I need  a bit of advice on some new, and rather silly, behaviour from my 16 week old Golden.

Since day 1 she's had the same section of the back garden to go to the loo in, and we've been having great house training results (only 2 pees inside the last 2-3 days) but in the last day she's been getting really silly about sights and sounds that previously she hasn't been bothered about. She'll be ready to go the loo, and the wind will startle her into not going and she gets her 'silly' ears on (they look like bunches at the back of her head!!) and run back to me. She'll get over it, and a tree will rustle and same thing will happen. The same with our next door neighbour making a noise in the kitchen. She's even getting distracted by the shadow her tail makes.  We got to the point where she would go to the loo really quickly and then back in, she's now getting 'spooked' by the smallest thing, and taking an age!

I understand that puppies experience another level of fear around this age (she's actually 16 weeks today) so has she reached this? Do I ignore her behaviour and carry on with the loo prompt or reassure her?

Thanks for any help!

Karen

Don't reassure her because that will sound like praise to the puppy and then you are effectively praising her for being scared.  And yes, what you reward (praise) you will get more of.  So you'll only get more fear if you reward the fear.

Best thing to do is to be very matter of fact.  Take no notice of her when she's being scared and walk yourself towards the scary thing so she can see you're not afraid of it.