Aim of the study was tested hypotheses that the cow’s behavior is affected by the method of rearing from the second week of life to weaning. Fifty-one Holstein cows were reared in 3 groups from d 7: A, pen with the milk drinking feeder, n = 19; B, hutch, bucket with nipple, n = 19; C, pen with nursing cows, n = 13. After weaning at 8 wks, all heifers were kept in group pens, after parturition in free-stall housing. The learning ability (8 × 14 m closed maze) was tested in mo 4 of first lactation. Cows solved 6 tasks during 3 days. Tasks 1 and 2 required a left-side solution, tasks 3 and 4 a right-side solution, and 5 and 6 a central solution. Each task had 2 runs. The time of standing in maze and speed of traversing the maze were recorded. At 7th month of first lactation, during 3 d (12 tests) the animals were subjected to test in an aversion alley (16.3 m long, 1.86 m wide). There was applied to a positive treatment on d 1 (brushing), a negative treatment on d 2 and 3 (single noise 128 dB.s⁻¹ and electric shock 1.5 kV.s⁻¹). The time of run across the alley was recorded. The data were analyzed using a GLM ANOVA. Group A was the fastest in the first 4 tasks, group B ran through the maze the fastest in the fifth and sixth tasks. The average time of traversing the maze for 6 tasks was the highest in C (170 ± 122 s) and the lowest in A group (108 ± 97 s; P < 0.05). Differences (P < 0.05) at time of standing in maze and a speed of traversing the maze (P < 0.05) were found between groups C and A. We did not find out any significant differences in aversive behavior among groups. After negative treatment on the 2nd day the group B needed longer time to across the aversion alley than groups A and C (67 ± 41 s, 54 ± 31 s, 56 ± 44 s). On third day, the time to across the alley increased in all groups (98 ± 78 s, 98 ± 69 s, 90 ± 88 s). The results show that the method used to rear heifers may have a significant impact on their maze behavior; however, the rearing conditions had little long-term effect on the aversive behavior. This study was possible through projects APVV 15-0060 and QK1910438.