DU Spring 2017

Canine Development “The Teen Years”

by Amanda Abresch B.S., ABCDT, APDT, CPDT-KA

If 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 affect their world. Puppies this age are easily excited, ready to play, and starting to experiment with independence. It’s a time of growth, learning, and (for puppy owners) frustration. If you wait until this age to start any training, you will probably experience more frustration. Anywhere between 5 and 14 months, this period ends when the pup reaches sexual maturity, but this pup is not at all socially mature by 14 months. Additional Fear Periods: 4-11 months Many dogs will go through different fear-imprint periods that can last for up to three weeks during this age. Though not explicitly documented by data, anecdotal evidence of this has been found. That is, breeders and dog owners have noticed that dogs in this age range seem to experience new found fears at random, even to familiar objects. If this happens to your pup, it is best to enlist the help of a certified trainer to work on counter conditioning and desensitizing to teach your dog not to fear things like flags, hats, or plastic bags. Adolescent Period: This age range is hard to pinpoint since there can be such a range between breeds. Essentially, once a pup has gotten through puberty and is also socially mature, they have finished with this stage in their lives. Just like human adolescents, this stage is all about exploring their environment and learning how they can have an impact on it. It can be frustrating to owners to see a pup of 10 months who knows all the commands at home to apparently have amnesia when there is something more interesting than its humans around. To have a dog who looks like an adult and seems to act like one at times can make normal adolescent behavior extremely frustrating, but it’s completely normal. The good news is that you and your pup can survive this stage and will have a lifetime of happy memories. With an adolescent puppy especially, it is important to provide mental and physical stimulation to keep them occupied in good ways! Things like exploring a new park, nose work activities, learning new cues, tricks, and games are all great ways to further develop your bond with your dog and use up excess energy. That way, you and your pup can relax together!

Reference: Small Animal Pediatrics, by Michael Peterson and Michelle A. Kutzler. Pages 191-

Amanda Abresch 443-614-7428 YourSmartPup.com