Your puppy is not so little anymore and suddenly you might notice behaviours that feel frustrating or confusing. If this sounds familiar, your dog could be entering the adolescent phase, a natural but often challenging time for both dogs and their guardians.
What is the adolescent dog phase?
Adolescence in dogs typically begins around six months and can continue until 18 months, though for larger breeds it may last up to three years. During this time, your dogs brain is undergoing significant development, particularly in areas that affect stress response, emotional regulation and decision making. This can make even simple activities, like meeting new people or other dogs, navigating busy environments or following basic cues feel overwhelming.
Many behaviours you thought you had under control as a puppy chewing, jumping, ignoring requests, pulling on the lead can resurface during adolescence. Research also shows that a high proportion of dogs surrendered to rescue centres are within this age range, highlighting just how challenging this developmental stage can be for guardians.
What’s happening in your dogs brain?
During adolescence, the connection between your dogs brains emotional centre which manages decision making and impulse control, temporarily weaken. This can result in:
- Increased Impulsiveness and risk taking behaviours
- Heightened fear responses or sensitivity to stimuli
- Difficulty coping with everyday experiences such as meeting new dogs greeting people or walking in busy areas.
Understanding that these changes are neurological rather than behavioural “problems” helps guardians respond with patience and empathy instead of frustration.
Changes in behaviour on walks
As dogs move into adolescence their relationship with sniffing and scent communication often changes significantly particularly in males. Hormonal shifts heighten their awareness of scent marks and trigger an instinctive need to investigate and respond, which can make them rushed and can exacerbate pulling on the lead. Guardians often notice their adolescent dog suddenly sniffing and marking constantly or even licking specific spots where other dogs have urinated. This behaviour is not mischief its biology. Sniffing and licking allows dogs to interpret complex information about other dogs identity, health, sex and emotional state. For males its a key part of developing social awareness and confidence but it can also make walks feel frantic with them pulling frequently to gather information.
Female dogs can show similar shifts in sniffing patterns, especially as hormonal cycles begin to regulate. They may become more selective or cautious about other dogs, spend longer investigating scents or show temporary changes in sociability. Just like in males, there behaviours reflect developmental and hormonal transitions, not defiance.
In both sexes, sniffing plays a vital role in emotional regulation. It helps them process their environment, release tension, and feel safe. By allowing time for structured sniffing, caregivers can support calmer, more confident walking experiences, even during this hormonally charged phase.
Supporting your adolescent dog
Relationships between care givers and their dogs can really breakdown in this phase due to lack of understanding and its not unusual for dogs to become unsure and at times defensive in this phase as the care givers mood becomes unpredictable due to the frustration of it all. With the right guidance, patience, and management, you can help your dog navigate adolescence and emerge as a confident, well adjusted adult. Here are some key tips:
- Keep routines consistent, but flexible enough to accommodate emotional ups and downs
- Prioritise decompression, quiet sniff walks, enrichment, calm time away form stimulation and even days off from walking can help.
- Avoid punishment or excessive control this can increase anxiety and frustration
- Use supportive equipment such as a well fitted harness and longer lead to encourage exploration (not a retractable lead)
- Focus on connection not control strengthen your relationship through trust based interactions this will make a bigger difference than drilling obedience cues.
Adolescent can feel chaotic, but it is a vital stage of development where your dog learns how to navigate the world. With understanding and gentle guidance, this phase can strengthen your bond and set the foundation for a lifetime of calm confident companionship.
If you would like to chat with me or get support with your dog or puppy book in a call with me below.
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