Ddski5]

Don’t coddle…

When a Doberman sees something new be it a new person, sound or experience, he may be fearful…they go through fear phases as they age and you need to be aware when it happens. they will look to you for your reaction. Thunder, fireworks boom, new crazy looking person on the street, etc….if you react fearful, then so will he. If he acts fearful and you coddle/baby him then you are reinforcing the behavior. Problem with yours is that the response may be already patterned.

How to fix: slowly acclimate back into the stimulus and show zero emotion. No high pitch responses, or recognition. Calm with the utmost persona of confidence- persona of being in complete control.

Thunder booms and Freyja jumps and runs around frantic…I look at her and say, Freyja, you nut what are you doing? It’s only thunder and then go along my way nonchalantly.

Works for both of mine. Now are my Dobermans going to stand out in a Thunder storm or stay in the yard with loud fireworks going off above their heads? No….of course not but they most def look to me to see how I am reacting.

 

[EricA]

Thunder booms and Freyja jumps and runs around frantic…I look at her and say, Freyja, you nut what are you doing? It’s only thunder and then go along my way nonchalantly.

Works for both of mine. Now are my Dobermans going to stand out in a Thunder storm or stay in the yard with loud fireworks going off above their heads? No….of course not but they most def look to me to see how I am reacting.

Somewhere I got a really big file full of pictures of Dobermans serving during WW2.

They would not have chose that breed back then if they were known to be 'difficult' to desensitize to pretty much anything they wanted. (sounds, lights, pressures, etc.)

 

[Mackenziejw]

Thanks for all your replies ! Always helpful. In the moment it depends on what I’ll do. Not knowing what triggers him makes it hard to react or not react. Sometimes we are just walking and he starts losing it and pulling and pulling me with him like he can’t even feel his prong. If it’s a moment where he puts the breaks on I just talk to him happy and say it’s ok let’s go and keep walking. Sometimes he runs ahead and starts pulling if I do that. He basically does whatever he can to get away from whatever is disturbing him. The time we were in the store it was a lamp on a cart that was moving. The lamp almost fell but the clerk caught it but I turned around and onyx had peed everywhere and pooed everywhere. He had it all over his bum. Had to take him to the washroom to clean him up. Most situations happen so fast and his reaction is so intense that I am implicated in the process therefore I don’t always get the option to react in a way that would help him cause by the time I know what’s going on, he’s already seeing red and laser focused on getting away from whatever is scaring him or he’s already done something like poo or pee. General things that I can anticipate (homeless people, delivery trucks etc) I know how to handle. I just keep it moving in a calm manner and talk to him like let’s go buddy you got this! Cause I can see those triggers. It’s the ones that I can’t anticipate that are difficult. And it’s tough because it’s sometimes these things you wouldn’t even believe! I.E the new artwork installed on the Main Street near us. Like you’d thing he was seeing a ghost the way he’s scared. Poor guy

 

[Mackenziejw]

I take him to the park everyday to watch the people, the dogs and just take in the sounds. Something I’m doing to continued exposing him to as much as possible. When I sit down he lays on me as close as possible but his head is moving a mile a minute looking in every direction. One second he’s down the next he’s up then down then up looking left right up down. I’m trying to get him to sit and relax and just absorb but it constantly seems like he’s got ADD / over stimulated even if there’s nothing going on around us. Is he going to grow out of this eventually? I forgot he’s 8 months. The biggest of babies!

 

[Ddski5]

He is only 8months? Oh…well that’s good.
Yup he is in his development stages and hyperactive to all sorts of new stimulus.

Really sounds like you are doing a great job with the park, environment, sounds, triggers, etc…

I think the biggest thing you can do:
1. When you are around him out and about- you have to portray being the Alpha “badass”. He must know that in any given situation, you will handle it with confidence and certainty. This in turn will instill confidence in him.

2. You are doing this but want to say again: Just keep exploring new things…get out and about…don’t shelter him.

One of the best confidence builders I found was teaching Ragnar and Freyja how to climb steps, to climb up a park picnic table, walk on an elevated horizontal oak tree branch, how to climb aluminum bleachers. Alum bleachers was tough and he did not like because of the slickness of the bleachers- zero grip. But I got him to do it and could see how it made his character stronger.

8months? You have time. Ragnar did not solidify until well into 15-18months….

 

[Ravenbird]

We have struggled with him and his anxieties since the day we brought him home at eight weeks something we thought would go away at first because he was just a baby, but still remains. He has these irrational fears of things that sometimes I don’t even know were happening.

He basically does whatever he can to get away from whatever is disturbing him.

Most situations happen so fast and his reaction is so intense that I am implicated in the process therefore I don’t always get the option to react in a way that would help him cause by the time I know what’s going on, he’s already seeing red and laser focused on getting away from whatever is scaring him or he’s already done something like poo or pee.

I really feel for you in this situation. I'm a huge fan of working these things out with dedicated training and professional advice - I agree with the suggestion above to get help in that way, hopefully someone who understands. My feeling is that you have done nothing wrong, that this puppy was unfortunately born ultra-reactive to any stimulus. Loss of bowel & bladder control is something that tells me this is not normal puppy behavior.

