From Puppy to Teenager: The Transition
Why your puppy is changing
Around puberty, a dog enters a genuine transition phase: more independence, more self-assertion, and obedience that wobbles for a while. The work of Asher and colleagues (2020) confirms it: at this age, a dog responds less well to requests, and does so specifically towards his own person of reference, not towards strangers. So it's neither a betrayal nor a power struggle: it's a matter of attachment and maturation, not a hierarchy to win back (AVSAB consensus). A dog who feels safe with you also gets through this stage more smoothly. And if you're feeling discouraged, know that this dip is so common that researchers have even given it a name: you're not alone, and it does get better.
Recall goes up in smoke
- He came back perfectly at 4 months, now he turns a deaf ear at the park.
- It's not defiance: he's putting some distance between you, it's just his age.
- You can rebuild it calmly, but it won't sort itself out on its own.
Energy overflowing
- Same walks as before, yet he's climbing the walls in the evening.
- In full command of his body now, he needs MORE, not less.
- Brain work often tires him out more than running does.
Doggy pals putting him in his place
- Adult dogs who adored him as a baby are now less patient.
- His puppy scent is fading: other dogs no longer read him as a baby.
- It doesn't necessarily mean 'my dog is turning nasty'.
Hormones talking
- Marking, a sudden interest in females, a touch more headstrong.
- It's biological and temporary, not a whim.
- Neutering isn't a 'calm' button: talk it over with your vet.
When recall vanishes
No panic: we go back to basics, without making a drama of it or hardening your tone.
Put the long line back on for a few weeks
A 5 to 10 metre long line: he keeps his freedom, you keep control. Reckon on a fortnight to three weeks.
Rework it from easy to hard
First in the garden, then in a quiet spot, then with distractions. Build up gradually, don't skip a stage.
Mark the moment he comes back
A short, enthusiastic marker word ('yes!') at the very instant he turns towards you, then the reward.
Stop repeating 'heel' into thin air
A cue thrown out fifty times with no follow-through ends up meaning nothing. Call once, then make yourself worth coming to: cheerful voice, step back, play.
Make freedom the real reward
Once he's reliable again, being let off to go and sniff or play counts for far more than any treat.
Step up the activity, without turning it into a marathon. In adolescence the need soars, but it's brain work (tracking, searching, impulse-control games) that soothes the most lastingly: wearing out a body doesn't calm an emotion, and an over-trained dog simply becomes tireless.
The classic teenage traps
Is it just adolescence, or do you need help?
It's adolescence, you can handle it at home
- Recall slips but comes back with the long line and consistency.
- He's brimming with energy, testing limits, forgetting two cues out of three.
- A few frictions with other dogs, which defuse quickly.
- You stay consistent, step up the activity, go back to basics.
Here, get some support
- Aggression setting in, a bite, fear or marked reactivity: that's the ground of a trainer or a behaviourist, not a guide.
- A sudden change (he refuses to jump, growls when touched, limps): head to the vet to rule out pain first.
- The decision to neuter: weigh it up with your vet according to his breed, sex and adult size.
- Asher L. et al. — Teenage dogs? Evidence for adolescent-phase conflict behaviour and an association between attachment to humans and pubertal timing in the domestic dog (Biology Letters) (2020)
- Hart B.L. et al. — Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs (Frontiers in Veterinary Science) (2020)
- Moxon R., England G. et al. — Behavioural effects of neutering male dogs (2024)
- Position Statement on Humane Dog Training, AVSAB (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior) (2021)
- Ståhl A., Salonen M., Hakanen E. et al. — Validation of the puppy blues scale (npj Mental Health Research) (2024)
To go further
Frequently asked questions
At what age is a dog no longer a puppy?
He leaves the puppy stage for adolescence as early as 4-5 months in small breeds, a little later (around 6 months) in large ones. This teenage phase runs roughly from 6 to 18 months, longer in large and giant breeds (up to 2 years), then he becomes a young adult between 18 months and 3 years, when emotional stability settles in for good.
When does a dog stop growing?
Small builds often finish growing around 8 to 12 months, large and giant breeds much later, sometimes up to 18-24 months (the sex hormones 'close' the bones). That's why we avoid jumps and intense effort on a skeleton that's still a work in progress, and why we discuss the timing of neutering with the vet, especially in large dogs (Hart et al. 2020).
When does adolescence begin in dogs?
It depends on size: around 4-5 months in small breeds, a little later (around 6 months) in large ones, with puberty arriving on average around 13-14 months. The first signals: recall that wobbles, energy that climbs, and a dog who tests the limits. Nothing abnormal.
How long does a dog's adolescence last?
Roughly from 6 to 18 months, a little longer in large builds that mature late. It's temporary, but 'passing' doesn't mean 'it sorts itself out': you keep working consistently through the stage, and stability returns somewhere between 18 months and 3 years.
Why does my teenage dog no longer come back on recall?
It's a classic age-related regression, tied to maturation and attachment, not defiance (Asher et al. 2020). Put a long line back on and rework it from easy to hard over 2 to 3 weeks, marking his return with a cheerful marker word ('yes!'). Above all, stop repeating 'heel' into thin air: the cue loses its value.
Should you neuter your dog during adolescence?
It's not an automatic cure for the hormonal peak: the effect on behaviour is inconsistent (Moxon et al. 2024) and it erases neither anxiety nor missing training. In large breeds, it's better to wait until growth is finished (Hart et al. 2020). The decision is made with the vet according to breed, sex and adult size, never at the first hot flush of hormones.
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