Now I Get It: Surviving Your Pup’s Terrible Teens

Oct 6

*Balto, far right, is in his terrible teenage werewolf stage. photo: Cyd True*

As a professional dog trainer, when clients would come to me saying their 12-months+ old puppy was suddenly being stubborn or not listening, I’d tell them they needed to review the previous training and do more work. I genuinely believed that they must have missed something or were slacking off, rather than that their dog was suddenly, willfully defying their every request. And while it’s true that more training is one of the answers to the challenging adolescent period with your dog, I’ve now seen my own perfect 24/7 trained puppy Balto - currently 16 months old - turn into a teenage werewolf, seemingly overnight.

The new teenage Balto now looks directly at me when I give a cue or a recall and actively chooses to not respond, or to go in the opposite direction, or to do something else that’s not what I asked for. It’s maddening, confusing, and can be dangerous. Apologies to all those with teenage pups whom I previously doubted. I now totally get it!

So what is going on, and what can we do?

While it’s generally believed that dogs enter adolescence between 18 and 24 months of age, it can actually start much earlier depending on breed, social factors, health, and other things. In fact, dogs go through two sensitive periods during which their brain is developing and creating neural pathways based on their experiences. The first is generally from 2 to 16 weeks and the second begins as they enter puberty.

During adolescence, just as with humans, a dog’s body is surging with hormones at the same time the brain is building and solidifying thought and behavior patterns that will shape them for life, a process called myelination. Dogs who are exposed, in safe and appropriate ways, to environmental stimuli during these two phases can better adapt to the world around them with confidence and a feeling of safety. Even a dog who displays fear and anxiety can learn to feel less of these daunting emotions with proper exposure and desensitization training protocols.

The bad news is that many adolescent dogs will not only look at the world around them with a new sense of curiosity, but they will start actively asking questions you might wish they wouldn’t (why? what if?). And just like human teens, adolescent dogs will start to explore. They will test preconceived notions and push past established boundaries. They may display a newfound fearfulness or, more challengingly, fearlessness. The new teenage Balto knows literally no boundaries, has no fear, and will do the opposite of what I ask almost always. Fun times.

The good news is that, while the solutions are a bit limiting, they do exist. In a nutshell, you want to amp up your training of already known good behaviors in any and all situations while narrowing down the access your dog has to getting in trouble and/or danger.

For example, during most of Balto’s life, we regularly ventured into open territories such as Thornton Beach, Fort Funston, and The Presidio. But as of last week, I realized it’s too much of a risk to take him anywhere where he could venture too far, or worse, onto a busy road. Instead, we’ve started going to large, enclosed dog parks where he’s able to have fun and meet all of his adolescent needs to test, push, and explore without dire consequences. When not at the dog park, I keep him close and work on training constantly. Engagement, recall, play skills, and all the basics get reviewed on every walk we take together.

The best part is that all his teenage buddies who hang with us are also benefiting from the same attention and training. Their adolescent brains are literally myelinating their experiences every day, forming permanent behavior and action patterns. It’s fun to watch and to help guide them on this crazy journey.

Of course, we can teach an old dog new tricks, but it’s much easier to teach the behaviors we want now rather than having to go back and tinker later. And while Balto’s teenage self sometimes makes me want to raise my fists to the gods and cry “why??!,” I always make sure to communicate to him with love, kindness, fun, and excitement, so that I’m the person he wants to engage with and return to - not the grumpy mom he wants to challenge and get away from.

In fact, in just a few short weeks, I’ve come to appreciate what an amazing opportunity the difficult adolescent period offers. It’s a chance to strengthen all the training work we’ve already done while using Balto’s teenage needs for testing and adventure as reinforcers in safe, fulfilling ways. All of which enhances our bond and continues to make me the best mom ever, at least in his besotted puppy dog eyes.

So, to frustrated parents of teen dogs everywhere, take heart. It’s just a part of growing up. With the right attitude and a little extra care, you’ll get through it. And you’ll both come out the other side even better than before.