Are you having a challenge on your hands a teenage dog that just doesn’t want to listen?
This blog post is for you.
Stay calm and be consequent.
Mind you a lot of dogs are dropped at the shelters in their teen years as they are no longer puppy cute and are now demonstrating another challenge for their owners.
What you will need to survive this stage are two things:
Humor, humor, humor and a chill pill.
What your dog will need:
You staying calm, be consequence, give routine and boundaries. Simply go back to basics.
Your so amazing dog, which had a great recall, suddenly forgets his/ her name at the park. Or the so well rehearsed sit command, won’t happen anymore only if you get some treats out.
When you reach this phase and you will know.
It is important to stay calm and follow through on commands. But not through screaming or even trying to be aggressive to get them to come back or sit on command.
Your puppy teenager is simply to busy and has other things on his mind. The hormones are simply giving your dog an emotional turmoil.
Best is to give your dog guidance and lead him through this phase to keep him safe and out of trouble.
If he forgot his well know commands, pretend he is a puppy and start from zero, use treats to help him coming back to you. Or remind him if he sits he will get a treat. This will help your puppy to orientate himself again towards you. Give him a day routine. Expand the daily walks to help your dog to de-stress and sniff the roses without getting in trouble.
Make yourself important on walks to get the dog focus on you. Train him on walks; make him sit at every curb, stop and sit and focus on you. Make training fun again for both you and him. Just remember stay calm, he has forgotten everything.
Dogs that developed too much independence at the park and run to far ahead, simply hide behind a tree or bush to teach your dog that, if you don’t pay attention, you might be suddenly gone. Or use a long line at the park to follow through on recalls. Make sure you follow up with a treat even if you had to help your teenage dog to come back to you. You need to help rewire their brains. If you help them along teenage stage won’t last long.
After you survived your dogs puberty, there is another phase you should be aware of and this is between 18-24 months of age. In this time the dog matures mentally.
It’s also called the Fear phase/ second puberty. A lot of dogs show fear to things they don’t know. They can suddenly become very sensitive to noises and start barking. A lot of dogs will start testing their owners again. Training mistakes from the past will become more eminent.
Take your time, show your dog some love and affection show him there is nothing to be scared off. Get the treats out to make things positive. Don’t pushing your dog for barking or being scared it would make them even more anxious.
Happy puppy training.