Is your pup acting up? Uh-oh! You might have a teenage puppy on your hands...
From around 4-5 months, your puppy will start that awkward journey between puppy and adulthood. They’re rapidly reaching their adult height and they will soon have adult teeth, but they’ll still want their puppy toys to chew on. It’s safe to say you’ll start to notice a few changes in your puppy’s behaviour! The dreaded humping phase is just around the corner and, well, so is puberty and all the hormones that come with it. Buckle down, this guide is going to get detailed…
Pushing boundaries
You’ll notice behavioural changes such as pushing boundaries and testing your patience. When you give your puppy a simple instruction like ‘sit’ do they sometimes look at you as if you’re speaking a different language?
One of the reasons puppies can be so naughty at the beginning is down to their short attention spans. When that happens, revisit the cues and training you used whilst training your pup at the beginning (don’t worry, it’s only temporary!).
Use positive praise and treats to remind them of their training but don’t forget to play with them and make it fun! Remember, they are just beginning to navigate this exciting world and every day brings new and exciting things to see, hear, paw and smell that are just too good to resist.
Teenage kicks
Puppies normally reach puberty any time from 6-months-old, and their elevated hormone levels can have a negative effect on their behaviour. As annoying as it can be sometimes, keep reinforcing positive training and show patience during this period as your puppy is naturally testing your limits.
On the other paw, you might notice your puppy growing shyer and losing confidence as you introduce them to new environments such as traffic, strangers and new places.
If you spot this behaviour, keep them well-exercised, enriched and encouraged during all behaviours – never forget to reward them when they’ve been good.
How can I stop my dog from humping?
Some puppies can enter the dreaded humping phase and begin testing out their new “skills” on cushions, soft toys and in worst-case scenarios, humans! This is normal, natural behaviour that is in every dog’s DNA but remember:
1. Watch out for the warning signs. If you spot your pup panting, pawing and licking, try to distract them with simple training commands or toys before it escalates.
2. Consider neutering. It isn’t a sure-fire solution to get your puppy neutered but it might work (and has other benefits) if the cause of humping is sexual gratification, rather than behavioural triggers. If this is the route you want to take it’s best to discuss options with your local vet.
3. Action time outs (and repeat!). If your puppy has taken a shine to Aunt Hilda’s leg or Sharon’s armchair, this can be embarrassing for everyone involved. In this scenario, giving your pup a short time out can do the trick.
Puppies and puberty:
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Female puppies
From 6 months of age, female dogs (bitches) can come ‘into season’ and they are fertile during this time. Bitches are normally ‘in season’ every 6 months (unless they are neutered) and it typically lasts for around 3 weeks. Symptoms include a swollen vulva and a blood-tinged discharge.
Exercise caution with female puppies during this period and don’t allow them to mix with male dogs who are not castrated. -
Male puppies
As male dogs reach puberty, they will start cocking their legs and you may notice an increased interest in other dogs. Typical behaviour includes increased confidence with other dogs and/or people.
Keep male puppies well-exercised, enriched and encouraged during all behaviours. Remember to reward them when they’ve been good!
But don't forget to savour this phase too!
Your puppy has come a long way since the newborn phase. There are lots of changes going on as they grow in height and weight into a fully-grown pooch.
Pups grow very quickly during this phase and you may notice changes every day. Cherish this precious time as they won’t be a puppy forever.
