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The puppy normally receives her second and third vaccinations at approximately twelve and sixteen weeks, respectively. Once inoculated, she can be introduced to new people and places. Daily socialization and short training sessions will counteract fear and instill confidence and good manners. (See chapter 7 for more on socialization.)

By fourteen weeks, the spontaneous desire to socialize and investigate begins to wane, and a puppy becomes wary of unfamiliar people and places. Continually introducing her to new experiences becomes increasingly important. The lessons of socialization must be consistently reinforced until a puppy reaches adulthood—and beyond.

Fear Imprinting

THE PERIOD FROM EIGHT TO TWELVE WEEKS IS SOMETIMES referred to as the fear imprinting period because a puppy becomes more sensitive to her surroundings. As puppies investigate their new surroundings, they learn that some things should be feared. This can be something straightforward, such as physical pain, harsh correction, or bullying by other pets. Or, it can result from an irrational reaction to something unusual. A sound-sensitive puppy can become overly fearful in response to a car backfiring, fire crackers popping, or a noisy parade traipsing down Main Street. A touch-sensitive puppy can have difficulty recovering if someone accidentally steps on her foot or tail. Although fear imprinting is a temporary phase, try to minimize stress during these weeks. A few bad experiences can set a pattern that may be difficult to overcome and permanently affect a puppy’s personality.

Here is a chronological breakdown of the stages related to fear imprinting:

• Three to four weeks: puppies won’t hesitate to approach anything interesting and don’t generally learn from their “mistakes.”

• Five weeks: puppies begin to develop a sense of fear, based on memory and experience, and become more cautious.

• Seven weeks: puppies have good memories, and fear responses can form quickly.

• Nine weeks: fear imprinting usually peaks.

• Ten weeks: unwarranted fear reactions usually level off as the puppies’ understanding of their environment becomes more reliable.