Teenage Dogs: When the Training Vanishes and the Hormones Take Over

If you’ve ever raised a puppy and thought, “We’ve cracked it!”, only to wake up one day to a whirlwind of chaos, selective hearing, and boundary-pushing behaviour... you’re not alone. Welcome to adolescence, where your sweet, responsive pup suddenly seems to have forgotten every cue you ever taught them. It’s not you. It’s not them. It’s hormones. And it’s very, very normal.

Odie (Back), Rocco (Left) & Indie (Right)

🐾 From Puppyhood to Puberty: What’s Happening?

Puppies go through rapid developmental stages, and just like human children, they eventually hit their teenage phase. This typically happens anywhere between 6 to 18 months, depending on breed and individual temperament. During this time, their brains are rewiring, their bodies are changing, and their internal chemistry is a hormonal rollercoaster.

You might notice:

• Increased independence (read: ignoring you)

• Sudden fearfulness or reactivity

• Testing boundaries they previously respected

• Overexcitement, frustration, or impulsivity

• A surge in sniffing, marking, and social interest

  
  

It’s not that your dog is being “naughty”, they’re navigating a complex biological and emotional shift. Think of it as putting the “AD+” into adolescence.

🧠 Hormones, Hijinks, and Human Parallels

Just like human teens, adolescent dogs are flooded with hormones that affect mood, behaviour, and impulse control. Testosterone, oestrogen, and cortisol all play a role in shaping how they respond to the world. Their brains are still developing, especially the parts responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation. So yes, they might know “sit” but in the moment, their body is saying “chase that squirrel” or “sniff that lamppost for 10 minutes straight.”

🐶 Sniffing Isn’t Just a Hobby, It’s a Need

One of the most misunderstood behaviours during adolescence is sniffing. It’s not just dawdling, it’s data collection. Dogs gather information through scent, and sniffing helps them make sense of their environment, regulate their emotions, and feel safe. Denying them this outlet can increase frustration and anxiety.

So what can we do? We lean in.

• Sniff walks: Let your dog lead the way and sniff to their heart’s content.

• Enrichment games: Scatter feeding, scent trails, and puzzle toys help channel their energy and curiosity.

• Training through play: Use games like “find it” or “which hand” to reinforce cues while meeting their sensory needs.

  
  

🧘‍♀️ Patience, Not Perfection

This phase can feel like a setback, especially if you’ve worked hard on training. But adolescence isn’t regression, it’s recalibration. Your dog is learning how to be in the world, and your job is to guide them with empathy, consistency, and flexibility.

Tips for surviving the teenage phase:

• Keep sessions short and sweet: Their attention span is limited, so make training fun and achievable.

• Reinforce the basics: Go back to foundational cues in low-distraction environments.

• Pick your battles: Not every moment needs to be a teachable one. Sometimes, just surviving the walk is enough.

• Celebrate the wins: A calm moment, a good recall, a gentle greeting... these are gold.

  
  

💛 Connection Over Control

Adolescence is a time to deepen your relationship, not dominate it. Your dog needs you to be their anchor, not their adversary. When we shift from “how do I stop this?” to “what does my dog need right now?”, we build trust, resilience, and long-term cooperation.

So if your teenage dog is driving you up the wall, take a breath. You’re not failing. You’re parenting through puberty. And just like with human teens, this too shall pass with a little humour, a lot of patience, and a whole heap of sniffing