Adolescent Dogs: 6 Things Every Puppy Family Should Know

A breeder’s guide to surviving—and enjoying—your dog’s teenage years

If you thought the puppy stage was an adventure, welcome to the next chapter: adolescence! Just when you’ve mastered house-training, survived the needle-sharp puppy teeth, and started to believe that your dog might actually be listening to you, your sweet little puppy begins to change.

Suddenly, the reliable recall seems to have gone on vacation, familiar objects look suspicious, and the puppy who once thought you were the centre of the universe has discovered that the world is full of much more interesting things to investigate. Welcome to the teenage years!

As a breeder, I always want new puppy families to know that raising a dog is a journey with several stages, and adolescence is one of the most misunderstood. A quick search online might leave you convinced that you’re about to enter a period of endless mischief and questionable life choices. Thankfully, it isn’t all doom and gloom. There are plenty of wonderful things about this stage, too, and understanding what is happening can make the experience much easier for everyone.

Canine adolescence generally begins around six months of age and continues until physical maturity, often somewhere between two and three years, depending on the dog and breed. The most noticeable behavioural changes frequently occur between six and twelve months. Hormones play a role, but they aren’t the whole story. Your dog’s brain is still developing, and the world is beginning to look rather different through those young eyes.

Even dogs who have been neutered can display adolescent behaviours. This is not simply a hormone problem; it is also a developmental stage.

So, before you wonder whether your well-mannered puppy has been replaced by a furry stranger, here are six things I want every puppy family to understand.

1. Your relationship with your teenage dog matters more than ever

By adolescence, you and your puppy have hopefully spent several months getting to know each other. You’ve built routines, learned one another’s habits, and begun developing the trust that will carry you through adulthood. This is a wonderful advantage.

Remember those exhausting early weeks when every little need seemed urgent? The toilet trips, the constant supervision, the interrupted sleep, and the puppy who appeared to have a personal mission to investigate everything with his mouth? You have probably made considerable progress since then.

Your adolescent dog may already understand basic cues, be reliably house-trained, and have learned how to settle for short periods. You are no longer starting from scratch, even if some days it feels suspiciously like you are.

A strong bond also makes patience easier. It is much simpler to laugh off a teenager’s silly antics when you remember the affectionate, trusting puppy who first came home with you.

That said, adolescence will test your patience. Your dog may suddenly seem distracted, impulsive, or less interested in cooperating. Try not to take it personally. He isn’t deliberately trying to ruin your day, although he may occasionally demonstrate an impressive talent for doing exactly that.

My advice: Keep investing in your relationship. Play together, continue training, reward good choices, and make time for calm, enjoyable interactions. Your dog needs you to be a consistent guide, not a frustrated referee.

2. Teething is nearly over, but those jaws are getting stronger!

There is good news for anyone who spent puppyhood wondering whether their furniture would survive: the most intense teething period is usually behind you.

Most puppies have their adult teeth by approximately six to seven months, although individual development varies and some dogs take a little longer to finish the process.

Unfortunately, the end of teething does not necessarily mean the end of chewing. Some dogs simply discover that chewing is an excellent hobby and decide to pursue it well into adulthood.

The difference is that your adolescent puppy now has a stronger jaw and considerably more chewing power. A chew that occupied him peacefully for an hour a few weeks ago might now disappear in ten minutes. Something he could barely make a dent in may suddenly become a collection of loose pieces.

In other words, the chew toy has not become less interesting. Your dog has upgraded his equipment.

My advice: Review your puppy’s chew toys and edible chews regularly. Choose suitable items for his current size, chewing strength, and chewing style. Supervise him closely, and remove anything that becomes small enough to swallow, breaks into dangerous pieces, or is damaged.

Never assume that a chew is safe simply because it was suitable when your puppy was younger. And if your adolescent dog is still chewing your shoes, remember that shoes are not technically chew toys, regardless of your dog’s strongly held opinion.

