Teenage dog: what to expect from canine adolescence and how to cope

A teenage dog is a young dog going through adolescence, the stage between puppy and adult that usually starts somewhere between six and 12 months and can run until 18 to 24 months. It is the age when a puppy who seemed fully trained suddenly ignores you, jumps up and pulls on the lead. This is normal development, not defiance, and it does pass.

When does the teenage phase start and end?

There is no single date, and reputable UK sources give slightly different ranges. Most put the start of adolescence between five and 13 months and the end around two years old.

The Royal Kennel Club describes a shorter "teenage" stage between four and eight months, when puppies wander further and stop coming back, followed by a period of social regression between six and 14 months. Taken together, the sensible view is that the teenage phase is a stretch of roughly 18 months, with individual dogs moving through it at their own pace.

Does size or breed change the timing?

Yes. Smaller breeds tend to enter adolescence earlier than larger breeds. The same pattern shows in female dogs' first season: most have their first heat at around six months, but small dogs tend to come into season earlier than large dogs, and some large dogs can be as late as two and a half years old. If you own a giant breed, expect the teenage phase to start later and stretch on longer than it would for a toy breed. Our breed guides are a good place to check what is typical for your dog's size.

What is happening inside a teenage dog's brain and body?

Canine adolescence brings dramatic hormonal changes and a reorganisation of the brain. Rising sex hormones drive physical maturity, and owners may notice vulval swelling in females and a stronger urge to roam or mount in both sexes. At the same time, the parts of the brain that handle emotional control, impulse control and judging risk against reward are still developing, which is why teenage dogs can react impulsively when they are frustrated or frightened.

Testosterone in male dogs is much higher in adolescence than it will be later, and it declines as the dog matures. It is tempting to call it a rebellious stage, as you might with a human teenager, but none of this is stubbornness or a dog trying to be dominant. The RSPCA puts the apparent disobedience down to a stronger motivation to explore, play and interact with the world.

The science of selective hearing

What was described as the first study to find evidence of adolescent behaviour in dogs was carried out by researchers at the University of Nottingham and Newcastle University. They tested 69 dogs at five months and again at eight months. At eight months, the dogs took longer to respond to "sit", but only when their own owner asked. Their response to a stranger actually improved. Dogs with an insecure attachment to their owner showed more disobedience and were harder to train during this phase. In other words, selective hearing is real, it is aimed at the people the dog knows best, and a secure, positive relationship helps.

Common behaviour changes in a teenage dog

Not every dog shows every behaviour, and some sail through adolescence. Dogs Trust describes jumping up, pulling on the lead and struggling with impulse control as part of natural development. These are the changes UK welfare charities describe most often.

If nipping started in puppyhood and has never really stopped, our guide to puppy biting explains how to teach a softer mouth with reward-based methods.

How to get through the teenage phase

The aim is not to get through adolescence without a single setback. It is to keep good habits ticking over and stop the dog practising the habits you do not want. Use this as a checklist.

Keep training consistent and positive

• Carry on with consistent, positive reward-based training. Short sessions are better than long ones.
• Revisit the basics, such as sit, settle and recall, as if your dog were younger.
• Reward generously when your dog comes back to you. The Royal Kennel Club says this shortens the phase, while a dog who learns it can ignore you may keep doing it.
• Consider a training class with an accredited instructor for extra support.
• Do not tell your dog off or punish unwanted behaviour. It damages your relationship and can make problems worse.

Rebuild recall safely

• Use a long line so your dog can explore while you keep control.
• The Royal Kennel Club does not recommend retractable leads, because they give limited control.
• Practise in quiet places first, then build up to busier ones.

Give the brain something to do

• Scent games, obstacle courses and new walking routes tire the mind, not just the legs.
• Hide toys or scatter part of dinner in the garden for your dog to find.
• Structured play with clear start and finish cues helps a teenage dog learn when play is over.

Get exercise right

Teenage dogs often have energy to burn, but more running is not always the answer. Long walks in quiet areas let your dog sniff and explore without the frustration of meeting lots of other dogs. If your dog is still growing, our guide on how long to walk a puppy explains how to build walks up as they mature.

Manage the environment

• Use baby gates or a crate to stop your dog rehearsing behaviours such as raiding the kitchen.
• Feed your dog before you sit down to eat, so mealtimes are less frustrating for everyone.
• Avoid challenging situations for now: busy parks, crowds and lots of off-lead dogs can wait until your dog has matured.

Be patient with yourself and your dog

Some days will feel like a step back. Researchers behind the Nottingham and Newcastle study advise owners that the phase will pass, and warn against pulling away emotionally from a dog who is going through it.

Fear periods and the social regression stage

Many owners are caught out by a teenage dog who suddenly becomes frightened of things they took in their stride as a puppy. The Royal Kennel Club calls this social regression and places it between six and 14 months, coinciding with sexual maturity and the surge of hormones that brings. Some adolescent dogs become fearful and anxious, and this can show up as not following requests, destructiveness, house soiling or excessive barking. If accidents indoors return, go back to the routine in our toilet training guide and reward calmly rather than scolding. Barking, humping, snapping and growling can also stem from fear or anxiety.

