Hi there,

Just a quick query. Reba has just turned 6 mths old, and over the past couple of weeks she has become sleepier and also more reactive to noises like the wind. Overall she seems a bit more frightened of everything and clingy which I didn't expect - thought she would get more independent.

She rests/sleeps for a large part of the morning even after 9 - 10 hours sleep at night, and doesn't really want to eat for ages. In the evenings she is more like herself, so I am fairly sure she is not sick.

Any ideas as to why she is like this at this time, I have some basic knowledge of pups going into adolescence but would have expected her to become more independent and less interested in us - just basing that on how she was younger.

Thanks
Gavs

If you only have one dog it will (mostly) develop a greater focus on the family as she gets older rather than other dogs. The dog bonds with it's pack.

Sleeping: goes in phases at her age she will be spending a long time growing so good diet appropriate for the breed and let her get bigger. It's tiring for the body - so the body triggers sleeping time.

Our GR pup is a eat, sleep and play machine atm.

Is it possible that she is coming into her first season?

all dogs can differ in time scales, but throughout the 1st 6mths and even beyond that to a year or even more, there are critical Phases of developement. Around 4 to 8mths (remember only approxs.) but usually when teeth and jaws are developing, they usually go though a more dependant stage where before ones that were dependant and came when called will now run off and assert their freedom. Usually a time when people are going mad because they wont come back where they were so good on re-call before.
They will often push at boundaries too behavioural wise and test to see what they can get away with, so in this regard there maybe some independance and she wont be so eager to please or be so dependant on you.

They can also too at around 6mths even up to just over a year plus, Go through a Fear of the Unknown period. A previously outgoing "brave" puppy starts to react to new situations, sights and sounds again with uncertainty and some outright fearfulness, again it often co-incides with teething. It can be a stressful time for them. Just give them time to realise the fears are unfounded and give it time and a bit of patience. Obviously bad experiences, rough handling, raised voices at this time can have an impact too. So just treat him gently, until it passes.

As someone else has mentioned also, they can be coming into season or preparing too from 6mths onward so hormone changes can have an implication on behaviour too. 1st Physical sign of a season coming is that the Vulva will likely swell, then you will get a discharge, and you will find she will be trying to keep herself clean. So keep an eye out and check her regularly for this too.

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Thanks all,

Yes I think she is just becoming a bit more needy of us and is definitely frightened much more at the moment. We are very gentle with her so that will help. This morning I sat down on the kitchen floor and she came over and tried to curl herself into my lap like she did when very small. Hard for a 20kg+ pup

Gavs

definately sounds like a second fear stage, most puppies will go through this around the 6 month age. you need to up her socialisation and experience of things in a very positive way. i have been thru this with 2 of my 5 dogs and have found that a clam blase attitude to things is the best way with lots of positive re-enforcement. It is quite alarming as things they had no problem with before suddenly become a big issue to them so we presume something bad must have happened to them. remain consistent and calm and she will get through it it is important not to make a fuss of her when she is showing fear to something she previously had no problem with, you being concerned about her will make her think that there is something tobe worried about

Nothing to add to the other responses all good advice.

Just wanted to say it could be worse. Your pup could be 45kg at 6months and trying to get into your lap..

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