ADOLESCENCE IN DOGS AND HOW IT CAN AFFECT THEIR BEHAVIOUR
by Julie Brewer MSc
Adolescence is hard, regardless of your species.
I’m sure most of us will hold up our hand and admit that we gave our parents some trouble during that period of our lives, or perhaps you are coping with your very own human teenager? Dogs appear to go through a very similar developmental stage.
Many people find this very difficult to cope with, statistically dogs in the adolescent age range are far more likely to find themselves in rescue than any other age group.
Adolescence brings with it a change in brain structure causing, bigger emotional responses, the part of the brain which regulates emotions actually becomes more sensitive. Teenage dogs tend to partake of more risky behaviours and are more impulsivity, seeming less thoughtful.
They appear to forget things which they have learned before. They experience an increased drive to socialise but may have poor social skills which might get them into trouble and can lead to them developing mixed emotions about being with others. A general increase in excitement level about everything combined with lower frustration tolerance can lead to some quite unsettling demonstrations of out-of-control behaviour. All of this at a time when the dogs’ brain is not yet fully mature, that part of the brain which provides feedback about appropriate responses and self-control is not yet fully formed.
As much as living with a teenage dog is difficult, embarrassing, frustrating and sometimes a little scary, it is also hard for your dog. They are not trying to give you a hard time, they are having a hard time. Remember how you felt as a teenager? Needing to spread your wings, express your independence, become an individual, but at the same time feeling awkward, worried and lacking confidence, for most people it is a period of tears and tantrums. This is not a good combination, and can result in some very poor decision making, for us as teenagers and for our dogs.
As the owner of a Terrible Teenager what should you do to support your dog through this stage?
- First don’t use punishment, you will make it worse, your dog needs your support.
- Help them to increase their distance away from things which are upsetting them, don’t try to make them be still.
- Be calm. Help them to face things which are worrying them by acting normal yourself.
- Re-train the basics cues as if you have never trained them, using kind techniques which will not cause any reduction in their trust of you or confidence in themselves.
- Train tricks or behaviours which are easy to learn and easy to get right, this will help to maintain your bond, secure your relationship and build your dog’s confidence.
- Avoid situations which trigger big emotions for a while. If your dog has a break, they are more likely to be able to return to their previous calm/friendly approaches, but if you keep trying to make them deal with it then they may become more worried. You may end up with a bigger problem in the long term. If you have access take your dog to a secure paddock to exercise where they can burn off some energy without the risk of stressful encounters.
- Take your dog for sniffs instead of a run. Taking your dog to places where they can relax and sniff will help them to de-stress, and release relaxation hormones into their brain. Trying to tire out a teenager by excessively exercising them may result in increased stress levels, and pain, which might make their behaviour even more unpredictable.
If you are struggling with your dog’s behaviour, get them checked for medical issues as pain is common in growing teenagers. Then speak to a qualified behaviourist or trainer who will help you to navigate the terrible teens.
Remember, this too will pass.
Julie Brewer
Pre-Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist,
Masters Degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour (Lincoln)
COAPE Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour and Training
Registered Advanced Veterinary Nurse
Owner of Little Tykes Dog Hub
References:
Training engagement and the development of behaviour problems in the dog: a longitudinal study. Thompson, K.F., McBride, E.A. and Redhead, E. (2010) Training engagement and the development of behaviour problems in the dog: a longitudinal study. Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research, 5 (1), 57. (doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2009.09.013).
Teenage dogs? Evidence for adolescent-phase conflict behaviour and an association between attachment to humans and pubertal timing in the domestic dog. Lucy Asher, Gary C. W. England, Rebecca Sommerville and Naomi D. Harvey. Published:13 May 2020 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0097
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