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.

Humans formally reach the teenage stage when we first tack 'teen' onto their ages, but not every child matures at the same rate, and neither do puppies. Not all dog breeds develop at the same speed but there is a predictable order to puppy development, both in physical growth and emotional/sexual maturity.

Puppy 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 become different, and difficult, during with this adolescent puppy stage. 

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

However, some degree of problem behavior is so common that the American Kennel Club says 'The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period.' 

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.

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)
• 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.

Some 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 and your pup may be more picky about who he sees as a friend
• 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

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!

Bringing home a new puppy is a big commitment in terms of time, effort, money, patience, love and more. That commitment doesn't end when he grows out of the adorable, butterball baby puppy stage!

Your adolescent puppy needs all the same things from you in order to grow into the happy, stable, friendly and well-behaved dog that he is meant to be.

My Longcoat German Shepherd puppy, Dax, at 7 months

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.

How to correct & calm a cranky teenage puppy:

• Correct him firmly, but fairly and with a loving hand
• Don't shout at, smack or scare him
• Once he's been reprimanded, you move on and don't hold a grudge
• Continue to play games, go for walks, snuggle on the sofa. Even after a trying day.

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 must not be allowed to dominate other dogs or pets in this way either, at home or when out and about.

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.

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. Following 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!

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!' 

Socialize, Socialize, Socialize!

Socializing your puppy should start early, and continue throughout his lifetime to prevent fears or anxieties developing later on.

Just because little Fido loved car rides and wasn't phased by traffic when he was 12 weeks old, if he spends the next six months without setting paw outside his home he's likely to be pretty leery of both (and everything else) by the time he's nine months old.

This should be fun for both you and your puppy and is a great way to get some exercise, mental stimulation and a break from routine. For plenty of suggestions and ideas for social outings for you and Fido, check out my Puppy Socialization page.