Adolescence Can be a Wild Time!

Recently, I had a young adult dog stay at my home for a week, and she is truly a delightful guest. But I was remembering an earlier visit when she was knee-deep in adolescence and having a tough time knowing how to navigate interactions with four other dogs in the house. She seemed absolutely magnetized toward them, frequently wanting to interact in a dorky way that irritated the four adult dogs. And despite them doing their best to lay out clear boundaries, she continued to display those pesky behaviors, almost like she couldn't help herself. And honestly, she couldn't! Of course, I managed things carefully to be sure she didn't push too far -- I wanted to protect the comfort of the adult dogs as well as keep her safe.

Had she been around less socially appropriate dogs during that time, she may have received some harsh corrections from them, and this could've had a long-lasting negative impact on her feelings toward other dogs. (Adolescent dogs have more sensitivity to fear.) Instead, she was guided and supported during this topsy-turvy time and has matured into a dog who is gentle and socially appropriate with other dogs.

The age of adolescence is roughly defined as 6-18 months. During this time, it's common to see the following:

• erratic behavior

• reduced ability to control impulses / less behavioral control

• strong emotions (areas of the brain that allow them to regulate emotions haven't fully developed yet)

• increased risk taking

• increased desire for social interaction

• less tolerance for frustration

• difficulty responding, at times, to previously trained cues

Do any of these sound familiar as you think of your adolescent dog?

Some advice --

If your dog is still a young pup, concentrate on building a strong and secure relationship, create plenty of positive experiences and social opportunities, and introduce house rules and simple obedience skills. These will all provide a solid foundation as you head toward your dog's more turbulent months of adolescence.

If your dog is currently an adolescent, please be patient and do your best to maintain a structured and predictable environment. Meet their exercise and enrichment needs. Also, try to be protective in a way that shields your teenager from overly challenging or chaotic situations. Revisit training basics to help continue to guide their behavior. And plan on managing carefully in exciting situations, so you can minimize the rehearsal of unwanted or potentially risky behaviors, such as Tarzan-style greetings with other dogs.

And, if any of the points in this article are ringing a bell for parents of human teenagers, the behavior of adolescent dogs is remarkably similar! You might find this research article interesting!

If you're currently struggling with your adolescent dog, please get in touch.

I'd love to help you through this sometimes challenging stage!

My email is virginiadare2013@gmail.com.