That Sainsbury's van isn't the enemy. But if you react incorrectly now, they might fear it for life.
Between 8-10 weeks, your puppy’s brain is hyper-sensitive. One bad scare can imprint for life. This isn't stubbornness; it's a critical biological window.
For kittens, the window is even tighter—just 2 to 7 weeks. Their brains are 'recording' threats in high definition. Every encounter matters right now.
Spooking is a sudden, intense reaction to things they usually ignore. If they're backing away from a rustling John Lewis bag, they've entered a fear window.
Think you're in the clear? Dogs hit a second fear period between 6 and 14 months. Your brave teen might suddenly fear a local red postbox.
Human instinct is to coddle. But high-pitched soothing tells them: 'You’re right to be scared.' You are accidentally reinforcing the panic.
If they bark at a wheelie bin, act silly. Hum a tune, pat the bin, and show them you're relaxed. In the UK, confidence is contagious.
Scary noise? Dropped Argos catalogue? Immediately offer high-value treats. You’re overwriting 'scary' with 'delicious' before the fear imprints.
During fear windows, avoid busy town centres. Their brain is in 'heightened recording' mode—don't give it a traumatic event to film.
Forcing them to face a fear leads to 'learned helplessness.' Give them 10 metres of space and let them observe the world safely.
Pop into the vet just for a treat and a pat. No needles, no pain. Build a bank of good memories to buffer the scary ones later.
Fear periods are biological milestones. Navigate them with the Jolly Routine and you'll raise a resilient companion who trusts your lead.
Get the exact Jolly Routine scripts and the full age-by-age fear calendar for puppies and kittens.