Parenting Pointers 1068 - Do dogs go through puberty?

Do dogs go through puberty? Does your dog behave like a teenager? Think they’re acting this way because they’re imitating your kids? No. In fact, dogs go through adolescence at about 5 months old and puberty at around 8 months. During these periods of time, they share similar behaviors with human teenagers. Why is that? They’re both mammals and most mammals go through a similar process of sexual maturation in order to have babies! Dogs have hormonal fluctuations and a remodeling of their brains to become adults just like humans. What does teenage behavior look like in dogs? They’re likely to ignore you. They’re likely to be more difficult to train. And, get this. They act this way only with their owners and are well-behaved around strangers. Kinda like taking it out on your Mom. Stay consistent with your teenage dog and use rewards rather than punishment. Just as with your teenagers, this is a passing phase. Maybe a long walk will do them both good!