Adolescent puppy behavior

Video: Managing an adolescent dog

Adolescent puppy behavior is often challenging, and can be unpredictable, confusing and downright difficult. For everyone.

When that tiny ball of fur you brought home just the other week (or so it seems) suddenly hits the `teenage` stage it can be a bit of a shock, especially if you didn`t realize that puppies even became teenagers!

This IS a `stage`, a developmental stage that is, and it`s one that your puppy has to pass through on the way to adulthood. 

On this page I`m going to cover the type of behaviors you can expect from an adolescent pup, and how you can handle it in a way that will help him learn and grow in a positive way.

You can use these links to jump straight to a specific section on the page, or simply scroll down to learn all there is to know about teenage puppies....

• Recognizing A Teenage Puppy
• All About Canine Adolescence
• How To Handle Adolescent Puppy Behavior

Teen Puppies Are Like Teen Humans

This is oh so true... and if you`ve raised the two-legged variety then you will have less trouble with the four-legged one.

But don`t worry - even if you haven`t yet had the pleasure of negotiating the adolescent stage of any of your children, as long as you have common sense, patience and love, you and your pup will do just fine.

Humans formally reach the teenage stage when we first tack `teen` onto their ages, but not every child matures at the same rate.

It`s the same way with puppies. Plus, not all dog breeds develop at the same speed either.

This means that what`s defined as the adolescent stage in puppies can start as early as four months of age, and last until Fido is twelve, or even eighteen, months old.

Small breeds mature much faster than large or giant ones, and all their growing is pretty much packed into the first year.

Your little dog may be a teen by four months, a young adult by eight months and an adult before he`s fully a year old.

Your big  little `un won`t reach the teenage stage until he`s around eight to ten months old, and will linger there for longer, maybe not being totally mature and adult he`s somewhere between eighteen months and three years old .

Adolescence Is Easy To Recognize!

When you think `teenager` what behavior traits come to mind?

As a mom who`s raised six kids through adolescence, and more puppies than I can count on both hands, (and survived).... I can vouch for every one of the above behavior issues showing it`s face at some point during the teenage stage.

Not ALL puppies will struggle a whole lot with this adolescent stage.

Some sail through it with barely ruffled fur, others turn into Attila the Hun and cause havoc.

There`s no way to tell how your little one is going to handle adolescence until he gets to it, but there is always the reassuring fact that this stage does end, eventually.

Here are some of the behaviors that can show Fido has reached adolescence:

He suddenly develops `selective hearing` - ie he only hears you when he wants to!

He `forgets` how to follow simple commands that he learned weeks/months ago

Concentration and focus become a problem for him

Potty accidents occasionally happen, even though he`s been reliable for ages

`Bratty` behaviors appear/increase (includes nipping/biting/barking/jumping)

Video: Bronson - Rhodesian Ridgeback - 2 Week Residential Dog Training at Adolescent Dogs

Fido suddenly gets `bossy` with other dogs, pets, children or even adults

During adolescence, your pup will become sexually mature (this is NOT the same as developmentally mature!).

His/her hormones will rise dramatically, peak, and then slowly descend until they reach stable, adult levels at maturity.

Here are some of the hormonal effects of adolescence in puppies:

Females will have their first `heat cycle` (aka `estrus`) 

Male dogs will start to `mark` their territory by spraying urine

Dog-to-dog aggression becomes more common

General irritability and moodiness isn`t at all unusual

Territorial behavior and resource guarding might suddenly appear

Pups may decide to wander off/explore the neighborhood (again especially males)

Humping other dogs/soft toys/human legs becomes an interesting pastime

Neutering or spaying your pup will help to reduce hormone-related behaviors. For small breeds, it`s recommended that either surgery be done before six months of age.

Although currently the formal guidelines remain the same for larger breeds, as the owner of large and giant-breed pups/dogs, I personally think that it`s a good idea to wait until a pup is a little older before spaying/neutering (perhaps 8 - 10 months).

So, in short, if your normally sweet, well-behaved puppy suddenly begins to disobey you, ignore you, act out, bully the other pets/kids, spray the furniture, drapes and door-frames... AND he`s somewhere between four and ten months old, well congratulations... you have a canine teenager in the house :)

About Canine Adolescence

A teenage puppy can be a frustrating little creature... but inside all that ornery-ness is the same, lovable, sensitive pup that you`ve come to know and love. 

He`s just covered with a really tough outer `shell` right now!

We all remember being teenagers right?

It`s not an easy time and can be filled with doubt, anger, confusion, anxiety and frustration. Fido feels the same way.

His hormones are raging and his body/brain are going through some pretty heavy-duty changes.

He feels all sorts of different (and unfamiliar) emotions and he doesn`t know how to handle them properly yet, or what they mean.

When you realize this it makes it easier to be calm, patient and understanding with a puppy who`s in the throes of a teenage tantrum, or doing his Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde impersonation.

Just try to remember that adolescent puppy behavior is simply Fido`s way of trying to exert some control over his life and show how independent and grown-up he is..... it`s a natural instinct to act this way.

He`s not on the way to becoming a juvenile delinquent, he`s not an `aggressive` puppy and he`s not a hopeless case. He`s just a teenager :P

How To Handle Adolescent Puppy Behavior

Bratty behavior, general disobedience and the occasional potty accident are fairly mild teenage issues.

Bullying, dominant behavior (such as picking on a family member or other pet) and resource guarding are more serious problems.

Luckily, all adolescent puppy behavior can be discouraged, and eventually eliminated, by following a few simple guidelines.

