I plan to write my own article on reducing the stress of living with a teenage dog (for both the human and the dog), but in the meantime, here are great resources from other trainers:
Articles
Sharing your life with a teenager can be overwhelming. Just as soon as you finally make it out of puppyhood, suddenly your teenager is starting to behave in ways you have never seen before, or certain skills you have been working on have started to unravel. What does all of it mean? Is this just a phase, or will my dog be this way forever?
Say Goodbye to Teenager Troubles
The most challenging of all may be our mindset about it all. While our dogs may be bigger in size and strength, their thinking capacity is closer to that of a puppy than an adult. So, it is up to us to help set them up for success in all our training sessions to help them through this difficult time. But how can we do that?
I'm Sorry To Inform You: You Have A Teenager
And, almost overnight it seems, they are blowing you off when you call them to leave the dog park or come inside from the backyard. You ask for a simple “sit” and they practically shrug their shoulders, roll their eyes, and walk in the opposite direction. It can be confusing, disappointing, and infuriating. It’s no coincidence that most dogs arrive at the shelter when they are in this age range…
Think for just a minute about a great dog you know. Not yours. Another adult dog. Maybe your neighbor’s dog. Or your coworker’s dog. Or the loyal old dog you grew up with. Those dogs were once puppies. And they were once adolescent dogs too. And they turned into these wonderful dogs you know today. With the right response from you, yours will very likely become the dog of your dreams too. Hang in there.
Indy was what many consider a “hyperactive” dog, busy all the time and difficult to manage. My clients loved him, but found it exhausting to raise him. Indy is one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever had the honor of caring for and training. It seems like he’s always thinking about what’s next, whether we are in the car, at home, or anywhere else. He’s thinking about how much fun he can have – and he wants to engage anyone near him to join him in his follies.
Unfortunately, all of that energy, excitement, and anticipation ultimately resulted in a dog who was in a constant state of hyperarousal. He was reactive on leash and aggressive with dogs he didn’t know. He was constantly on the go and unable to focus in the face of any distractions… He never seemed to tire, either. His guardians handed him over with the comment, “Good luck trying to wear him out.”
Podcast Episodes
Paws & Reward Podcast: Ep 39: Getting Through the Teenage Period with Lisa Mullinax
In episode 39 of the podcast, Marissa and Lisa Mullinax will be talking about how to get through the teenage period with our dogs. Adolescence can be hard on both the dog and the pet parent. Behavior can change quickly from snuggly puppy to energetic teen who loves to push the boundaries. Marissa and Lisa give advice about how to handle this challenging stage without creating a bigger problem for the future.
Cog-Dog Radio: Riding the Wave of Adolescence (Overcast link here)
Sarah has a teenager! Join her as she walks through some recent challenges and triumphs with her 18 month old border collie, Carson. If you have a teen, work with folks who do, or plan to have one in the future, this one will be vital. Knowing how to respond, what to avoid, and what is normal, will all help!
Cog-Dog Radio: Transactions (Overcast link here)
In the “Hands off the Cookies!” episode from 10/29 Sarah talked about transactional and conversational communication styles. Here, she dives deeper into those as well as managerial communication, and where each is best utilized with our dogs.
Madcap Radio: Puppy Culture Potluck: Ep18 - Getting “Firm” with Teenage Dogs