Adolescent Dog Training: Surviving the Teenage Stage

One minute you’ve got the world’s most angelic puppy. They sit, they stay, they come back when called, they sleep through the night. And then, as if overnight, it’s like their brain has packed up, left the building, and gone on holiday.

Welcome to adolescence.

This is the stage where many owners quietly (or not so quietly) mutter, “my dog’s an absolute a***hole 🤣.” And honestly, you’re not wrong. If you’re searching for help with teenage dog behaviour in Reading, Caversham, Tilehurst, Calcot, Henley, Burghfield or Mortimer, you’re not alone.

What actually happens in adolescence?

Think of your dog’s brain like a house under renovation. The builders have knocked through the walls, there are wires hanging out everywhere, and the emotional brain and the thinking brain have stopped speaking to each other. The result? Chaos.

Science-wise, hormones are kicking in, brain pathways are being rewired, and self-control temporarily takes a back seat. It’s not that your dog is being wilfully naughty — it’s that their brain is literally under construction.

This is also why your dog might look at you blankly when you ask them to sit (something they’ve done a hundred times before) or suddenly “forget” their recall. It’s not personal — their brain cells are going through a messy divorce.

The “greatest hits” of adolescent dog behaviour:

If any of these sound familiar, congratulations, you have a teenager on your hands:

• Selective hearing: You call, and they suddenly forget their name.
• Recall meltdown: They could do it yesterday. Today, apparently they’ve never heard the word “come.”
• Lead pulling like they’re auditioning for a sled dog team.
• Toilet training regression: Boy dogs especially may start cocking their legs — and soft furnishings are fair game.
• Theft and destruction: Socks, loo rolls, the TV remote… nothing is safe.
• Zoomies at 10pm: Because why not?

These are exactly the kinds of things people Google — “puppy forgot recall,” “teenage dog lead pulling,” “dog toilet training regression” — so if you’re here because you typed one of those in, you’re in the right place.

Why it matters (and why it’s not forever).

The good news? This stage is temporary. Just like human teenagers, they do grow out of it. The bad news? How you handle it now can set the tone for the adult dog you end up living with.

Patience, consistency, and humour are your best tools. Shouting won’t fix it, but setting clear boundaries, giving them outlets for their energy, and keeping up with training will make all the difference.

Adolescence is also the number one age that dogs are surrendered to rescues — not because they’re “bad dogs,” but because owners weren’t prepared for this tricky stage. That’s why getting the right support early on is so important.

Puppy training doesn’t stop at puppyhood!

Here’s the thing a lot of people don’t realise: those lovely puppy foundations you worked so hard on don’t automatically carry your dog through adolescence. This is the stage where they really need reinforcing.

Think of it like revising for an exam. You might have covered the material months ago, but if you don’t keep practising, it won’t stick under pressure. Puppies are exactly the same. The “sit,” “stay,” and “come here” you thought were solid often need revisiting and strengthening during this teenage phase.

The owners who keep up with training during adolescence are the ones who come out the other side with calm, focused adult dogs. The ones who stop often find themselves firefighting bad habits later on.

Top Tip: Food not working? Try toys.

During adolescence, many dogs lose a bit of interest in food. Their hormones are raging, their brains are distracted, and suddenly your liver cake isn’t cutting it.

This is where toys come in. Play taps into a different part of your dog’s brain and can be even more rewarding than food when everything else is more exciting.

The trick is to figure out your dog’s play style. Do they love a game of tug? Are they ball-obsessed? Or do they prefer something they can chase and pounce on? Once you know, you can use that as your “secret weapon” reward in training.

Not only does this keep training fun, but it also gives your adolescent dog a healthy outlet for all that extra energy.

Adolescent dog training in Reading, Caversham, Tilehurst, Calcot, Henley, Burghfield & Mortimer.

At Dogs be Dogs, our adolescent classes are designed exactly for this messy middle stage. We’ll help you:

• Rebuild recall, even when your dog’s ears switch off.
• Tackle lead pulling before your shoulder gives way.
• Teach focus and impulse control without killing the fun.

Most importantly, you’ll leave with a toolkit of strategies that keep you sane and your dog on track to becoming the adult companion you dreamed of.

Book your spot here: 👉 https://www.dogsbedogs.co.uk/adolescent-dog-classes