3. Your dog’s sleeping habits—and energy levels—may change

Do you remember when your puppy seemed to spend most of the day sleeping between meals, toilet breaks, and brief bursts of chaos?

Those peaceful little naps may become less predictable during adolescence.

Your young dog may appear to have an almost endless supply of energy. He may snooze for much of the evening, only to announce at bedtime that he is wide awake, ready for action, and very disappointed that the rest of the household has apparently closed for business.

This is where many families assume the answer must be more exercise.

Exercise is important, of course, but wearing out an adolescent dog is not simply a matter of walking farther and farther until everyone collapses. Young dogs also need opportunities to use their brains, practise self-control, explore safely, and learn how to relax.

Short, enjoyable training sessions, scent games, food puzzles, and appropriate enrichment can be just as useful as physical activity. Adequate rest remains important, too. An overtired dog can become more excitable and less able to make sensible decisions—rather like a toddler who has missed a nap, except this toddler has four legs and considerably more enthusiasm for furniture.

Remember that your dog’s body is still developing. Depending on breed and size, the growth plates in the bones may remain open well into adolescence. Avoid pushing your young dog into strenuous, repetitive, high-impact activities, especially those involving repeated jumping, sharp turns, or sudden stops. Ask your veterinarian for guidance about suitable exercise for your individual dog.

My advice: Build a balanced routine of appropriate exercise, mental enrichment, training, and rest. Keep evenings reasonably predictable, and reward calm behaviour rather than expecting your dog to discover relaxation by accident.

And if bedtime occasionally turns into a late-night discussion about why everyone should be asleep, take a breath. These phases often settle as your dog matures and his routine becomes more consistent.

4. Socialization does not end when puppy class does

During early puppyhood, you worked hard to introduce your dog to people, places, sounds, surfaces, and everyday experiences. You may have attended puppy classes, visited new environments, and proudly celebrated each new experience your puppy handled with confidence.

Excellent work! But socialization is not a box you tick once and forget about.

Your adolescent dog still needs positive, carefully managed experiences throughout development. This is especially important if you have recently welcomed an adolescent dog into your family and are unsure what he experienced earlier in life.

You may also notice something rather puzzling: the dog who previously walked past a particular object without a second glance suddenly decides it is alarming. A fire hydrant becomes suspicious. A tree stump looks questionable. A perfectly ordinary person or dog seems to require a formal investigation, possibly accompanied by barking.

Welcome to another possible feature of adolescence: temporary periods of increased fear or uncertainty.

These changes can come and go. When your dog feels unsure, he may need more distance, reassurance, and time to process what he is seeing.

The important thing is not to force him into confronting whatever worries him. Dragging him closer, insisting that he say hello, or scolding him for barking can make an already difficult experience more stressful.

Instead, remain calm, give him space, and let him observe from a comfortable distance. Reward relaxed behaviour and allow him to move away if he needs to. Sometimes your calm presence and gentle encouragement are enough to help him settle.

If your dog is frightened by busy streets, crowds, large events, or unfamiliar dogs, it is perfectly reasonable to simplify his outings temporarily. Choose quieter locations and easier experiences while you rebuild his confidence. As he becomes more comfortable, gradually introduce more challenging situations at a pace he can manage. If fear or reactivity is intense, persistent, or getting worse, consult your veterinarian or a qualified, reward-based trainer.

My advice: Think quality, not quantity. Socialization is not about meeting every person and dog in the neighbourhood. It is about helping your dog learn that the world can be approached safely and positively.

And please remember: your dog does not have to greet every dog he sees. Sometimes the most successful social interaction is simply walking past another dog calmly and carrying on with your day.

5. Suddenly, the whole world is worth exploring

As young puppies, many dogs prefer to stay close to home and within their comfort zone. You may remember standing patiently on the pavement while your puppy planted all four feet and refused to move, as though you had asked him to lead an expedition across the Arctic.

Adolescence can bring the opposite problem.

