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WHEN DOES ADOLESCENCE BEGIN? Think of your dog's age in months, much like grades in school.
"Come?
Kopper
hangs out on the stairs > |
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Preschool-kindergarten - Learning how to communicate. Learning how to share. Learning how to learn. Learning about cause and effect.
Grades 1-4 - Social skills. Learning from their peers. Conflict resolution. Play is important!
Grades 5-6 - Pre-adolescence. Self identification. Awareness of a bigger world. Effect of their choices.
Grades 7-9 - Adolescence. Middle school. Hormones raging. Brains disengaging. "Johnny does not apply himself in class." Fights on the playground. I'll do it myself. Rolling eyes. Ego-centric. Clear expectations/accountability essential. Curfew!
Grades 9-12 - High school. Brains re-engaging. Still testing the rules, pushing the envelope, discovering self. Dating!
College - Look and act like young adults, take on bigger responsibilities but still engage in frat parties, late nights, exploration and discovery. Search for meaning - wants to feel useful.
Adult - Settling down, setting up housekeeping. Even in maturity, although we have a grasp on who we are, we evolve as we age and continue to learn and explore.
Developmental changes as Puppies turn into Dogs:
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4 month old Piper - Samoyed puppy |
Months
1-4
- Preschool thru elementary age. Learns
to navigate the world, establish appropriate social skills with people and
other animals. At 3-4 months puppies still rely on knowing where you are
at all times for their safety. This strong orienting (following) reflex
means it's a great time to teach come when called!
They are sponges looking to learn the language and communicate. Exploration
- touch, taste, smell. Teething - everything goes in the mouth. Puppy zooms!
Crazy wild running. Months 5-6 - Pre-adolescence. Just as 5th & 6th grade children begin to have an independent sense of self reliance and want to play further from home, they are still very dependent on their parents. 5 and 6 month old puppies reach a similar developmental milestone. At 5 months, the dog who came like a rocket suddenly stands in the yard and stares at you, considering his options, weighing the potential circumstances of his behavior. Don't take him off leash at the park - even if he was trustworthy before. 5 month old pups become aware that there are strangers in the world - some are not part of our pack! Puppies find their voice, often "boof-boof-boofing" at new people and things. |
Months 7-9 - Adolescence peaks.
"Middle school." A trying time for parents and owners of teenaged
kids and pets. This is as bad as it gets! Statistics show the majority of dogs
turned over by their owners to animal shelters and rescues are relinquished
at 8 months of age. Hooray for neutering! Second
fear imprint period. They spook, startle and
bolt at the silliest things. Nuisance barking at every leaf that falls, protest
barking, sass barking emerges. Easily bored. Bored pups destroy everything in
their path. Brain games, problem solving,
train, train, train! Exercise of body and mind is essential. Boys lift their
legs. Girls will come in season soon if not spayed already. Status challenges
emerge.
Months 9-12
- Adolescence plateaus. "High school."
Territoriality, patrolling, barking and bluff rushes to make the threat go away.
Urine marking is enhanced in unneutered dogs. Dating and mating. Girl dogs come
into season and unneutered boys' total focus is finding one who is and getting
to her. Escape! Once they find out they can,
they will continue to try. Canine atheletes need an outlet for excess energy.
Months 12-18 - Heading into adulthood.
"College." Occasional glimmers of clarity. Looks and sometimes
acts like an adult, but mostly he is a gangly, crazy, party animal frat boy.
Girl dogs gone wild. This dog needs a JOB. May begin to mentor/parent younger
housemates.
Months 18 to maturity - The calm sets in.
Over the next few months, the dog who ran you ragged may need to be urged off
the couch to play. At 7 your dog is officially a "senior citizen."
Couch potato types may put on a few pounds if you
don't monitor their diet and exercise.
This handout may be reprinted in its entirety for distribution free of charge and with full credit given:
© CAROL A. BYRNES "DIAMONDS IN THE RUFF" Training for Dogs & Their People -
ditr_training @ hotmail.com - http://www.diamondsintheruff.com
