Just like human teenagers, dogs become stubborn and argumentative as they enter their adolescent years. As a new dog owner, you might feel frustrated at this point in your dog’s life. Just keep in mind that this is normal behavior for an adolescent dog. We are a professional dog training facility in Deep River, CT and we have several adolescent dogs in our training programs. Here are four tips on dealing with the canine adolescent years.
Four Tips on Dealing With the Canine Adolescent Years
Train your puppy!
One of the most common pieces of advice we give out on dealing with the canine adolescent years is to train your puppy well. Puppies can start to learn basic commands such as sit, stay, and come as early as eight weeks. The training should positive yet consistent, so the puppy learns what you are asking for. When training your puppy at this age, positive reinforcement is essential so reward them with lots of their favorite treats.
Teach your dog about self-control and boundaries.
Like teenagers, puppies like to push and test boundaries. Teaching them at a younger age to respect those boundaries is essential for dealing with the canine adolescent years. Important commands that teach your puppy about boundaries are leave it and drop it. When the puppy learns these boundaries and commands, they will have a better understanding of self-control as they get older.
Give your adolescent dog lots of physical and mental exercise.
Mental and physical exercise is important for dogs of any age, but it is especially important for adolescent dogs who have lots of energy they need to expend. There are several activities that your dog can participate can exercise their body and mind with. These include fetch, long walks, games, obedience training, puzzle toys, group classes. Remember what the AKC says, “a tired dog is a good dog, but a mentally tired dog is a great dog.”
Crate train your puppy.
Using a crate can give a puppy a safe place to relax when you are out of the house. When a puppy is crate trained early, they are less likely to associate it negatively and may feel more secure in it as they get older. As a puppy enters their adolescent years, a crate can ensure that the puppy will not get into trouble while you are outside the house. You can read more about crate training here.