Adolescent Dogs
Dogs and humans are very different, but they do have this in common: adolescence is often a rocky period. Like human teens, adolescent dogs explore their world and test their own abilities in ways you won't always like. (What's on the other side of the fence? Can I boss these other dogs? Can I catch that skunk? Who's that cute Collie?)
All this adolescent adventuring can be wearing on owners; most dogs abandoned at shelters are between eight and 18 months old, at the height of adolescence. This is also a prime time for dogs to be banished to the backyard--a boring and sad place for such social animals.
The good news is, adolescence goes by much more quickly in canines than in people. And if you keep up with the guidelines that got you through puppyhood, as well some new ones just for adolescents, you can keep enjoying your dog and lay the foundation for a happy life together.
What defines the stage
During adolescence, your dog will:
- Become more interested in the big, wild world than she is in you. A dog who once happily bounded up to you when you called may suddenly become deaf to the "come" command.
- Have lots of energy and need a good amount of exercise.
- Become sexually mature. Males may hop fences and take off in search of the ladies, and they may mark in the house to claim their territory. Females will mark to advertise their availability to the guys. Both may become aggressive with other dogs of the same sex.
- Forget commands and have a very short attention span. You may find your pup looking at you like you're speaking Martian when you give her a command that she knew backward and forward last week.
- Possibly become shy or frightened of things she took in stride just a few weeks before. Don't force your dog to confront something that frightens her, but don't coddle (and thereby reward) her fears, either.
- Reach her adult height but be a bit awkward and gangly.
- Lose her cottony puppy coat.
How long it lasts
Adolescence begins and ends at different ages, depending on the dog. Small breeds may turn into adolescents at six months, large breeds at around nine to 10 months; giant breeds may be 12 to 18 months old before this stage hits. One good sign that your dog's in adolescence: she's suddenly driving you crazy.
Depending on how quickly your dog matures, count on adolescence ending by age one in the early developers, and as late as two or three years of age in late bloomers.
Things to keep in mind
Keep your adolescent dog in a gated-off, puppy-proofed part of the house when someone can't keep an eye on her, because adolescents are often chewing machines. Just make sure she also gets plenty of time to hang out and bond with the family.
Be calm but consistent about house rules. Your dog is learning from you all the time, whether you want her to or not. Give a command only when you mean it, and (kindly, gently) insist that she obey.
Enroll in another obedience class. The guidance of a good trainer will help you get through adolescence, and so will the support of other people who are in the same boat with their teenage dogs.
Experts Questions and Answers
My kids are still young but we'd like to get a dog. Which breeds are best with children?March 31st, 2011
We have a big family with people coming in and out of our home all the time. Are some dogs more social than others?March 31st, 2011
Why does it seem harder to get a dog from a shelter or rescue group than from a breeder?March 31st, 2011
We have a male dog and are planning on adopting a new puppy. Obviously, we want them both to get along. Do males tend to get along better with othe...March 31st, 2011
If I adopt a dog from a shelter, how will I know he or she doesn't have any behavioral problems?March 31st, 2011
How do I know what I'm getting when I adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue group?March 31st, 2011
How do you know when your dog no longer needs her crate for housetraining?March 31st, 2011
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i love my dog he is a miniture pincher his name is shawn but we call him shawny. about 4 years ago by Anonymous |
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