Minor Teen-Puppy Problems

For a puppy who suddenly seems to have forgotten every obedience training command he ever learned, develops a stubborn streak, or gets all mouthy and excitable and won`t calm down.... the best remedy is consistency and patience, and lots of love.

Oh, and a sense of humor doesn`t hurt!

Even when you`re frustrated it`s important to stay calm and to be patient when correcting him and to keep the house rules (and corrections) consistent.

If you change the rules daily/weekly, or each member of the family has a different interpretation of them, your little guy will be confused, and that confusion will make him anxious.

Puppies crave routine and predictability, it helps them feel safe and secure.

During the adolescent stage your pup is in the `eye of the storm` as far as emotions go, so it`s even more important to make sure that he has routine and security to keep him grounded.

It`s also important to make sure little Fido knows that you love him, no matter what.

But this doesn`t mean that you spoil him, or let him get away with bad behavior.

Here`s the best approach to correcting & calming a cranky teenage puppy:

• You correct him firmly, but fairly and with a loving hand
• You don`t shout at, smack or scare him
• Once he`s been reprimanded, you move on and don`t hold a grudge
• You still play games, go for walks, snuggle on the sofa. Even after a trying day.

And here are a few tips to help keep your home life running smoothly:

• Set up a regular daily routine, and stick to it as closely as possible
• Make daily at-home obedience training lessons a priority - and keep them fun
• Give your pup plenty of exercise every day - a tired puppy is a good puppy
• Enroll him in a formal obedience class, and attend regularly
• Make sure he gets new socialization experiences every day
• If you see any new/problem behaviors, nip them in the bud quickly
• Get everyone involved in puppy care, even kids, it helps a pup know his place

Bigger Teen-Puppy Problems

Some adolescent pups go beyond being a little `bossy` or `opinionated` and try to rule the roost.

If Fido`s adolescent puppy behavior extends to him trying to control the behavior of any human family members by growling, snapping or intimidating them, this is a huge NO-NO and needs to be dealt with quickly.

He isn`t to be allowed to dominate other dogs or pets in this way either, at home or when out and about.

Sometimes it`s just one family member (often a child, or someone who is older, weaker or whatever), other times a puppy can decide he`s King of the Hill and everyone should bow down to him. Either way, this simply isn`t on.

At the first sign of bullying/dominant behavior you need to correct your puppy firmly, but lovingly.

A verbal correction, accompanied by a quick, firm (but not rough) shake by the scruff of the neck (this is how an adult dog would reprimand a puppy, and Fido will get the message loud and clear) is usually enough.

But remember you need to keep the correction consistent, and don`t let him `get away with it` even once. He needs to know that this behavior is forbidden.

Don`t expect the first `telling off` to win the war. Puppies, especially teenage puppies, can be very stubborn.

You will need to be patient and consistent, it`s a war of willpower, and yours needs to be stronger than Fido`s.

To help the process along, there are also lots of other things you can do to help your puppy understand his position in the family - and this is the root of the problem behavior.

If you follow these simple guidelines you`ll reinforce your disciplinary corrections and help your pup feel secure and content to be who he is:

Make Him `Earn` Everything!

Video: Peer Influence and Adolescent Behavior

This goes for everything from food and treats, to walks and games.

Ask Fido to `sit` or `down` before giving him his food, or playing a game, or clipping on his leash etc..... and make sure he obeys before he gets whatever it is he`s waiting for.

Don`t Let Him Take Up Elevated Positions

I mean this is the most basic sense.... ie that you must not allow your pup to lie/sleep on beds or furniture.

In the canine world, a physically elevated position is symbolic of an elevated social position. 

So if Fido feels that he has a right to claim his space on the sofa, then he may also feel that this makes him equal in rank to the humans sitting on that same sofa!

Hand-Feed Your Pup At Least Two Meals Per Week

This is literally what it sounds like - you feed Fido his kibble by hand, either one piece at a time, or a palm-full at a time.

Everyone should do this, even little children can do it with some adult help.

Dogs respect those who control the resources of their lives, and food is a biggie.

This also helps to head off food-guarding issues as your pup becomes totally familiar with human hands, and his food, being in close proximity.

Maintain Regular Training Sessions

Make sure everyone in your home participates in teaching your pup basic dog obedience commands to make sure that Fido understands that he must obey any human, at any time.

The `Leave It!` command is one that every puppy/dog should know. It also helps prevent resource guarding behaviors by teaching your pup that he must give-up any object (even an edible one!) if you ask/tell him to.

Enrolling your puppy in at least one basic obedience class is really a must. It helps strengthen the bond between you, gives you access to hands-on help with any problems that arise, and is a great socialization experience for Fido.

On top of these major points, it`s important to:

• Maintain a regular and predictable daily routine
• Give Fido plenty of daily exercise and mental stimulation (training)
• Feed your puppy a well-balanced and nutritious diet

If you have children in the house, don`t forget to teach them to respect your puppy too:

• No ear/tail pulling, and no rough-housing and no teasing
• No waking up a sleeping pup suddenly or abruptly
• No running, screaming, squealing, hand-flapping (can trigger prey-drive)
• No snatching toys/bones/food from the puppy. Teach them to use `Leave It!` 

And that`s it.... your guide to adolescent puppy behavior... and how to survive the teenage stage.

Remember, above all this is a `STAGE`, and it will pass.

As long as you give your pup what he needs in terms of stability, discipline and love, he will grow into a well-behaved, confident and friendly dog who is a pleasure to be around.

Wishing you the best of luck :)

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