We\u2019re not gonna lie. Adolescent dog training is hardcore, but is also one of the most important times to train your dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Puppy adolescence is an in-between phase within their developmental period. Remember your teenage years? Full of confusion and triggering times? It can actually feel quite similar to dogs. They look a lot like the adult version of themselves, but still aren\u2019t anywhere near the sensibility of an adult dog. They really can seem like teenage rascals! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trust on this – you\u2019ll need all hands on deck to help you train your teenage dog. Download the Zigzag training app<\/a> today for a smoother ride! You\u2019ll receive a programme specifically designed around your dog\u2019s breed and their age to make training go by like a breeze. Especially with our team of professional dog trainers<\/a>. They\u2019re available 24\/7 via our in-app chat to talk you through every step of the way and answer all of those questions around how to train a teenage dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to know more about what to expect in the teenage phase in our article? Read our article on Puppy Adolescence – Understanding Your Teenage Puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No worries, your concern is completely normal. Puppy adolescence can be quite the learning curve for us; your puppy is going from a little bundle of fur attached to you by the hip, to a moody teenager full of hormones who seems to have forgotten EVERYTHING you taught them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is definitely the time when you\u2019ll want to learn about management in dog training, <\/a>and probably refresh those puppy training commands. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Teenage dog training is a whole thing on its own. When dogs go through the adolescence,it may seem like everything they knew before just goes straight out the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, take a deep breath. Part of what makes it so hard, is us simply not understanding adolescent puppy development<\/a> properly, and having too high expectations of them. We also tend to forget that training dogs is all about practice, patience, and persistence! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some topics to take a look at when training adolescent dogs: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Off-leash training (including recall) is often the first lesson to get completely forgotten about by dogs when adolescence hits! There are just so many distractions and competing motivators around. Practicing management<\/a> while using a long leash<\/a> is the best thing to keep your puppy safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out our guides to recall training<\/a>, how to get your dog to focus on you outside<\/a>, and how to train your dog to ignore other dogs<\/a> for more tips on how to keep on track of off-leash training and getting your teenage dog to listen to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We understand – training a teenage dog can sometimes feel overwhelmingly frustrating. It just feels like \u2018they just don\u2019t listen\u2019…but here\u2019s the truth: they won\u2019t be more inclined to listen if you use harsh methods! The best way to go about training during your dog\u2019s adolescence is with positive reinforcement training<\/a> using rewards like treats or food rewards<\/a>. Playing with your dog and giving them access to other life rewards can also be hugely reinforcing, and simply a joy to do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Refreshing basic obedience commands like stay<\/a>, come<\/a>, leash walking<\/a>, and leave it<\/a>, will do wonders. The key is to remind your teenage dog how much fun listening to you is. Don\u2019t worry, you\u2019ll get a well-behaved dog in the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Teaching a dog different behaviors means they will be able to make better choices in the future, as they\u2019ll have a number of \u2018good\u2019 behaviors to choose from. Makes sense, right? Oh, and they\u2019ll also be less likely to be impulsive and do the wrong thing. A win all around! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Teenage dogs do go through a fear period<\/a>, which can make them suddenly scared<\/a> of things like car trips, being home alone<\/a>, or sensitive to noises like fireworks<\/a> or other random things in their environment,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fear periods may be reflected in your adolescent dog suddenly stopping on walks<\/a>\u2026when they seemed to be doing just fine on them before. It\u2019s important to note that these behaviors are usually motivated by fear or a sense of insecurity. We can help them work on their confidence by being patient and supporting them by piling on the praise and rewards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies have a primary socialization period<\/a> that lasts until they are around 3 months old. Although this is a specific developmental window, socialization training will go on for your dog\u2019s whole life. During the teenage phase, you\u2019ll still want to expose them to different things, but you might need to use extra treats to help them build positive associations with all the new things they\u2019re encountering when they\u2019re going through adolescence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy was not socialized during their socialization window, then socializing with other dogs when they\u2019re teenagers will be very important so they learn not to be afraid with their own kind, and can learn to behave around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re gonna be honest – it can be tricky to get this right, but it\u2019s much easier once you understand puppy body language<\/a>. If you\u2019re struggling with this part, we recommend reaching out to a professional dog trainer who can work with you, and maybe organize some play dates with other calm, well-adjusted dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some wonder if an aggressive adolescent dog that hasn\u2019t been socialized can be trained. Good news! They can. They just need a little extra time, patience and a well-structured behavior modification plan. We suggest you contact a professional behaviorist or trainer to help you develop a plan – we\u2019re sure you\u2019ll get there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Download Zigzag<\/a> today and get your hands on our adolescent dog training program! We\u2019ll talk to you through each step of the way with science-backed information with lessons on how to bring out the best in your dog. Need an extra pair of hands? We\u2019re the only dog training app with 24\/7 access to professional dog trainers<\/a> that will help you when you need it the most. Lucky you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start a trial of the Zigzag puppy app<\/a> today, your dog will thank you for it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes! As your puppy gets older, you can increase the amount of physical exercise they get, as they also gain more energy themselves. A constructive way to do this is with training agility, since it also works their brain, and helps builds your bond and relationship too\u2026 which means they\u2019ll listen to you more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yep, as their hormones start to level out, adolescent dogs do often calm down a lot. This happens, especially if you do plenty of training with positive reinforcement – it will help teach them how to be calm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve got more on this in our article how to calm a puppy down.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In toy and small breeds, adolescence lasts around 6 months in toy and small breeds, and up to a year for the large and giant breeds. Don\u2019t worry, it won\u2019t last forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAre you concerned about your puppy\u2019s training as they get older?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Training you\u2019ll need to revisit during puppy adolescence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Off-leash training <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Positive reward training <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong> <\/strong>Basic obedience training<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/strong>Handling Fear<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Socialization Training <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Socializing with other dogs during puppy adolescence <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQs – Training an Adolescent Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/strong> <\/strong>Do adolescent dogs need more exercise?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong> <\/strong>Do adolescent dogs calm down?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong> <\/strong>How long does puppy adolescence last?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n