Understanding Puppy Adolescence

Puppy parenthood is a beautiful thing. It’s filled with so much love, so much playfulness, and so many cuddles. Every stage brings something new. As much as we want them to stay our little babies forever, puppy adolescence is a very real thing. When they hit the six-month mark until about year two, they have a newfound sense of independence and a whole lot of personality. Understanding puppy adolescence will help strengthen the bond with your furry best friend.

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My puppy has always been so attached to me. No matter where I go or what I do, she has always stayed by my side. When I work, she is under my chair, when I watch TV, she is in my lap or by my side, and at mealtime, she is close by. She sleeps up against me, watches my every move, and is concerned when I am out of her sight. However, I have noticed several times in the past few weeks that when I look around, Ashli is nowhere near. When I look for her, I may find her lying on a chair in another room, or contently playing by herself elsewhere. Sometimes she gets out of bed at night and goes to sleep in her pen. I have to admit, it kind of hurt my feelings at first! Then I realized, Ashli is growing into a self-assured, independent, little dog. She is maturing.

Noticing behavior changes

Becoming more independent is not the only change I see in Ashli, and the reason is clear: She is officially in her “adolescent” years. Adolescent years for a dog can begin as early as 6 months and can last until a dog is 18 – 24 months old. Ashli is a teenager now. And guess what? A dog can be nearly as headstrong and willful as a human teenager in adolescence! Oh dear…

Adolescence is a critical time of development for dogs. During this time, a dog is struggling with an increase in essential hormones that affect a variety of behaviors: social bonding, aggressiveness, sexual behavior, sensitivity, and stimulation. We may see an upsurge in energy, heightened reactions, and destructive behaviors.

A dog experiences incredible neurological changes in their brain during this period of development. Veterinary-practice.com says the brain is actually remodeling itself into an adult brain. Wow. Specific brain regions, such as the areas for emotional regulation and behavioral inhibition are more affected by this remodeling. Memory and learning receptors in the brain’s temporal lobe – that which is responsible for intelligence and temperament – are also impacted. 

Understanding changes in the adolescent phase

The behavioral changes you see in your dog during this period of change will vary based on your dog’s particular personality. Here are some typical behavioral shifts that I have noticed in my own puppy, and are commonly observed by others as they and their dog go through the adolescence phase:

Hormonal Changes in Dogs

Because of hormonal changes during adolescence, dogs are much more interested in other dog’s scents. Ashli demonstrates this by her obsession with sniffing. Of course, she has always sniffed in the yard and on walks, but it is excessive now. In fact, she is kind of a pain in the neck to walk. It’s one step forward and two steps back as she has to turn around, pull on the leash, and further check out a scent. I have always given her time to sniff, but she stays on a scent for an annoying amount of time now, to which I must pull her away.

Forgetting Their Training

Dogs may act like they have forgotten everything they ever learned as they go through adolescence. Ashli has always been the best to respond to the commands she learned during her professional training at Holiday Barn Pet Resorts. She gets crazy-excited and proud of herself to come when called, and when obeying sit and down commands. I have recently noticed a hesitation to respond to my commands. She will still comply, but it is with reluctance. And sometimes she acts like she does not hear me and waits until I repeat myself – which is also typical during adolescence. Isn’t that just like a teenager?

Overstimulation in Dogs

Ashli will become overly aroused during everyday, common interactions. Greeting people and other dogs has always been a positive thing for her – and it still is – except she gets charged up nowadays. She will whine, jump up, pull on her leash, and wiggle nervously – impulses she has been able to “control” in the past.

Adolescence Fear Stage in Dogs

A friend of mine has a puppy that is 1 month younger than Ashli. We were comparing notes the other day when she mentioned her dog’s biggest behavioral change during this period is that she is suddenly afraid of everything! Many dogs will enter a fear stage during adolescence. Your bold, adventurous pup suddenly turns hesitant and cowering over every day, normal things and experiences.

Dog’s Sleeping Habits

Many people report a change in their dog’s sleep patterns when going through adolescence, and that may be what I see in Ashli at night. Whereas before, she loved bedtime and would be the first to curl up and go to sleep. She knows the routine at night: the TV is turned off, she gets her last potty walk, her teeth brushed, lights out, and then everyone goes to bed. But now, after all those things, she wants to play instead of sleep, and it is difficult to get her to calm down.

