Is It Just His Age?

[Sandy]

The last couple of days Toby is acting like he's lost his brain. He is being loud - which he NEVER is. Barking because he wants attention, barking just because...you get the picture. He is jumping up much worse than in the past. He is "fidgety" and wants to be on the move, always. What is up with this? Is it doggy teenage years? I am NOT a fan, whatever it is. Any ideas? We are definitely going to the dog park today to burn some steam. He is 10 months old.

[Jeannine]

I have the same problem with my Thalie and she will turn 9 months next Tuesday.
I went through that also with Gamine and yes! It is teenage period and normally last until they are around 15 to 18 months!

Not as crazy as they are now but he will test you and will try to get his way. You have to be more firm than ever because you will suffer the consequences for the rest of his life!

Yes! With a lot of exercises it will help. They cannot argue too much when they are tire.
Have fun at the park!

[jamiegirl]

Jamie is almost 7 months old but she, too, has been acting differently lately: barking more, is impatient and snippy. I was going to search the site this morning for this very concern. In a way, I'm glad to know that we are not alone in this. I guess she is an early teen.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned is a small doodle but he really settled down at 12 months. The difference was obvious and dramatic. At almost 14 months, he can still be a pill and get into things but it is just different. He is more cuddly overall - still has the zoomies though. He does bark at sounds which I hate and that has evolved and gotten worse rather than better.

[Jeannine]

I learn that more the dog is big longer it take to settle down. Some big breed take until two years to go through teens age. I'm having hope since Thalie in a medium doodle. So if she do the same thing that Gamine did at 14 to 16 months she will start to act like a real "Lady"!

[Chris & Boys]

Gee Jane - thanks for the words of encouragement!! LOL!

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Teenagers! What are you going to do. Ground him or send him to his room

[Debra Ference-Luongo]

Edgar is just 7 months old but he, too, is starting to really try my patience. He is jumping more, barking a lot and pulling on his lead again. It's like all the positive steps he has made have suddenly been forgotten. It is a good thing for his sake he is so darn cute!
We will get through this... we will get through this... we will...

[Sandy]

Will we - with all of our mental faculties intact? I guess we just stick with our training techniques, and hope their brains start working again.

[Suzanne Wilson]

Just as I am getting used to three teenagers in our house, our fur teenager comes into his own! Thats why there is red wine!!

[Holly St Pierre]

YES! We are having the exact same issues with our 9 month old. Gunner has been crazy the past week. I had heard they go through this. If you aren't playing with him he is barking & the jumping has been terrible this week. We are really working to make him mind to keep in under control. I can't wait for this phase to be over. Glad to hear its not just him.

[Stella]

it definietly sounds like 'teenagerism'!!! Hartley used to be terrible demanding attention all the time, barking at you if you ignored him, dropping toys in your feet to try and instigate play etc etc. It does end! After 12-14 months old he all of a sudden settled down, we actually thought he was sick because he was so calm! He still has moments of craziness, but for an 18 month old dog we are pretty happy. Of course, there is the small matter of going through it all again with Chase.

[Debra Ference-Luongo]

This morning Edgar chewed the cover of a book - a library book, of course! And he damaged one of my shoes! He has never bothered with these types of things before mostly confining his chewing to his toys. My patience is thin.