"Teenager"

[Nadia]

So Bentley is 9 1/2 months and I think he is going through the "teenager stage" that I am reading about.
He's not listening, all the commands that he used to do without hesitation he now either doesn't do them or does it when he wants. He is neutered and was house trained but now he is having accidents again. He is going back to chewing on EVERYTHING!!!!! It is driving me crazy!!! I am not sure what's worse him or my 3 kids (11, 7 & 5). Lol
Any suggestions on how to get through this stage?? How long does it really last???

[Kathryn digregorio]

Hi Nadia, Thank you for that post. My 10 1/2 month old is doing the same things. She forgot her commands, having accidents in house while I am there and chewing things she didn't before. Now I know she is a teenager. Having three of my own now grown, they do get over it, hope puppies do too. Going to do another lesson now.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

My guy went through a rebellion phase, but never accidents.  Make sure he does not have a medical issue.  Is he marking? We never had that.  Get him some bully sticks to chew and chew and chew.  Nice big fat ones from Bullysticks.com.  that's the cheapest I have found.  Hang in there.  and sorry to add that you still have to go thru human teenage years in the not too distant future.  that lasts a lot longer and bully sticks won't help...hang in there.  

[Nadia]

I dont think he is marking ( though it may be a possibility) and he just recently had a physical and was a ok. I will definitely look into the bullysticks....too bad they don't make them for the human teenagers....lol

[Jennifer Tramell]

When my dogs became teenagers they would decide they can't sleep through the night.  After a few nights of waking up to let them outside, I realized they were just lonely.  Time to let them cry through the night ;-)

My suggestions, take 2 aspirin and call in the morning - lol!  Try changing treats (didn't work for me, mine weren't food motivated) and keep training sessions short.  Try to end on a positive and if a training session is ending up with him stubborn and you frustrated, give an easy, easy, easy command, reward it, and end the session.  Focus on just "living" with them - build the relationship even if you aren't training.  My dogs woke up from being teenagers and suddenly knew everything again, so just get through it and enjoy the goofy moments.