Have you talked to his breeder? Or do you have any contact with other buyers from his litter that you can compare notes with? I also have to say I'm personally 99% against medication for reactive dogs, choosing training instead, but it may be helpful in your case if professional training doesn't change things. He is entering his teenage stage which will add influence - it's usually a period of rebelliousness and training has to get doubled-down on. To add that to your already full plate may get overwhelming.

Is he show any of this behavior in your house? TV sounds? Do you have a yard or are potty walks a must? I'm actually leaning toward really backing off the exposures rather than continuing what's not working.

I wish you the very best and hope you find answers. Let us know of your progress.

 

[Cranekc35]

Great advice from all above! I would like to add that I have been working on my boy who is afraid of the traffic and construction going on in the neighborhood. So, first I practice focus exercises daily (look at me). When we go out for our morning walks (around traffic and construction).... there are 2 things that I do. First, I will stand at a corner close to traffic and / or construction. I will let him view and then once he looks at me when he is scared, I pay him with treats and a Yes! I will stay there for a few minutes and continue to pay him when he looks at me each time. That teaches him to look at me for guidance as others were saying above. The other thing that I do each morning, whether it be by construction, at the corner of a busy intersection, strip mall parking lot or by a drive thru of a fast food place (we have a McDonalds near by)....I will have high value treats on me or his favorite tug and I will do obedience training with him around all of this. That way his focus is on me and it is desensitizing him on the noises around us. Showing him that I am fun and focus on me instead of everything else. It has worked like a charm. Another way to desensitize...go on Youtube and type in desensitizing sounds for dogs. There are many. Turn it on your TV at a low volume while training him inside. If at that level, he isn't reacting, next day, push up the volume a little more, and more each day. That helps too. It takes a long time, but you will get there. Hope this helps!

 

[Ddski5]

There it is…someone that is actually going through the same issue and some great real time training suggestions.

Awesome.

 

[Ravenbird]

Totally agree with @Cranekc35 as far as training procedures & good examples of detail. If this is more or less what @Mackenziejw has been doing for the last 6 months and still not working, I'm just saying I'd be concerned that he truly is overwhelmed and may need a different approach. If the house is a safe place for him I'd start over with focus and distractions there and move from there.

 

[EricA]

Totally agree with @Cranekc35 as far as training procedures & good examples of detail. If this is more or less what @Mackenziejw has been doing for the last 6 months and still not working, I'm just saying I'd be concerned that he truly is overwhelmed and may need a different approach. If the house is a safe place for him I'd start over with focus and distractions there and move from there.

That was an awesome post and very informative.

I don't personally use food treats for training but 'different strokes for different folks'.

 

[Glovmom]

I take him to the park everyday to watch the people, the dogs and just take in the sounds. Something I’m doing to continued exposing him to as much as possible. When I sit down he lays on me as close as possible but his head is moving a mile a minute looking in every direction. One second he’s down the next he’s up then down then up looking left right up down. I’m trying to get him to sit and relax and just absorb but it constantly seems like he’s got ADD / over stimulated even if there’s nothing going on around us. Is he going to grow out of this eventually? I forgot he’s 8 months. The biggest of babies!

As I also have a very active 8 month old - I do not have these types of problems because she is very brave and really not scared of anything - if she is ever afraid I just don't react and I then stand very quietly with her until she will approach whatever it is that has scared her and then we walk off - I don't make her stay there long - just until she has made some sort of move forward the object. Also, I have started really asserting my "Alpha" position in little things like she has to sit and I go out every door before her - she is not allowed to go out after me. When we start our walk she has to "heel" even though she is super excited - once she accepts that I let her do he sniffing, etc I always look for something new to expose her to on walks - we have a park where they play soccer and we just go sit and watch - pretty soon she could care less. I have never had this breed before but because of their intelligence, you really have to give them a minute to understand what is in front of them and process it on their terms not yours. I have learned patience since rescuing her. People around me have said how much better she has become since we got her and sometimes I feel when we are with them everyday we don't see he wonderful changes that are actually happening - no matter how small. I feel your frustration as we are going through hyper activity with our girl. This group give me so much help.

 

[cjpmpd]

He's a handsome boy!

How do you react when he's fearful? It's best to be matter of fact about it and keep doing what you were doing or he's going to think you're reinforcing his fear of whatever it is. Stay calm and upbeat so he knows there's nothing to be scared of.

I take him to the park everyday to watch the people, the dogs and just take in the sounds. Something I’m doing to continued exposing him to as much as possible. When I sit down he lays on me as close as possible but his head is moving a mile a minute looking in every direction. One second he’s down the next he’s up then down then up looking left right up down. I’m trying to get him to sit and relax and just absorb but it constantly seems like he’s got ADD / over stimulated even if there’s nothing going on around us. Is he going to grow out of this eventually? I forgot he’s 8 months. The biggest of babies!

Exactly! I feel like my boy has ADHD.

 

[cjpmpd]

I take him to the park everyday to watch the people, the dogs and just take in the sounds. Something I’m doing to continued exposing him to as much as possible. When I sit down he lays on me as close as possible but his head is moving a mile a minute looking in every direction. One second he’s down the next he’s up then down then up looking left right up down. I’m trying to get him to sit and relax and just absorb but it constantly seems like he’s got ADD / over stimulated even if there’s nothing going on around us. Is he going to grow out of this eventually? I forgot he’s 8 months. The biggest of babies!

I hear this! My 3 year acts like he had ADHD!