Your puppy is a difficult teenager

Your puppy is a difficult teenager

A puppy can be as difficult as a teenager

If you believe that difficult adolescent syndrome is only common in humans, you are wrong. Puppies begin puberty at about six months of age: they become stubborn and willful when faced with any inhibitions and try to assert their independence. Your puppy may try to overcome your superiority - he may refuse to obey and please you. This is all due to the hormonal explosion that is characteristic of puberty. If you still haven't spayed your pet, now is the time to do it.

 

How to deal with a teenager?

All the effort you put into socializing your pet will be required again when it reaches puberty. Continue to train him for different situations, strangers, and other dogs. 

Keep playing with him, reward good behavior, and punish bad behavior.

Be prepared for unpredictable behavior and rebellion. The puppy that used to be on your heels may not even answer your call now. You need to be firm, but fair and let him know what is good and what is bad.

Threat to your property

Another characteristic of your puppy's puberty that can pose a significant problem is the overwhelming urge to chew on something. This is in contrast to teething behavior - by that time all baby teeth will have fallen out.

This urge, seen during puberty, can relieve discomfort when changing teeth or simply serve as a way to explore the environment.

Regardless of the reason, there are only two things you can do to save yourself and your property during this period. First, find items for your puppy to chew on and praise him every time he chooses them. You can find many similar toys in the store. Second, do not leave your puppy unattended where there are valuable or potentially dangerous items that he could chew on.

Fights during puberty

During this period, relationships with other dogs can become quite tense.

Puppies in puberty (we are mainly talking about males) often come into confrontation with other, older dogs (again males) who are eager to "put them in their place." This is often caused by elevated testosterone levels, which are responsible for such rude "canine manners". Sterilization can help manage such behavioral problems.

Always praise your pet for being friendly to other dogs. If on a walk when meeting with an unfamiliar dog he greets her and behaves well, be sure to praise him; perhaps even treat him with a treat.

Growth and development during puberty

Dogs of different breeds mature at different rates. In general, the larger the breed, the longer it takes for the bones to fully form. Larger breeds require different nutrient levels than smaller breeds for skeletal growth and development. Therefore, in some large breeds, the skeleton is formed over a long period of time - up to 18 months, while in small breeds this process can take 6-8 months.

Your veterinarian will monitor the growth and development of your puppy and monitor his health throughout puberty.

Maturity

The early maturity period usually lasts from 8 to 18 months. As a rule, this is a great time for all dogs: they are still young and full of strength, but already relieved of all the difficulties of adolescence.