A young dog is similar to a human teenager in terms of physical maturity, testing boundaries and occasionally having selective hearing. While studies have shown that adolescent dogs go through a moody and rebellious stage similar to human teens, that doesn’t mean you should brush off all behavioral changes as “just a phase.”
What is normal puppy behavior as they move through their teen months? How long does this puppy behavior last? You’ll want to know what to expect during your puppy’s adolescence and when medical or behavioral intervention might be necessary.
Normal vs. abnormal behavior for young dogs
For most dogs, adolescent behaviors will start around the 6- to 12-month mark and last until the dog is between 18 and 24 months old.
Normal behavior at this age could include:
- Challenging authority
- Testing boundaries
- Resistance to performing commands or “selective hearing”
- Increased independence
Abnormal or concerning behavior would include:
- Becoming reclusive or hiding
- Loss of interest in food
- Excessive barking, pacing and whining
- Guarding food, beds, toys or other resources
- Unprovoked aggression including lunging and biting
- Destructive behavior
Does my young dog have anxiety?
Some dogs will go through a fear period during their adolescence where they seem afraid of things they were previously unafraid of. It’s important to remember that anxiety is a normal emotion, but it becomes abnormal when anxiety is always present or becomes severe in normal situations.
For instance, it may not be an issue if your dog becomes a little shy in the presence of a very tall person or becomes a little frightened after a loud noise. Your dog may lick their lips or yawn to communicate that they’re feeling a bit stressed. This is normal dog communication.
Signs that your dog’s anxiety is excessive include:
- Constant pacing, whining and barking
- Obsessive licking or chewing
- Destructiveness when left alone
- Attempts to escape when left alone
- Hiding and trembling in the presence of normal stimuli
- Growling, lunging or biting with normal stimuli
- Stress diarrhea
You’ll want to be familiar with the signs that your dog is stressed so that you can provide them with support and positive reinforcement to reduce fear in unfamiliar situations.
Behavior changes for intact dogs (male and female)
Behavior will differ between intact dogs and spayed or neutered dogs.
During the teen phase, intact male dogs may display the following behaviors:
- Increased aggression, especially toward other male dogs
- Mounting people and dogs
- Scent marking with urine
- Escaping to look for mates
Neutering can reduce many of these behaviors but may not completely eliminate them if they have been reinforced.
For female dogs, remaining intact (not spayed) increases:
- Aggression toward other dogs (especially intact males when she’s not receptive)
- Mounting and humping behaviors
- Roaming behaviors to look for mates
- Increased urination when in heat
Does puppy behavior change after a spay? Like for male dogs, spaying your young dog is likely to decrease some of these undesirable behaviors, but it may not eliminate them if they’ve become habitual.
