Puppy puberty. Canine adolescence is no joke, it can be a very challenging stage for guardians and the lovely puppy you trained so well can suddenly seem like a totally different dog. Commands and behaviours you taught them can go out the window, they can seem more boisterous, and it can be emotionally draining to deal with, especially if it’s not expected. So, what’s happening, and how can you help?
Adolescence in dogs is no different to humans in the sense that it’s a time of huge hormonal changes, which can greatly affect behaviour. This stage begins anywhere from 6 – 12 months and ends anywhere between 12 – 24 months, with smaller dogs reaching adolescence before larger dogs.
The hormonal changes that dogs experience during this phase gives them increased energy and increased motivation to explore their surroundings. This means that, unfortunately, their motivation to explore might outcompete their motivation to behave as you have trained them to. Recall often appears to backslide during this phase, but don’t let it get you down as this phase will pass. Your dog also has a lot more energy now, and so may need different types of stimulation to meet their needs.
How can you help? Never punish your dog for ‘misbehaving’ during this phase as it won’t help, instead focus on how you can best meet their needs. Giving them structured activity to burn some energy is a great idea during this stage, especially tasks that provide mental stimulation and enrichment, such as sniffing games or fun training. Keep consistent with your training from early puppyhood and ensure you’re still on top of training. If they’re finding something particularly challenging, such as recall, then take them back to basics and build up the skill from there. Your dog may be persistent but you have to be more persistent!
It may be difficult, but keeping calm will really help both you and your pup come through this phase. Ensuring you provide them with activities that meet their needs and keep on top of your training will help to strengthen your bond with your dog.