Forgotten Everything? When Your Dog Hits Puberty

Recall used to be reliable, walks were getting easier, and suddenly it feels like nothing works anymore. Why behaviour and responsiveness can change – and how you can support your young dog through this phase.

A few weeks ago, your dog would happily come running as soon as you called. Today, they glance at you, put their nose back to the ground and continue investigating what is apparently a very important scent trail.

Other things may become more difficult too: meeting other dogs, waiting, or calmly passing distractions. Your dog may even suddenly become startled by something that never seemed to bother them before.

“Have they really forgotten everything?”

As dogs grow up, their behaviour can change noticeably. Some become more impulsive for a while, others more insecure. Some go through this stage with relatively few problems.

A difficult day does not mean that all your previous training has been lost.

Sexually Mature Does Not Mean Fully Grown Up

In everyday language, we often refer to the entire turbulent teenage phase as “puberty”. Strictly speaking, it helps to make a distinction:

Puberty describes the development towards sexual maturity. Adolescence is the longer transition into adulthood.

The physical ability to reproduce and behavioural maturity therefore do not happen at exactly the same time.

Depending on the dog, adolescence often begins somewhere between six and twelve months of age. Its course varies according to factors such as size, breed and individual development. Many dogs become noticeably more mature during their second year of life, while full social maturity may take even longer.

There is therefore no specific birthday on which this challenging phase suddenly ends for every dog.

The World Suddenly Becomes More Important

During development, hormones and the nervous system are changing. Young dogs may become more motivated to explore their surroundings, run, investigate and interact with others. At the same time, controlling impulses can become more difficult.

Imagine your walk: you simply want to continue along the path. Your dog discovers a fresh scent, another dog who looks ready to play and a rustling bush.

To you, these may seem like minor distractions. To your dog, several exciting possibilities are suddenly competing with what you are asking them to do.

That leads to one very useful question:

How difficult is what I am asking my dog to do right now?

A recall in your living room and a recall beside a dog who is playing are two very different tasks.

A Surprising Research Finding: Dogs Responded Better to Strangers

A study led by Lucy Asher investigated how dogs responded to a familiar “sit” cue before and during adolescence.

Among 69 dogs tested at five and eight months of age, responses became worse during adolescence when the cue was given by their caregiver. When the same cue was given by an unfamiliar person, performance actually improved.

Questionnaire data from 285 dogs were also analysed. Caregivers reported poorer trainability at around eight months of age, while less familiar trainers assessed the dogs differently.

These results suggest that the behavioural changes seen during adolescence may not simply reflect a general loss of previously learned skills. The social context also appears to play a role.

The study primarily involved certain breeds being raised for assistance work. Its findings should therefore not be treated as a rule for every dog, nor do they suggest that adolescent dogs deliberately try to annoy their owners.

Make Training Easier Again

If a familiar exercise suddenly stops working, take a closer look at how difficult the situation has become.

What is difficult right now	How to make it easier
Recall near dogs who are playing	Practise from a much greater distance
Staying focused on a busy path	Choose a quieter route
Waiting for a long time	Start with short, manageable moments
Several distractions at once	Introduce only one manageable distraction first

This follows a basic principle of training: your dog’s response should determine when the difficulty can increase.

Shorter, more frequent training sessions and easier repetitions can sometimes be more useful than constantly making exercises harder.

One successful small exercise gives you something to reward. Ten unsuccessful repetitions do not.

With Recall, What Happens After Your Dog Comes Back Matters

You call your dog. They only come on the third attempt. By now, you are frustrated.

This moment matters. Stay friendly when your dog reaches you. Scolding can make returning to you feel unpleasant.

Dogs Trust recommends practising recall first in a calm and secure environment, using suitable rewards and gradually increasing both distance and distraction. A cue should not be repeated over and over when the dog is unlikely to respond anyway.

If recall is currently unreliable, a long line attached to a well-fitting harness can help you practise safely. It should not be used to jerk or drag your dog towards you.

Off-lead freedom requires a safe environment and a recall you can rely on in that particular situation.

Perhaps today’s success is simply that your dog manages to disengage from a moderately interesting scent. That is still valuable progress and creates a foundation for harder situations later.

Suddenly Insecure? Take the Change Seriously

A rubbish container, an unfamiliar person or another dog may suddenly seem much more difficult than before.

Some young dogs become more nervous during adolescence or change their preferences when it comes to social contact. They do not need to be pushed into every greeting or every play session.

Give your dog time, distance and the opportunity to observe what is happening.

Familiar and suitable social contacts may feel more comfortable than constantly meeting new dogs.

Just because your dog wanted to play with almost every dog as a puppy does not mean they have to keep that preference forever.

Mounting Is Not Always Just About Hormones

Mounting can also become more noticeable during adolescence. However, the explanation “it’s just hormones” can sometimes be too simple.

Both male and female dogs may mount. Sexual motivation can be one reason, but excitement during play, high arousal or stress can also contribute. In some cases, medical problems may play a role.

Look at the context.

Does it happen after very intense play? When visitors arrive? Always with the same dog?

Step in calmly and early if another dog or person is being bothered. If the behaviour becomes frequent, suddenly appears, or is difficult to interrupt, professional advice can be useful.

More Energy Needs the Right Balance of Activity and Rest

An energetic adolescent dog can tempt you to keep adding more: longer walks, more ball games, another training session.

But physical activity should suit your dog’s stage of development.

Scent games, food puzzles and short training exercises can provide additional stimulation without constantly increasing physical exercise.

Rest can also be actively supported. Start in a place with few distractions and reward small signs of relaxation. Dogs Trust gives examples such as comfortably shifting body weight or resting the head.

Increase the level of difficulty gradually.

Rest should be just as normal a part of your dog’s daily routine as exercise and play.

Consistency Helps More Than Becoming Stricter

Clear rules can provide orientation. Think about which behaviour you want and create opportunities for your dog to practise it successfully.

Do you want your dog to greet visitors with all four paws on the floor? Then structure the greeting so that this is achievable and reward the moments when your dog gets it right.

Punishment-based and confrontational training methods are associated with a greater risk of fear, avoidance and aggression. Reward-based training provides a more constructive way to build the behaviour you want.

Being consistent can mean staying kind and predictable – even when you need to make the same exercise easier again.

Neutering Is Not a Universal Solution

When an adolescent dog becomes difficult to manage, the question of whether neutering might make them calmer often comes up.

Neutering can influence some behaviours that are affected by sex hormones. Many other factors, however, remain unchanged.

It should therefore not be viewed as a general solution for training problems or challenging behaviour.

Discuss the possible benefits, risks and appropriate timing individually with your veterinarian.

Not Everything Is “Just Puberty”

If your dog becomes increasingly fearful, shows significant aggression or continues to struggle over a longer period, do not simply wait for them to grow out of it.

Health problems can also influence behaviour and should be ruled out where appropriate.

It can help to make specific notes:

Where does an exercise still work well? What has changed? Which distractions were present? How quickly does your dog settle again afterwards?

Also pay attention to what is going well: a voluntary glance in your direction, a brief successful recall, a calmer encounter with another dog.

Your dog is still developing, and the challenges you face together may change along the way.

You do not have to handle this phase perfectly. With safe boundaries, appropriate training and patience, you can help your dog become more mature step by step.