Are you finding your cute, sweet, snuggly and very well-behaved dog now acting out? Do you notice your dog isn’t paying attention to you or flinching away when they sees something fascinating or chewing at everything in his view? Have his previously excellent “sit,” “down,” “stay,” and “come” seemingly disappear overnight? Do you see his warm, friendly methods replaced by raunchy, extravagant greetings? Is he occasionally cautious or even apprehensive? Do you notice him looking at you like he doesn’t know you?
If your dog is 6-18 months of age, you are entering the adolescent stage of life. This is when the body is fully developed, yet the brain isn’t fully developed. Most of these so-called problematic behaviours seen in the adolescent years, like excessive stimulation, chewing and irritability, are the consequence of natural development and physical changes. With the maturation of the brain and the body ad, adolescence experiences rapid growth, other teething issues, a surge in hormones, and fear periods.
The teenage years are typically the most feared stage of the development of a dog. Many animals are thrown into shelters or rescues in this period because they’re reckless or too unpredictable. Adolescence does not have to be awful. It could be a fun and exciting period. Like human teenagers, they are adolescent dogs who are lively, energetic, interested, excited about learning, and ready for almost everything.
The following suggestions can benefit you by helping you survive your dog’s adolescence and beyond and also helping you succeed during the challenging years.
- Exercise your young dog.
Adolescent dogs appear to have an unending amount of energy and stamina. A walk on a leash for an hour could not make any difference to your dog’s energy. Walking on the leash should often be accompanied by dog-dog play, high-energy games like chasing and swimming, and chances to run and explore different areas. The more mental and physical fitness you provide to your puppy, the more beneficial it is.
Adolescent dogs require rest time, too. A quiet time during a part of the day will benefit to keep the anxiety hormones from going to a high level (which may cause excessive excitement). The balance between rest and physical and mental exercise can benefit your dog’s terms and improve its accuracy, as bodies in adolescence are expanding and joints have not yet been fully established. To minimize the possibility of injuries, ensure your dog is over one year old before you can begin with repetitive joint-training actions like agility or Frisbee and long-distance running.
- Social media can be positive.
In adolescence, you must have an enjoyable and positive experience with other dogs and humans. To maintain your canine’s social talent with other dogs:
- Go on regular walks around your area or any other area where you’ll see other humans.
- Bring friends over to your house to benefit your dog to realize that everyone is at ease in your home.
- Learn “four on the floor” or “sit to greet.”
- As soon as guests arrive, take a walk if necessary to stop your dog from running around – and then always make sure to use appropriate treats, affection, and rewarding interactions.
To socialize with other dogs:
- Find your dog’s preferred players and schedule intervals for playtime and games.
- Take walks in places where your dog can meet other canines.
- When walking on a leash, ensure your dog learns to approach other pets politely and without greeting them.
To meet and greet your new dog, Try a walk on the beach or trails where dogs are permitted off-leash. Encourage your dog’s puppy to become more friendly and then move on by re-enforcing the habit with precious rewards (whether delicious treats or the dog’s favourite toy) to keep walking along with you while walking.
- Make sure you are training regularly!
The previous training routine often disappears when a dog is an adolescent. If you call “sit,” your dog might sniff around the floor. If you call “come,” he may appear to not listen to your voice. He could be focused everywhere. However, he’s focused on you. Could you not get caught up in it? Adolescent dogs (like humans) are discovering their role in the world around them and their personal boundaries. They could be less concerned about you but more focused on their friends and environment. They’re learning to think independently.
Keep training and get your dog trained in case you’re not there. Keep training enjoyable by mixing play with sessions to keep your puppy active. Train your dog in the real world and in environments that aren’t difficult to train to ensure that your dog gets enough successful training. Gradually, we begin to work towards creating more disorienting areas.
Additionally, you can balance “impulse control” behaviours, such as sitting, down and remaining by engaging in fun activities like tricks. Be generous with your dog whenever he makes good choices and responds appropriately to cues. Do not just give treats or food for reinforcement and the opportunity to play together; pay attention to gameplay (like tugging) and the chance to go on a journey.
A dog’s reliability in adolescence can be sporadic. Please continue to work with him, but keep in mind that he’s still developing, learning, and growing.
- Manage your adolescent dog’s environment.
One of the critical elements of staying alive in adolescence is taking care of your dog’s home so that your dog can’t become involved in enough trouble. Examples:
Your puppy’s capacity to cause harm in the absence of being monitored by putting your dog in a cage or a dog-proofed area with lots of fun “legal” chew items.
If your dog is developing his manners, utilize a leash or a more extended line whenever you go outside and allow him to go unsupervised only when there is no danger of him getting into trouble and also where it is easy to get his interest (or take him on a physical journey!) after playtime is finished.
Your puppy will need to gain the experience to manage the world! Let him make the perfect decisions using leashes, long lines, baby gates, and crates to prevent him from engaging in unwelcome behaviour. Be aware that dogs in adolescence tend to forget what they’re supposed to be doing or are too excited to follow the directions given. Make sure you are ready to benefit the dog in such instances.
- Take pleasure in the youth of your dog!
Adolescent dog’s energy, excitement, and enthusiasm are infectious. Be sure to enjoy what your dog has experienced and is learning. Remember that things aren’t all that easy for an adolescent pet. People and dogs tend to be annoyed by them. It can be too overwhelming or scary. The dogs of adolescents don’t always behave properly, which can also cause stress.
Enjoy your dog’s playful antics as a puppy, his constant invites to play, the speed of his zooms around the yard, and his joy over tiny objects. Think about looking at the world with your puppy’s eyes. Take a walk with him, and try to be awestruck by the places he might lead you.
Adolescence marks the moment when your dog turns adult. Also, it is the time when your bond is growing and developing. It is also the time to cement your relationship. Look beyond being able to survive the adolescent years of your dog to enjoy your time alongside him throughout and through this period of development.