April  2024, by JudyShevelev & Vero Chávez Rojo

ADOLESCENCE IN DOGS, Part I: Understanding What’s Going On

Adolescenceis a developmental stage that occurs between six months and two years of age inmost dogs. It is a time that can be quite frustrating for pet parents becausethey often see regressions in their dog’s behavior, new problems appear, ortheir dogs become a little testy and rebellious, seeming to disregard much ofwhat they have learned so far.

This stagein dogs is akin to that of humans because similar physiological and hormonalchanges occur that alter behavior involuntarily. That’s why it’s important toknow what to expect, to prepare yourself and your dog, and then hang on tightfor the ride! The keys to successfully navigating this period are patience andconsistency. If you find that you lack these traits, you may easily becomefrustrated, overwhelmed, or even desperate.

Sadly, thatis why many dogs are surrendered to shelters at this age.

The good news is that studies show that things do get better after adolescence. Havingmore information about what’s going on and what you can do to make this phase alittle easier on yourself and your dog can make the ride a little smoother.

So, what ishappening with our dogs during adolescence?

Brain Development: The dog's brain, especially the pre-frontal cortex, has not yet finished developing. This has implications for impulse control and risk-taking, among other things.

‍Learning Human Cues: Dogs learn more about how to read human body     language, particularly facial expressions during this time. This helps to     strengthen our bond with them and facilitates human-canine communication.

‍Awkwardness and Impulsivity: They do not have the ability to perceive and respond adequately to the body’s internal and external stimuli. This is made manifest by a certain awkwardness and impulsive behavior.

‍Social Interaction: The need to play and interact with other dogs decreases; therefore, they may have some conflicts with other dogs.  However, continuing to socialize with other dogs is also very important in this period as our dogs’ social skills need refinement.

‍Rest Needs: Dogs at this stage need to sleep and rest more than usual, so if we exercise them excessively, they can be irritable. (Unfortunately, many pet parents think that huge amounts of exercise are what their dog needs, and it’s     just the opposite!)

‍Exploration Drive: Adolescent brains are primed for exploration.

‍Dopamine Sensitivity: Due to a huge peak in the amount of dopamine receptors in the adolescent brain, adolescent dogs are extra motivated by rewards of all kinds, not just food. Curiously, adolescent dogs also have a good memory, but the memory is supported by receiving more rewards.

‍Sexual Maturity: Sexual maturity can also influence our dog’s behavior. Dogs may exhibit increased mounting and humping, scent marking, or roaming tendencies due to the production of new hormones.

Understandingwhat’s going on with your dog at this time of their life will help you becomebetter equipped to provide them with what they need. Moreover, just as is truewith human adolescents, if you handle this stage well, it will strengthen thebond with your dog, and the problematic behaviors will mostly or entirelydisappear as your dog becomes a mature adult.