Canine Development “The Teen Years” by Amanda Abresch B.S., ABCDT, APDT, CPDT-KA
I
f you have (human) children, you know how trying the early years can be. That is until you get to the teen years, at which point some parents question everything they have ever done. It seems as though kids this age they revert to childish behaviors but also have this expanded sense of independence- a tenacious combination. Oddly enough, your dog goes through the same period in her development. I see a lot of people with adolescent dogs between 4 months and two years of age who seems to suddenly exhibit unwanted behaviors, either returning to old ways or trying out new ways to confuse and frustrate their people. Contrary to popular belief, these dogs are not trying to be “dominant” or assert themselves as the “pack leader”; they are simply being adolescents and learning about how they can affect the world around them. It can be helpful to understand what your pup is going through during this time; not only so you know what to expect, but what you can do help alleviate tension and problems. Juvenile Period: 3-14 Months Now we are talking about a dog who are getting older and exploring more. They are learning about how they fit in the world and how they can effect their world. Puppies this age are easily 20
Delmarva Unleashed
Early Summer 2017