Mood Swings and Aggressive Behavior

Fortunately, Ashli has not demonstrated any destructive or aggressive behavior during her puppy adolescence, as could be a result of the changes she is going through. However, I have noticed an increase in frustration and irritability levels. She is noticeably agitated when she wants something that I do not immediately provide. And she does not hesitate to let me know it, by mouthing, barking, and jumping.

Ashli is also irritated by “normal” things, particularly noise. She will growl when she hears a car door outside, or a loud motorcycle ride by. She also barks more often in response to stimuli.

We think our dogs are misbehaving. The real problem is that there is a lot of stuff going on in their head and body and they cannot help it. It is up to us to guide our pups gently and patiently through this period of change.

Helping your dog through adolescence

Training

I have never been more thankful for Ashli’s professional dog training than I am now. When at my wits’ end to figure out what to do with Ashli when she is acting up, training is the best tool in my belt, and it will be in yours too. A run-through of commands will often bring Ashli back and help her to focus.

I find “interrupt and redirect” a particularly helpful tactic when Ashli is in the throes of what I will call a “fit”. Fortunately, this has only happened a few times. She will become frustrated or aggravated by something and start acting out. I am not always sure what set her off, but I interrupt her actions with a gentle touch and soothing – but firm – tone of voice. I use the word “settle,” and she seems to be catching on to what that means. Once she settles, I praise her and offer her something better to do. When using this method, make sure your dog has truly “settled” before giving them something better to do – like giving them a chew toy or whatever. We do not want them to think that the giving of the toy is a reward for their bad behavior.

Exercise

Exercise will do one of two things for your adolescent dog: pump them up or calm them down. Unfortunately, in Ashli’s case, she goes into turbo mode during exercise and tends to stay there throughout most of her day! However, it is good for her, as it provides an outlet for some of that pent-up energy and satisfies her adolescent need to explore.

Managing Fear

During a fear episode, don’t make a big deal over it, and try not to be overly consoling. Let them approach the object of their fear at their own pace and be there to encourage them when they make good choices. Be strong for them when they look to you for assurance.

Increase mental enrichment

Yesterday evening I was playing fetch with Ashli indoors. Upon returning her ball to me, I took it and hid it under a blanket. She had to work to get it out from under the blanket. Sounds simple to us, but for her, it was a puzzle that she found entertaining and fun. Puzzles, games, new experiences – anything out of the ordinary that we can provide our dogs to enrich and challenge their minds during this period will help them to center.

Puppy Adolescence Doesn’t Last Forever

Puppy adolescence looks different for everyone

Adolescence is not forever. I wish I could give you a timeline, but it varies with each dog. The dog’s breed, sex, size, and whether they were spayed/neutered, all play into the length of time of their adolescent phase. But I will say that most experts agree that dogs are considered adults at 2 years old. I have several more months to go with Ashli. In the meantime, I need to give her extra attention to make sure I remain relevant and interesting to her, as she is struggling with so many competing thoughts and interests.

Adolescence in dogs, much like in humans, is a time of significant growth and change. While it can be challenging, understanding what’s going on and knowing how to respond can make a big difference. With patience, consistent training, and a bit of extra care, your adolescent puppy will mature into a well-behaved and confident adult dog. 

Bond during puppy adolescence

Ashli and I are having a good day today. She is hanging out with me – as usual – and is being super sweet. Your dog will have good days and bad days during adolescence. There will be days when your teenage dog will push the boundaries and test your resilience. And other days when you will have your best friend back by your side. Enjoy the good days, stay patient through the tough ones, and you’ll both come out stronger on the other side. Understanding puppy adolescence is just another part of building an unbreakable bond with your best friend. As they say, this too will pass. Persevere, my friend.

The Professional Dog Trainers at Holiday Barn Pet Resorts are here to help! If you need guidance in navigating your pup through its adolescent years, give us a call. In Midlothian, the number is 794-5400. In Glen Allen, the number is 672-2200.