Your dog may become more confident, develop greater stamina, and show a stronger interest in exploring the wider world. Every scent has a story, every patch of grass deserves investigation, and every path might lead to something wonderfully interesting.

You may find walks becoming much more enjoyable as your dog grows in confidence and stamina. This is an excellent opportunity to explore together and allow him to engage in natural behaviours, such as sniffing and investigating his surroundings.

However, there is one small complication: the desire to explore can develop faster than reliable recall.

The puppy who once hurried back to you at the sound of his name may now hear you calling and appear to conduct a careful cost-benefit analysis before deciding whether your request deserves attention.

Do not assume that a good recall at four or five months means you can trust your adolescent dog off-leash. His interests, confidence, and responses are changing, and his training is still developing.

Use a regular leash in unsecured areas and consider a long line when you want to provide more freedom in a suitable open space. Continue practising recall in manageable environments, beginning with limited distractions and gradually increasing the difficulty.

Whenever your dog comes back, make it worthwhile. Use praise, play, or a particularly appealing treat. Avoid calling him repeatedly when you know he is unlikely to respond, and never turn returning to you into an unpleasant experience.

My advice: Give your adolescent dog opportunities to explore safely while continuing to practise the skills that keep him safe. Freedom should grow alongside reliability, not simply because your dog looks mature enough to have his own opinions.

6. Your dog’s training may appear to disappear overnight

This is the stage that leaves many otherwise confident puppy owners wondering what happened to their training success.

Your puppy could sit, lie down, come when called, leave something alone, and drop an object on cue. You were understandably proud of those accomplishments.

Then adolescence arrived, and suddenly your dog behaves as though those lessons were delivered in a language he no longer speaks.

You ask for a sit, and he looks at you. You call him, and he finds a fascinating smell. You ask him to leave something alone, and he seems to need a moment to consider the philosophical implications of your request.

Before you conclude that your dog has forgotten everything, remember that adolescent development can affect attention, impulse control, and the ability to respond consistently in distracting situations. Your dog may understand a cue perfectly well in the kitchen but struggle to perform it in the park, where the world is full of exciting alternatives.

This does not mean your training has been wasted.

It means you may need to return to easier situations, refresh familiar skills, and build reliability gradually. Keep sessions short, enjoyable, and rewarding. Practise in different environments, but increase distractions slowly enough that your dog can succeed.

If your dog struggles with a cue, avoid repeating it ten times while your frustration rises and his interest in the surrounding environment grows. Make the exercise easier, help him succeed, and reward the response you want.

My advice: Be consistent, keep rewarding good choices, and resist the temptation to turn every training session into an examination. Your adolescent dog is still learning, and your job is to help him practise successfully.

The skills you have taught him remain valuable, even when his performance becomes a little unpredictable. Keep building on that foundation, and give him time to mature.

A final word from your breeder

Adolescence can be a challenging stage, but it is also an exciting one. Your puppy is growing into an individual with greater confidence, curiosity, stamina, and personality. You will begin to see more of the adult dog he is becoming, even if that adult occasionally seems to have misplaced his manners.

There will be days when you feel wonderfully proud of your progress, followed by days when you wonder whether your dog has been secretly attending a school for professional mischief-makers.

Both experiences are part of the journey.

Keep your expectations realistic, maintain clear and kind boundaries, continue training, and provide opportunities for safe exploration. Remember that maturity does not arrive all at once, and different dogs develop at different rates.

Most importantly, do not measure your success by whether your adolescent dog behaves perfectly every day. Look instead at the relationship you are building, the skills you are strengthening, and the confidence you are helping him develop.

Your puppy does not need a perfect family. He needs a patient, consistent family that is willing to guide him through the confusing business of growing up.

So take a deep breath, keep the treats handy, protect your shoes, and enjoy this stage where you can.

One day, you may even look back on these teenage antics and laugh.

Preferably after your dog has finished chewing something that belongs to you.