How to Support Your Dog Through Adolescence.

The adolescence dog is like a human teenager, hormones racing, fear periods, risk taking and rebelliousness. Adolescence can range from 6 months up to 3 years old, depending on the breed of the dog. Be curious, not angry or inconvenienced, ask 'what is going on here?' You may never know so try to keep an open mind for any behaviour that presents.

Here are four strategies to help you support your dog through adolescence.

1. Meet their needs and manage them as well. Provide opportunities for high arousal activities, running in nature, playing with other familiar social dogs, play games to teach skills. But also be able to lower their excitement with sniffing walks, licking and chewing and make rest a priority by providing a quiet safe place where they can sleep uninterrupted by family activity.

2. Prioritise their 'perceived' safety, if they are anxious or fearful, that's valid. Listen to them when they are uncomfortable and expressing themselves, like whining or barking. This is the time when a single event may have a long lasting effect, both good and bad, aim to provide positive learning experiences.

3. Put in place clear boundaries. Resist the urge to be overconfident about their skills, they can become overwhelmed in what were previously easy situations, like familiar dogs at the park and their ears may no longer work! Manage their behaviour, take high value rewards with you and introduce and rotate new toys. This is not the time to think they no longer need good treats, go all out on high value rewards and novel toys to maintain their interest in you.

4. Develop clear communication; learn dog body language, not every dog, just your own. Observe. Focus on play, be patient and make learning fun. Train these key skills: A rock solid 'recall and engagement'. Good lead skills and walking, and 'relaxation and settling'.

Remember this is a normal developmental phase, with your support your dog will make it through and become the reliable companion they were.

If you are worried about any behaviours, please contact us.

We are here to help. https://www.thedogbehaviouracademy.co.nz/