6 tips to help you through your dog's teenage phase
Now your puppy has entered its teenage years, a period that can be a little tricky for both owner and dog. Your puppy might still look like a pup, but inside, hormones are starting to bubble and energy levels are rising. Here are some simple tips to make your everyday life with your teenage dog easier.
Lower the expectations.Seriously. Lower your expectations in every situation your dog encounters. Hormones are playing tricks on your dog's brain, resulting in increased energy and a tendency to get 'overexcited'. The 'brakes' in your dog's brain are less active during this period, so it's not impossible that your dog may have completely lost its impulse control.
Give plenty of freedom. Give your teen lots of time, preferably off-lead, in woods and fields. Depending on what time of year your puppy starts to become a teenager, you may want to use a long lead. Given the tendency to get 'overexcited' mentioned above, your teen is much more dependent on movement and exercise, preferably at their own pace. This is beneficial throughout the dog's life, but especially important during the teenage phase.
Enrichment every day.Give your dog lots of things to chew on, tear apart, and explore. Have enrichment toys available for every meal or create your own fun activities. Watch your dog and see what it needs. Maybe it's digging up the garden – then give it a designated digging spot you can live with. If it's destroying your cushions – give it cardboard to tear apart. Chewing on chair legs – always provide access to chew toys.
Don't nag. Don't get caught up in nagging your teenager about their ears coming off. If recall isn't perfect during this period – stay calm. Your puppy remembers what you taught it as a pup, but be careful not to damage that trust during this phase of your young dog's life. If housetraining isn't great – use the long lead or turn on your heel when you need to take your dog out. Never nag – you'll destroy the great foundation you've built.
Play a lot. Yes, play a lot – preferably without lots of demands or rules. Play builds a great relationship and having a young dog should be fun. Make the most of your young and energetic dog and build on your great bond!
Be patient. The young dog phase will pass too. If you give your young dog the opportunity to explore the world, allow plenty of freedom, and lower your expectations, then you can laugh about this period when your dog has grown up and its brain has balanced out. Because here's the thing, your young dog's hormones are out of whack. Create the conditions so as not to destroy the great bond you have built.
