09/05/2026
It is the best of times, it is the worst of times.
It is adolescence. And I know a lot of people who are in the thick of it with their puppies right now.
3 years from now, you'll look back and think about how cute and fun they were, and pet the sleeping dog next to your side and smile. 3 years however can seem like a lifetime.
Here's the thing. You have the dog you have. Just like some people have really difficult teenagers, and others have teens who appear perfect, puppies are the same way. Some puppies grasp impulse control and focus so quickly, and just lock in. Others make you dread each day.
But even the best puppies can have a bad day, and even the worst puppy will have days that let you see what an amazing partner they're going to be. Here are my rules for helping you get through adolescence.
1 - Teach and practice settling. It's ok to be bored. Life is boring. I tether my puppies to me, and I expect them to lay quietly while I work. I reinforce this by dropping treats for good calm behavior. Leashes are indeed your best friend.
2 - Give safe outlets for energy release. This doesn't mean letting them run off lead, or race everywhere. This doesn't mean letting them practice bad behaviors. But this does mean fun engaging training, offlead exploration in safe environments and new adventures.
3 - Teach and practice place. The ultimate impulse control game. The more you do it the better your puppies' impulse control will be.
4 - Focus on the positive. Let those moments of brilliance shine through and give yourself props for recognizing them. Your work IS paying off.
5 - Realize your dog isn't trying to be bad. They're overwhelmed, over aroused, and have complicated feelings. It's ok! They are learning how to cope in this world. Many dogs get labeled as reactive right now and they aren't. They are just confused by their world and yelling their feelings. Teach them how to deal with it and default to what is right and you'll be way ahead.
6 - Keep socializing and exposing. Even if your puppy has seen
Halloween decorations before, they may not remember, or they may have been at a different mental stage. Get them out in short bursts, and give them space and time to explore their world. It takes a lot of exposure to have a dog who is confident in every environment.
7 - Take breaks. This is a time when you may want to switch training up to let your dog's brain develop. Drilling isn't your friend, intervals are. Keep moving forward but mix it up and be fun. Experiment! Your dog and you are still learning what you love to do together!
8 - You may have a different dog every day. If you have a really bad day, it's ok to safely crate your puppy and take a bath and go to bed early. Maybe you both need a break.
9 - If you can spend time parallel walking and training with an experienced adult dog. Interaction isn't necessary, but an adult dog will model behaviors and skills to an adolescent. There may even be hero worship involved, don't judge ;).
10 - Reinforce what you love, learn what triggers the rest. Barking in a crate? Reinforce the quiet, stop the other dogs from walking by the crate until your puppy can handle it. Reinforce leash manners, and when your puppy chooses to be right. Believe it or not, if you focus on the positive it will increase.
But most of all have fun! Adolescence is an adventure.
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