We all have those horror stories about our own teenage behaviour (I went from Donny Osmond to AC DC overnight, my poor mother!), but what about our dogs? 
Our perfect little puppy turns in to a teenage tearaway and all the training that we did as a puppy goes out of the window.
What to do?
As it says on the front of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Planet – DON’T PANIC!
This is NORMAL, but you may need to take a deep breath, refresh your training, put management in place, keep your dog’s social skills up in an appropriate way, and generally ride out what can be a difficult period for some.
It is no surprise how many dogs get rehomed between six months and three years old. All of my dogs have come to me about 7 months old and were challenging dogs, and have all turned out to be fabulous companions.
Teens can feel like a huge challenge. They are getting bigger and more confident. They take more risks. It seems like they are not listening.
It is important to take a step back:
💚 Think about how you can utilise the early training that you have done. Go back to basics and remind yourself and your dog of some of the foundations.
💚 Don’t put too much pressure on your dog! It’s sometimes easier to put in management so that your dog can’t practice unwanted or worrying behaviours rather than having to shout at them to stop.
💚 Rather than thinking about what your dog is doing wrong, think about what you would like your dog to do and concentrate on that.
And
💚 Don’t hold back on asking for help from a professional who is used to working with tearaway teenagers as they will have lots of ways to help you.
If you are struggling, get help from a dog professional that is experienced in dealing with such issues. For me that is someone who is not looking to do loads of training with your dog, but someone who recognises your challenges and will help you assess the issues, will help you clarify what you need to do, work on some foundation training, and help you integrate that in to real life situations at a pace that keeps you and your dog safe.
Looking for help? Do feel free to get in touch x
