How long does puppy adolescence last

During this time, there are dramatic hormonal changes and a reorganisation of the brain. These hormonal changes can make adolescent dogs appear less obedient, however, what is really happening is that they're increasingly motivated to explore, interact and run and they also have a greater need to interact with the environment around them and the people in it. Just like human teenagers, adolescent dogs have the energy and motivation to do more. More exploration, more play, more interaction with their friends humans and not humans!

Because teenage dogs are so much more energetic and interactive they can easily find themselves in conflict when they are asked to stop doing something, or simply to calm down, even in situations when they previously were 'obedient' and responded immediately. Sadly this kind of change is often interpreted by owners as the dog being stubborn or trying to assert their dominance rather than understanding that their dog is finding it difficult to control their impulsivity.

Some dogs, depending on their temperament or personality , may become frustrated when they cannot get what they want and because this is a negative emotion it can trigger negatively motivated behaviours.

This includes excessive barking , excessive behaviours like jumping up, scratching, nipping, biting the lead and even aggression. It's therefore unsurprising that many owners report big changes in their dogs' behaviour.

Sadly, adolescence is a time when some puppies may find themselves being rehomed. However, the good news is that this period of problematic behaviour does pass and we have pulled together some top tips to help you through those teenage years. Rather than focussing on how to control an adolescent dog, we need to think about how we can satisfy their physical and behavioural needs. Research suggests that the learning ability of adolescent dogs is better than that of adults or puppies and so the best thing to do is to focus some of their energy towards structured play and exercise sessions, for example, searching games, scent puzzles and long walks in quiet areas.

We also need to think about how we can prevent situations during which our dog may be more excitable or frustrated. We can do this by providing some activities before the event or giving them something to do that can help them to cope with frustration. Dogs in general and young dogs, in particular, get frustrated when people eat. Because they also want the food and cannot participate, they may jump, bark and scratch. You can minimise frustration and its behavioural consequences by feeding your pet before you eat and then giving them something to chew or perhaps a dog puzzle while you eat.

Not being able to get people's attention can also be frustrating but predictability is the best way to avoid frustration. Try increasing the variety of interactive games in your do's routine, such as playing with a ball or a frisbee, or even simply hiding something that your dog must find etc.

Make sure to break up the treats into easy, chewable bites. Start teaching your puppy to exercise self-control. Another important thing to remember is crate training. You should practice these behaviors several times a week and reward your dog for his or her efforts. Some dogs find food rewarding, while other dogs find toys and playing to be more motivating.

Use whatever your dog likes best to reward him or her for making good choices, especially if he makes a good choice without being prompted. Reward your puppy for making good decisions like this, and he will continue to make those good decisions. Keep those puppy-safe chew toys handy during adolescence.

You may think that teething ended when the adult teeth came in at around 6 months. But there is a secondary chewing phase between 8-to months that occurs as the adult teeth settle in the jaw. She is displaying every single one of these points and I was concerned something was wrong… all makes sense now!

Thank you!! My 7 month old husky, Fergus, is going through this right now. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sign in.

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Dog Life Jacket Review. Chewing often results when a bored, anxious, or curious dog is allowed the run of the house. For the canine adolescent, boredom and curiosity can lead to major household damage via chewing, digging, and general reorganization.

This damage could largely be avoided if caretakers would simply continue to confine their dog in a training crate or dog-proof room whenever no one is around to monitor canine investigations. Canine teens are not yet capable of the consistency it takes to earn the run of the place unsupervised. At times he may look at you as though you had just addressed him in Mandarin, trying to convince you that you never taught him the sit command. Handle these lapses the same way you would with an untrained dog.

Take a step or two backward in your training program and patiently re-teach him the command by luring him into the requested position. Be sure to make it worth his while with the use of positive reinforcement.