Understanding Your Dog's Teenage Years

Just like humans, dogs go through life stages - one of which is often referred to as their “teenage years.” This phase is a crucial period in their development and can sometimes be challenging for both dogs and their guardians. Understanding what your dog is experiencing during this time can help you navigate the changes and ensure a healthy, well adjusted adult dog.

This phase in dogs typically occurs between 6 months and 2 years of age, though it can vary depending on factors such as breed and environment. Smaller breeds tend to mature faster and may reach adulthood sooner, while larger breeds can take longer to fully mature. This period is characterised by a number of behavioural changes as your dog transitions from puppyhood to adulthood.

Physical and Behavioural Changes

During this time period, dogs experience significant physical growth. They may gain weight, develop muscle and their bones may lengthen. At the same time, they may become more energetic and less focused, which can sometimes make training a bit more difficult. They may also begin to exhibit more independence and show a reduced eagerness to please compared to their puppy days - they are free thinking beings and are exploring this.

This may mean that some dogs start displaying unwanted behaviours, such as chewing, digging or excessive barking for example. They may also become more easily distracted, making walks and training sessions a bit of a challenge.

The Importance of Consistent Training

Training isn't something that happens once or twice a week in set time periods. Training is happening every time we are around our dogs. Particularly during this age, we need to make sure that we are consistent in our actions and reactions, making sure that we are using positive reinforcement to mark wanted behaviours. This will help guide your dog through this phase.

It is also an ideal time to introduce more advanced training or exercises, as your dog’s mental and physical development is in full swing. These activities can help them focus their energy and burn off excess excitement, which can reduce some of the behavioural issues that arise during adolescence. However please do check that you are not doing anything that could damage them physically e.g. their growth plates may not be closed until 12-24 months so agility for example may cause long lasting development damage if introduced too early.

Socialisation and Independence

Continuing to work on increased independence as a team through giving choices and bond building enrichment exercises will stand you in good stead for a calm, confident and well balanced adult dog. It would be advisable to do this in tandem with dog-centric socialisation. Ensure that your dog is given opportunities to interact within various environments but without tipping it over threshold to help them remain well-adjusted.

It’s important to strike a balance between allowing your dog to explore and assert their independence, while also setting boundaries to ensure they remain safe.

Summary

The teenage years in dogs can be a challenging phase, but with patience, consistency and plenty of positive reinforcement, your dog will emerge as a well adjusted adult. Understanding their behaviour during this time will help you guide them through their teenage years and ensure they grow into a happy, healthy companion for years to come.