Today my 6 month GSD puppy behaved very oddly. When we arrived at our usual walk (with him and my other dog) he was very antsy & his back was up. He saw some people through the trees and barked a bit. OK, a bit unusual but on with the walk. Then we came into a clearing (we do this walk nearly every day) and he saw a woman walking along the grass. He froze, then started barking at her before turning and bolting in a blind panic. He scared the life out of me, after 2 minutes calling he finally came back to me and was less than his usual self for the rest of the walk. I've been racking my brains to work out why. He's been extremely well socialised to virtually every situation I can think of, and is a quietly confident dog. Now I'm thinking that i've left some ghastly gap in his socialisation that has caused him suddenly to be so fearful of apparently - nothing. I do know that they go into a second 'socialisation' window, when they become suspicious of things and that life experiences need to be ongoing - but I really hope someone else has had this happen, and it just was a 'one off' or a phase. I work so hard to socialise my shepherds, as a fearful one is my worst nightmare. He did have a scary incident on a different walk on saturday, where a dog bit him on the nose, but I took him back to the same park later the same day and the next morning and he was fine. Could this be a delayed reaction?
Any ideas/experiences welcome. If I need to take remedial action I need to do it now, but I really don't know what caused this. Thanks all
Kat

It could be a delayed reaction but strange he should bark at a lone walker rather than another dog? Has he seen another dog yet and if so how did he react? Different breeds go through 'fear stages' and can suddenly become frightened of things they would normally experience everyday. It passes in a few days/weeks. Read up about the breed and fear periods. You may find what scared him was the fact he ran from you and then couldnt see you rather than the experience of the woman walking along.

My dog is currently going through this thing when I tell him hes been a bad boy he cowers on his belly and runs to his bed! I never raise my voice at him and never hit him as he knows that when I say Bad Boy he knows thats the final straw and he normally casually strolls to his bed and sits there for a few minutes until inviting himself back in! However, at the moment you would think I had taken the leather strap to him and its so embarrassing too as people must think Im really horrid to him! I also feel really sorry for him as he is such a sweetie but I cant hug him after telling him off or id confuse him. Dogs who'd have em?! :)

If I were you I would just keep walking him. Maybe keep him on a short leash so as not to lose him for a few walks until this passes. Just walk as normal. Ignore any outbursts as if you are tense, he will be too. When you get home give lots of praise and maybe even a little treat.

Good Luck x

Thanks Caroline
Some reassurance there! He's met plenty of dogs since this incident and has been fine with them. Strangely enough I do think it's mostly unrelated. Will look up the fear period, I believe for most dogs its about 8 months, so perhaps he's just premature.
Thanks again for your reply - they're such a worry aren't they?
Kat

No problem.

They are a worry, worse than kids :)

For my own breed the fear periods are at 8 weeks 14 weeks and about 8 months. All dogs vary though so yours could be mature for his age!

Best of luck
Caroline