Why is my teenage puppy suddenly scared?
In addition, dogs go through a second fear phase between the ages of 6 and 18 months. In some dogs, this only occurs once, but in others, it can occur repeatedly, possibly in conjunction with growth spurts or hormone surges. During this time, your puppy may appear reactive or fearful to things that haven’t bothered them in the past, such as people, dogs, strange objects or environments, etc. Since this appears to be the time when single-event learning is most likely to occur, managing this period properly is crucial. In other words, even if all of their prior interactions have been positive, a negative experience at this time can have a lasting impact on your dog’s behavior.
Do dogs go through a rebellious stage?
These hormonal changes can make adolescent dogs appear less obedient. But in reality, they’re becoming more eager to explore, engage in conversation, and move around. Additionally, they need to interact with their surroundings and the people in them more.
Adolescent dogs have the drive and motivation to do more, just like teenagers do in people. More play, more interaction with friends (both human and non-human! ), more exploration, but they lack the knowledge and experience to consider and control their actions and reactions.
Teenage dogs are a lot more energetic and interactive. When asked to stop doing something or to just calm down, they can easily become in conflict. Even when they used to be compliant and quick to react, it still occurs.
Owners frequently interpret this type of change as the dog being stubborn or attempting to assert their dominance. Instead, their dog is having trouble controlling their impulses.
Depending on their temperament (or personality), some dogs might become irritable when they don’t get their way. This negative emotion may result in behaviors that are motivated by negativity. Excessive barking, bothersome actions like jumping up, scratching, nipping, biting the lead, and even aggression are included in this.
It’s not surprising that many owners report significant behavioral changes in their dogs. Sadly, some puppies may need to be rehomed during their adolescent years. It’s encouraging to know that this period of problematic behavior will end. We’ve compiled some key advice to help you get through this challenging teenage phase.
Above all, remember that your dog hasn’t forgotten everything they’ve learned; they’re just perhaps not as focused at the moment, advises Gagnon. “Imagine trying to teach something to a student in the second or third grade.” Give your dog some time and patience while maintaining a schedule of consistent training sessions with various levels of distraction. ”.
It’s crucial for owners to understand that this is just a phase and not a lifetime of regression or a sign of a “bad dog.” Training-early and regularly is, of course, another important factor. The most crucial thing you can do for your dog is to train him, and this needs to start as soon as possible, ideally at around eight weeks old. Your dog is at that point in their life when they are most impressionable, according to De Marinis. The good news is that it won’t be as challenging to get a dog back on track during their adolescent years if pet owners are consistent and diligent about training and properly socializing their dog. When things do start to go south, pet owners can return to their toolbox, work on fundamental training, and reward good behavior, he says.
“The hormonal fluctuations and the remodeling of the brain to become an adult brain cause a lot of issues,” Harvey told the BBC. And, sadly, the resulting behavior can have repercussions for the dog, whose owner may not realize that their pets may just be going through a difficult phase—this age group is the most likely to end up in shelters in the U.S.
Raising children during their adolescent phase is a challenging task, as any parent of teenagers will attest due to the know-it-all attitude, the uncanny ability to ignore anything that resembles a request, and the sudden desire to be anywhere but with family. But even if you’ve never raised a human, you may have come across these characteristics in the family dogs.
Sound familiar? “We have been able to show for the first time that dogs display increased conflict behavior, characterized by a reduction in obedience, during puberty,” wrote zoologist Dr. Naomi Harvey, who contributed to the research. “Importantly, this reduced obedience is seen only in how the dog behaves towards their caregiver.” The researchers also collected data from 285 guide dog owners, which revealed similar results and found that both younger and older dogs seem to be more trainable than teenage dogs.
FAQ
Do dogs go through a rebellious stage?
Dogs experience a rebellious “teenager” phase, just like humans, between the ages of 5 and 18. They frequently test their owners during this time to see what they can get away with. Setting boundaries will be easier if you are firm and consistent with your instruction.
At what age are dogs most difficult?
The puberty stage is the most difficult time to raise a puppy. When dogs reach puberty, they appear to have forgotten everything. Each dog is different during this time, but it could start around the age of eight months and last until the dog is two years old.
Do dogs calm down after adolescent?
1/ Remind yourself frequently that as your dog ages, he will become calmer, and look for ways to assist him in burning off some of the excess energy. The majority of dogs’ energy levels will decrease and gradually become more manageable, even though some breeds or some individuals may be more spirited than average.