Canine Adolescence
I want to share with you some information about canine adolescence because there isn't enough awareness out there in the general pet owning public. Dogs enter into adolescence around 4-6 months of age and adolescence lasts up to 3 years. Adolescent dogs become more outwardly curious and do not yet understand limits and boundaries. Their body and brain are going through many changes, synapsis in their brains are literally breaking and rebuilding (synaptic pruning) which means behaviors that they were great at only days before will seem to fall apart, they struggle to focus and respond, and they become distracted easily. Dogs quite literally are unable to self-regulate while in adolescence. Teething happens during adolescence and you can expect your young dog to be more mouthy, chewy, and grouchy during this time. The age of teething is between 4-8 months of age.
6 month old Toshi meeting a pig for the first time. You can see that he’s nervous by his stretched out ready to bail posture, lowered tail, and lowered head. We supported him by talking him through it, keeping the leash loose, not pressuring him to meet the pig (it was his choice) and gave him lots of treats for his bravery afterward. Your adolescent should be having new experiences as close to daily as you can achieve.
In adolescence dogs are very emotionally sensitive. You will notice an adolescent dog will suddenly be apprehensive, shy, fearful, or reactive toward new or even known people, dogs, sounds, environments, and objects. Puppies and adolescent dogs also do not tolerate frustration very well. Providing a positive experience via food, toys, reassurance and play is critical. Harsh or out of proportion punishments or forcing them into situations they are uncomfortable with may cause the adolescent dog to develop into a reactive, fearful, or aggressive adult. Adolescents need to be given as much space as they need from unfamiliar stimuli to feel safe and put into appropriate environments in order to be successful. Setting a young dog up for success is critical during this age because preventing problem behaviors from developing is much easier than resolving established problem behaviors. Months 4-18 can be particularly challenging.
There’s so much that needs to be done during adolescence! One easy and powerful thing you can start doing now is to carry food on your body at all times for the first 2 years of your dog’s life, the first 3 years if you are getting a late start on this, so that you can help them associate all the strangers, dogs, and scary objects with something positive as well as reinforce good choices and desired behavior 24-7. Our dogs are learning every waking moment, not just in “training” sessions.
More resouces about canine adolesence below:
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/puppies/adolescent-dogs-6-facts-to-know/
https://blog.smartanimaltraining.com/2013/09/09/surviving-our-dogs-adolescence/
https://shakeonitpettraining.com/tips/2018/11/2/you-just-got-a-puppy-then-you-need-to-this
If you are on Facebook I invite you like my business page for training tips and to join my Adolescent Dog Support Group as well:
https://www.facebook.com/ShakeOnItPetTraining
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341196693972705/?source_id=946661242135093
Jamie Flanders CDBC FPPE CFDM