How to Survive Your Dog’s Teenage Years

If you have a puppy, you might be looking forward to the day when they grow into a calm and well-mannered adult dog. But before that happens, you might have to deal with another challenging phase: adolescence.

Adolescence in dogs marks the change from being a puppy to becoming an adult. It can start any time between six and 12 months and can end between 18 and 24 months. This can vary depending on the breed and size of the dog. During this time, there are dramatic hormonal changes and a reorganisation of the brain.

Just like human teenagers, adolescent dogs can go through some behavioural changes that can be difficult and confusing for dog parents. Here are some of the common issues you might face and how to cope with them:

Your Training Seems To Go Out The Window

When dogs reach adolescence, they are less likely to follow cues given by their dog parents. It can seem as if they just can’t hear you or they are exploring other, more motivating options. This is because they are more curious about their environment and are beginning to grow more independent to explore the world away from you.

But don’t worry, this isn’t a sign of your dog choosing to be “naughty”. Your dog just needs reinforcement of their basic training, impulse control and patience from you. The best way to deal with this is to be super consistent, continue your reward-based training and practice regularly in different situations. Avoid punishing your dog for not listening, as this can damage your relationship, and makes them fearful more than anything else. Let’s make training fun and rewarding for both of you.

Humping

During puberty, hormones such as testosterone start to increase and can change your dog’s behaviour. Male dogs will often start humping more, urine marking and roaming. Female dogs that are in season can also start humping due to hormones. Humping is a normal behaviour for dogs, but it can be embarrassing or inappropriate in some situations.

Understand what has triggered your dog’s humping first and foremost.

Here are some reasons that dogs hump:

• Sexual motivation: Unneutered dogs may hump due to their hormones, especially when they encounter a female dog in heat.

• Playfulness: Puppies and adult dogs may hump during play as a natural and instinctive behaviour.

• Excitement: Dogs may hump when they are overexcited, such as after greeting another dog or person, or when they see their favourite toy or treat.

• Stress relief: Dogs may hump to cope with stress or anxiety.

• Medical problems: Dogs may hump if they have itchy skin, bladder or urine problems, or other health issues that cause discomfort. Get a vet check if you think this may be why your dog humps.

• Attention seeking: Dogs may hump to get attention, or to initiate play or interaction with a person.

Depending on the reason for the humping, you can try to redirect your dog’s attention to something else when they start, such as a toy or a treat. You can also teach your dog a cue to stop humping on cue, such as “off” or “leave it”. These things won’t work if your dog has medical reasons or is getting stressed. The cause of the stress should be addressed with training / behaviour work first, this would then usually stop the behaviour reoccurring.

Anxiety or nervousness

Female dogs can be especially impacted during their seasons. These can cause behaviour changes, such as anxiety or nervousness, being overly friendly with other dogs, nesting and peeing more than usual. Male dogs can also become more anxious or nervous around female dogs in heat or due to the scent of females in heat and the chemical changes in their brain.

The best way to help your dog cope with anxiety or nervousness is to provide them with a safe and comfortable environment where they can relax and feel secure. You can also use calming products such as pheromones, supplements or music to soothe your dog’s nerves (reggae and classical music are the best types of music to play). Avoid exposing your dog to stressful situations that might trigger their anxiety, such as loud noises, crowds, or unfamiliar places. If your dog’s anxiety is severe or persistent, you might want to consult your vet as they can prescribe medication that can help take the edge off for your dog.

Resource guarding

Another change seen in both males and female dogs is becoming protective of spaces and resource guarding. For example, guarding things or places around the home or reacting and barking at things that didn’t use to bother them.

The best way to prevent reactivity is to create a dog who is confident, resilient and can see different things (including people and dogs) but not feel the need to do anything about it – neutrality is THE best response your dog can give in any situation. You can also work on preventing resource guarding with food, toys or beds, by rewarding them for being calm, swapping items out and not creating a confrontation. There are games you can play, like The Counting Game by Chirag Patel, that takes the confrontation out of a situation with your dog. If your dog shows signs of aggression or fear towards someone or something, do not force them to interact with it. Instead, use positive reinforcement and gradual exposure to help them overcome their negative emotions.

Social behaviour

Social maturity also plays a part in your dog’s behaviour at this age. Some forms of aggression between dogs only appear as they mature. Your dog may become less social and enjoy the company of other dogs less as they grow up. This is because they are becoming more selective about who they want to associate with and who they see as a threat.

The best way to help your dog with their social behaviour is to respect their preferences and boundaries. Not all dogs want to play with every dog they meet, and that’s okay. You can still take your dog to the park or for walks but let them choose who they want to interact with and for how long. Also follow the rule of 1 in 3 – for every 3 dogs your dog sees they MUST ignore at least one. If your dog shows signs of discomfort or aggression towards another dog, remove them from the situation and give them some space. You can also train them to feel happy wearing a muzzle if you felt aggression were a potential outcome.

Conclusion

Adolescence in dogs can be a challenging time for both you and your dog, but it’s also a natural and necessary part of their development. With some patience, understanding and training, you can help your dog grow into a happy and well-balanced adult. Remember that your dog still loves you and needs you, even if they act like a teenager sometimes.

If you’d love to understand what the heck your teenage dog is going through and want to get tips to move your training forward, download my freebie ‘Thriving Together: Empowering Teen Dog Parents for Success’ here

If you’re struggling with your teenage dog’s behaviour and need some support and dedicated guidance from a multi-award winning trainer (me!), check out my Teenage Tearaway Group Classes or private 1:1 options:

https://lavendergardenanimalservices.co.uk/dog-training-options