You’ve spent the first few months bonding with your puppy, teaching them, watching them grow… and just when things seem to be falling into place...BOOM...suddenly your sweet pup turns into a little rebel.
Welcome to adolescence.
This is a real, scientific phase that happens in a dog’s development. It usually starts anywhere from 6 to 12 months of age and can last up to 18–24 months depending on the breed. During this time, your dog is going through hormonal, cognitive and emotional changes (just like human teenagers!).
Why Is My Dog Ignoring Me?
First of all: it’s not personal.
One fascinating study from 2020 (Lucy Asher, Newcastle University) showed that adolescent dogs were more likely to ignore cues from their guardians, but not from strangers. So yes, it really can feel like your dog listens to the neighbor better than to you. That’s not your imagination, it’s adolescence.
Your puppy might:
Seem less responsive to cues they knew well before
Test boundaries more often
Show sudden fear or anxiety toward things they were fine with
Become more excitable or easily frustrated
Have bursts of energy followed by laziness
This is all normal.
What You Can Do
The key during this phase is consistency and compassion. Adolescence is not the time to give up. It’s the time to stay steady.
Here’s how:
Stick to routines: predictability helps them feel secure
Keep training! Even if they’re acting like they’ve forgotten everything
Meet their physical and mental needs: play, sniffing, enrichment and downtime are essential
It Will Get Better
Yes, this phase can be frustrating. But trust the process. All the training and connection you’ve built up until now is not lost. It's just temporarily buried under a bit of chaos.
Many dog guardians say, “It was like someone flipped a switch one day, and suddenly my dog remembered everything”.
That switch comes. And when it does, the relationship you’ve built will be stronger than ever.
So take a deep breath. You’re not alone. And this wild little teenager? They’re growing up right in front of your eyes. And you're doing a beautiful job guiding them through it.