Puppy Fear Periods Ian Dunbar. One of the methods he suggests is called ‘timed departures’ whereby you vary the length of time that you are away from your dog. Some individuals will pass through this periods faster than others, often with no noticeable problems.
James & kenneth publishers, 2001. Try to avoid frightening the puppy during this time, since traumatic experiences can have an effect during this period. Few puppies conform to the precise developmental time table described by scientists and pinpointing developmental dates, such as a hypothetical “fear imprint” period to a specific week, let alone a specific day, really is as simplistic as it is unrealistic.
Sounds like a great excuse for a few parties!
Ask that your new puppy not be fed before the trip home; In this process, unused neural circuits are discarded while others are reconnected. Puppies may experience two fear periods. This fear period is believed to be tied to the dog's sexual maturity and growth spurts.