The answer is to go back to the gentle, positive exposure you used with a young puppy, pairing new or worrying things with treats and play. If your dog has a bad experience with another dog, limit contact with unfamiliar dogs for a while. The principles in our puppy socialisation guide work just as well for a nervous teenager, as long as you go at your dog's pace.

Seasons, hormones and mounting

Hormonal behaviour looks a little different in males and females.

Female dogs. Most have their first season at around six months, but timing varies between dogs and breeds. During a season you may see a female being over friendly to other dogs, roaming to find male dogs, mounting and humping, or becoming anxious and nesting. Some females are more sensitive, less tolerant of other dogs and more clingy around their first season.

Male dogs. Rising testosterone can make some males more antagonistic towards other dogs or distracted by potential mates. Owners of both sexes may also notice a stronger urge to roam or mount.

If you are still deciding which sex suits your home, our guide to choosing a male or female dog covers how these differences play out day to day.

Should you neuter a teenage dog?

Neutering timing is a decision to make with your vet, not one with a single right answer. PDSA says most dogs can be neutered from around four to six months, but for large and giant breeds your vet may advise waiting until they are older, because their growth plates take longer to close. Breed, size, behaviour, weight, seasons and other health conditions all play a part.

Neutering is also not a cure for teenage behaviour:

• It can improve some unwanted behaviours, but occasionally it makes others, such as nervousness, a bit worse.
• It does not prevent aggression and in some circumstances can make it worse.
• For confident, well socialised dogs, a change in personality is very unlikely.
• For female dogs who have already had a season, PDSA advises waiting about three months before spaying.

Woodgreen makes the same point: many owners consider neutering during adolescence to fix behaviour, but it may help some hormone-related behaviours and make others worse, so research before you decide. Book a conversation with your vet, and if behaviour is the main reason you are thinking about it, ask whether input from an accredited behaviourist would help.

When to get help from a vet or qualified behaviourist

Most teenage behaviour improves with time, consistency and management. Get professional help if:

• your dog growls, snaps or bites, or the behaviour is getting worse rather than better
• fear or anxiety is stopping your dog enjoying walks, visitors or time at home
• your dog shows a sudden change in behaviour with no obvious cause
• you feel out of your depth or are starting to think about rehoming

Start with your vet, who can check your dog over, and then ask about a qualified behaviourist. The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) keeps a national register of assessed trainers and behaviour practitioners, with a directory you can search. Woodgreen also recommends the ABTC when looking for a qualified professional. Avoid anyone who relies on punishment, which can compromise a dog's welfare.

Why teenage dogs are often given up

Adolescence is sadly an age when some dogs are rehomed. Researchers at Nottingham and Newcastle note that many dogs are taken to shelters at this age, often once they stop being puppies and become harder to control. A veterinary review in Vet Times notes that dogs under two are more likely to be relinquished to shelters. In Ireland, Dogs Trust reported that 49% of the 2,713 surrender requests it had received so far in 2023 were for dogs aged six to 24 months.

That is why knowing what to expect matters. Part of the problem is that people forgive a puppy's mischief but judge the same behaviour in an older dog as deliberate. If you understand that the jumping, pulling and selective hearing are a stage of development, it is far easier to stay patient until your dog comes out the other side as a settled adult.

Frequently asked questions

At what age is a dog a teenager?

Most dogs become teenagers somewhere between six and 12 months and finish adolescence between 18 and 24 months. Small breeds tend to start earlier and large breeds later.

How long does the dog teenage phase last?

Adolescence usually ends between 18 and 24 months, so for many dogs the phase lasts a year or more. Large breeds mature later, and some do not have their first season until two and a half years old.

Why has my puppy stopped listening to me?

Adolescent dogs are more motivated to explore and play, and research shows they become slower to respond to their own owner at around eight months, even while responding better to strangers. Go back to basics and reward generously.

Will neutering calm my teenage dog down?

Not reliably. Neutering can help some hormone-driven behaviours, but it can make nervousness worse and does not prevent aggression, so discuss timing and reasons with your vet.

Do teenage dogs go through a fear period?

Many do. The Royal Kennel Club describes a period of social regression between six and 14 months, when some dogs become fearful of things they used to enjoy.

When do teenage dogs calm down?

Most settle as adolescence ends, somewhere between 18 and 24 months, and the RSPCA is clear that this period of problematic behaviour does pass. Consistent, kind training during canine adolescence makes it far more likely your dog will grow into a well-mannered adult dog.

Can you train a teenage dog?

Yes, and it is no time to stop. Stick with consistent, reward-based training, revisit the basics and consider a class with an accredited instructor.

Why is my teenage dog chewing everything?

Destructive behaviour in adolescent dogs is often linked to frustration or anxiety. Give your dog more mental stimulation, such as scent games, and use gates or a crate so they cannot practise chewing the wrong things.