Adolescence in Dogs: Why Your Dog Might Suddenly Be Driving You Mad!
If your sweet, well-behaved puppy has suddenly started ignoring cues, pulling on the lead, barking at other dogs, or acting like they’ve completely forgotten their training, you’re not alone — welcome to adolescence!
Just like human teenagers, dogs go through a period of dramatic change as they mature. This stage can feel frustrating and confusing for many owners, especially when their previously calm puppy seems to have been replaced by a chaotic, rebellious version of themselves. But these behaviours are normal — and with the right understanding and support, this phase doesn’t have to be a nightmare.
When Does Adolescence Happen in Dogs?
Adolescence generally begins around 6 months of age and can last until 18–24 months, depending on the size, breed and individual dog. Smaller breeds often mature faster, while larger and giant breeds may take longer to reach emotional and behavioural maturity.
Why Is This Happening?
Adolescent behaviour is rooted in biological, neurological and emotional development. During this stage, your dog’s body is flooded with hormones, their brain is reorganizing, and they are becoming more motivated by the world around them!
Some key drivers behind challenging adolescent behaviour include:
Hormonal changes can increase risk-taking and impulsivity, driven by the onset of sexual development.
Rapid Brain development that affects memory, focus, and emotional regulation
Testing boundaries as they gain confidence and independence
Secondary Fear/Sensitive period, where things they previously tolerated may suddenly seem scary. This can lead to new displays of reactivity or sensitivity.
Common Struggles During Dog Adolescence
Here are some of the most frequently reported issues from owners of adolescent dogs — and what’s behind them:
1. “My dog is ignoring me!”
Dogs in adolescence may seem like they’ve forgotten cues like recall or sit, even if they knew them perfectly well as puppies! This is because impulse control and focus fluctuate during this developmental phase. Their brains are busy processing the environment — other dogs, smells, sounds — and it becomes harder for them to filter distractions.
What helps:
Go back to basics, and lower expectations.
Reinforce known cues in easy, low-distraction environments, and reward generously.
Use long lines for safety, without having to compromise on freedom, and add to their frustrations.
2. “They're becoming reactive or more vocal on walks.”
Even dogs who were previously confident may start barking at dogs, people, or novel objects. This is often due to the onset of a secondary ‘fear’ or sensitive period (often around 6–14 months). This period of development is a bit of an evolutionary throwback for our domesticated dogs, as it would be the time that they would leave their mother and litter. From a survival standpoint, this heightened sensitivity helps young animals avoid potential threats by encouraging caution in unfamiliar situations.
What helps:
Avoid punishment, their brains are very sensitive at this time and you may inadvertently create negative associations.
Do not force interactions with scary things! Use rewards; like food or toys, to create positive associations with things that seem to worry them from a distance.
Treat everything they notice like it is new, and mark and reward them for noticing things!
3. “They’re pulling on the lead like a sled dog.”
Adolescent dogs may become more focused on their environment, driven by hormonal changes, the prospect of sexual competition, and seeking out a mate: making them stronger and more determined to pull. It's also a sign that self-control is still developing!
What helps:
Plenty of off leash time in safe areas.
Use a longer leash where safe, let them sniff and explore.
Reinforce loose-lead walking with frequent rewards and changes of direction. Keep sessions short, and set up for success.
4. “They’re more excitable, and won’t settle!”
Adolescent dogs may seem more restless, mouthy, or prone to zoomies. Their brains, and bodies, are in overdrive! At this stage, it can be really easy just to think “they need more exercise!”, but in reality, more stimulation is the last thing they need. Often, when our teenage dogs appear restless, they are showing us that they are struggling to process all the goings-on of the day. Think back to your teenage days, and try to be sympathetic.
What helps:
Provide structured enrichment like sniffy walks
Don’t get caught in the trap of offering endless puzzles, chews, and enrichment! Instead, focus on fulfilling their needs by providing breed specific activities.
Help them re-learn how to settle after activity or excitement
5. “They don’t care about me any more” OR “they’ve developed separation anxiety!”
Frequently, we see our dogs become more independent in this period, choosing to sit on their own, or take themselves away for the first time. While this feels a little insulting, but again, think back to your teenage years, did you want to sit on the sofa with your mum and dad? These shifts can reflect rapid physical and emotional changes, as well as that evolutionary instinct to break off from their family groups and seek out independence.
Alternatively, that sensitive period can often generate a sense of worry, which translates as our dogs being more clingy: this is also normal (within reason)!
What helps:
Don’t pester, or force interactions! It may be they find settling away from stimulation like touch and sound easier.
While we might really look forward to cuddle time on the sofa, rest is super important for growth and development. Let sleeping dogs lie, and let them rest wherever they choose.
If you are dealing with a more clingy pooch, support your dog’s confidence by practicing short separations. Encourage independence gradually, and do not panic if their needs change!
If you think your dog is developing separation related anxiety, seek out a qualified professional who is trained in dealing with this.
The Good News: This Phase Won’t Last Forever
Adolescence feels like a regression, but it's actually a natural part of growing up. With patience, empathy, and consistent training, we can guide our dogs through this rollercoaster, and build confident adult dogs!
This is the time to:
Stay consistent with boundaries and cues
Avoid punishment that could damage your relationship
Lean into enrichment, sniffing, and social learning
Work with a professional if things start to feel overwhelming
You're Not Failing — It's Just Adolescence
Many owners feel defeated during this stage, especially if things were going smoothly during puppyhood. But it’s not a sign that you're doing anything wrong — it’s just that your dog’s brain and body are going through massive changes!
Adolescence is temporary, but the habits you help your dog build now will shape their behaviour for the rest of their life.
Want Some Support?
If your dog is going through a tricky adolescent phase, I offer personalised support to help you get through it with your relationship (and your sanity) intact. Book a 1-1 session or register interest for my upcoming adolescent dog classes — we’ll get through this, together.