Your new puppy is so much fun! They are cute, rolly polly, bundles of love. They are learning so quickly and eagerly.
Then they turn 7 months old. Your cute little bundle has turned into a leggy, stubborn, adolescent!
Do not fret! This is a normal part of development. This period of time can be likened to humans turning into teenagers. They are testing boundaries. They are flushed with hormones. Their bodies are changing. Their brains are being re-wired. Even if your puppy is spayed or neutered, there will be some changes that occur at this time. As hormones wash over their adolescent brain, you might find cues they once knew suddenly disappear. It's ok. They are not gone forever.
What do I do when my puppy doesn't respond when I ask them to do something? Be patient. In that moment in time, they might truly not remember the simplest of cues. Go back to basics. Take a few steps back and help them remember by going through the training steps again. Keep things positive. When they come out the other end, those cues will return. Don't be embarrassed if your pup responds to a stranger when they didn't listen to you. This is a normal part of testing boundaries.
How long does this last? This time period varies from breed to breed, and even from dog to dog within a breed. In general, the smaller dogs hit this phase earlier, but have a shorter period. The bigger dogs tend to have a longer, more pronounced period. Again, this varies and littermates may have completely different severities. Sometimes you'll never notice a difference. It generally happens around 6.5-8.5 months and lasts 1-2 months. Highly attached (separation anxiety) females enter it earlier than others.
Remember, you were a teenager once as well. We all need a little help from time to time. If you have any questions or would like some help with your puppy's journey, send us an email: info@positivepooches.com
Some new research on this period of development: Dogs to through an angsty teenage phase too - https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/dogs-go-through-puberty/#Echobox=1676330786
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