Adolescence

Yes, most dogs go through those wonderful teenage years. Typically, it starts around 7 months and can last a year. Your puppy’s immature brain is developing, and adulthood is approaching.

Signs of adolescence can include:

Stubborn Behavior
New Mouthy Behavior
Jumping
Rowdy
Refusal to do a task that he/she has been trained to do
Wanting to Explore

Be patient during this time and provide even more exercise and training sessions. Empower your dog to make good decisions and reward. Helping your puppy to explore the world is very important at this time. The bond you developed during those fun puppy months will help you navigate adolescence.

Boundaries are very important in this stage, as well as understanding your dog’s limitations.