Our dogs love to protect us. They protect us from all sorts of scary things like the mailman, cars that drive by a little too fast, or plastic bags that drift through the wind. Not to mention the other dogs they see - if we didn't have them to guard us from those, we would not be alive!
They're still puppies, though, and they get scared sometimes too. On Monday, July 29th, one Newfoundland took a shift as his mom's protector while a firetruck rolled on by, but as soon as he remembered she was there, he was quick to run to her for comfort:
Po the Newfie is so sweet I could cry. This is how I feel after asking for help finding something at the store!
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Po is still a baby! He was born on April 13th of this year, and since then, his life has not been easy; puppyhood never is. There are lots of things to smell, see, and hear. It can all get a bit overwhelming, but this panda-colored pup is handling everything like a total champ. Plus, he's named after Po from Kung Fu Panda, which was my favorite movie for years.
This is the first time Po has ever encountered a siren like this, so it's no wonder he's so scared of it. At first, he howls along (which is a skill he'll continue to develop), but after a moment, he gets scared and turns back to mom. Not only is it adorable, but it really goes to show how amazing their bond is: she is all he wants in that moment. It's relationships like that which can really make or break training a puppy!
Exposing Puppies to 'Scary' Things is a Must
A good puppy parent should always be making sure they're doing appropriate things for training whenever possible. At almost 16 weeks old, Po is most likely not through all of his shots yet. While he'll be steering clear of "stranger" dogs for a while yet, going on walks and seeing everything he can is just as good.
Exposing your pup to things like loud noises, lots of visual stimulation, and strong smells early on will help them develop into stronger adult dogs. If your dog has been hearing sirens since he was 14 weeks old, he won't be scared when one speeds past or get upset and bark incessantly. However, if your dog has only heard a handful of "strange" noises before, they'll get upset every time, even in adulthood.
Exposure to scary things makes them less scary over time, and for city dogs especially, that is vital. The truth is, we can't avoid scary things forever, and it's better to just face them. Maybe next time he hears a siren, Po will only jump into mom's arms a little bit instead of going full Scooby Doo about it!
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