If you’ve ever looked at your puppy and thought, “Hang on… weren’t you fearless yesterday?”, you’re not imagining it. Puppies move through emotional stages almost as quickly as they outgrow their collar.
Just like human babies, their inner world is constantly developing: their bravery, their anxieties, their attachment, even how they understand you.
Here’s a breakdown of the stages most pups move through, what might be happening behind the scenes, and how to support them lovingly through each chapter.
Chapter 1: The “Brave Bean” Stage (8–12 weeks)
Everything is shiny. Everything is new. Everything is thrilling.
Typical Behaviours:
- Bold exploring
- Curious sniffing
- Testing boundaries
- Following you everywhere (but not yet clingy)
What they’re really saying: “I’m tiny but unstoppable. Let me check out everything.”
How to support them:
- Safe exposure to new sounds, surfaces, people
- Short bursts of confidence-building play
- Pairing new experiences with treats + praise
- Creating a cosy, predictable home base (hello, comforter!)
Chapter 2: The First Fear Period (around 12–14 weeks)
Suddenly your confident pup is startled by… a leaf. Or their reflection. Or the toaster.
This is developmentally normal.
Typical Behaviours:
- Sudden caution or clinginess
- Startling easily
- Reluctance to explore
What they’re saying: “That thing wasn’t scary yesterday… but today it is. Please stay close.”
How to support them:
- Keep experiences positive, gentle, low-pressure
- Avoid forcing interaction with scary stimuli
- Offer calm reassurance while keeping your own energy steady
- Use scent-based reassurance (like their Riff Raff Puppy Comforter) to ground them
Chapter 3: The Velcro-Pup Phase (3–6 months)
Attachment deepens. Your pup begins to understand “you are my person”, and sometimes that means anxiety when separated.
Typical Behaviours:
- Following you room-to-room
- Crying when left alone
- Wanting closeness during rest
- Increased need for reassurance
What they’re saying: “I trust you. Don’t leave me yet.”
How to support them:
- Practise tiny, calm separations
- Build predictable routines
- Encourage solo play with enrichment toys like a Lick Mat to support calm licking and relaxation, or our Boredom Buster for longer, more mentally stimulating solo play sessions.
- Make their safe space smell like you (again - Puppy Comforter magic)
Chapter 4: The Teenage Feels (6–12 months)
Hormones, independence, boundary-testing. A delightful cocktail.
Typical Behaviours:
- Selective hearing
- Sudden confidence swings
- Acting brave, then acting like a baby
- Mild anxiety creeps back in
What they’re saying: “I’m grown… but also not… but also maybe? Please help.”
How to support them:
- Stay consistent (but kind!) with training
- Continue exposure to new experiences
- Maintain calm, predictable routines
- Reinforce their safe spaces and cues
Chapter 5: The Second Fear Period (8–18 months)
This one surprises most owners. Yes, another fear phase.
Typical Behaviours:
- Regression in confidence
- Worry around strangers or loud noises
- Extra clinginess
What they’re saying: “Life got big again. I need you to remind me I’m safe.”
How to support them:
- Go slow and steady with new situations
- Use positive reinforcement
- Maintain safe, familiar comfort objects
- Lots of calm energy from you
Your Puppy’s Feelings Aren’t “Bad Behaviours” - They’re Messages
Your dog isn’t being dramatic. They’re communicating.
Every emotional stage (even the wobbly ones) helps shape a confident, secure, deeply bonded adult dog.
Offering comfort, consistency, and gentle reassurance gives them exactly what they need to move through each chapter with courage.
Because puppyhood isn’t just about training legs to walk and paws to grow.
It’s about helping a little heart feel safe while it learns the world.
Every puppy is unique, and these stages may show up a little earlier, later, or differently for each dog.