Puberty in Dogs: Onset, Signs and Tips

Not only teenagers will eventually hit puberty. It even happens to growing dogs at some point. Just like in humans, puberty also manifests itself in dogs through all sorts of annoying behaviours that are likely to drive some owners insane.

In the following, we will explain what to expect when your dog hits puberty and how you can support your four-legged rebel in this exciting phase of their life.

Puberty in dogs – the main points at a glance

• Depending on the breed, puberty usually begins in dogs between the ages of six months and two years.
• Similar to teenagers, a dog's puberty can be characterised by mood swings and disobedience, among other things.
• Dog owners need to find the right mix of patience, understanding and consistency during their dog's rebellious phase.
• Early neutering is not suitable for avoiding puberty in dogs.

When does puberty in dogs kick in?

Typically, you can expect young dogs to hit puberty between the ages of six months and a year. However, this does not necessarily have to be the case with your four-legged friend, because not all dog breeds develop equally fast.

Large breeds grow slower than small ones. Accordingly, they also reach puberty later. Therefore it is not uncommon for it to only become noticeable in very large animals, such as a Great Dane, at the age of two.

Why do dogs reach puberty?

The mood swings and the lack of obedience that go and in hand with puberty in dogs are without a doubt very stressful for the owner.

However, always keep in mind that your four-legged friend is not acting this way out of malice. During puberty, a dog's body undergoes major changes. The four-legged friends are not only growing in size.

In addition, there are also significant fluctuations in the hormone balance and changes in the nervous system. Both can confuse young dogs considerably and lead to mood swings and sudden aggressiveness or anxiety.

Puberty in dogs: Typical signs

When a dog reaches puberty, the following signs can be observed:

• Both females and males gradually develop an interest in the opposite sex during puberty.
• The hunting instinct increases in pubescent dogs, which can sometimes also be experienced by the neighbour's cat.
• The growing four-legged friends begin to behave territorially and often try to claim certain areas for themselves.
• Male dogs may mark off-limits areas, which unfortunately can sometimes include the home.
• In this phase, dogs tend not to listen or to occasionally run away.
• Increased vocalisations including barking, yelping and even aggressive growling are common in dogs going through puberty.

Puberty in dogs: How should I behave?

It's completely understandable if you're sometimes on the verge of losing patience with your pubescent dog. Of course, you should not let your four-legged friend get away with everything during this phase.

That doesn't mean, however, that you should react with undue harshness to their seemingly wanton disobedience. As previously mentioned, your dog is not doing any of this to annoy you. Puberty and the associated hormonal and neurological changes are difficult for the growing four-legged friend, too.

It is therefore very important that you, as the owner, provide the right environment in which your dog can develop. At the same time, you must ensure that the four-legged friend does not put themselves or others in danger.

The following tips can help you to accompany your dog through puberty: 

• Train and educate your dog regularly despite their rebellious phase and don't let the training slip.
• Be patient if your four-legged friend does not listen or seems to have completely forgotten what they have already learned.
• Try to avoid your growing dog coming into contact with other aggressive dogs.
• Limit playing with other dogs to ones you know and with whom your dog gets along well.
• Protect your high-spirited four-legged friend in everyday life from potential dangers such as traffic or fights with other dogs.
• Be aware that your dog can sometimes be anxious or aggressive during puberty and be prepared to react appropriately in such situations.
• Despite understanding the emotional chaos your four-legged companion goes through, make sure that you are always perceived as the leader.

Avoiding dogs' puberty: Time for neutering?

Neutering has a number of advantages and can therefore of course be beneficial in many cases. However, if the procedure is carried out too early, this has negative effects on the development of the four-legged friend.

You should therefore not have your dog neutered as early as possible just because you hope this will avoid the inconveniences associated with the animal's puberty. Instead, speak to a veterinarian and ask them when they recommend neutering your dog based on their breed and developmental stage.

Bellfor expert tip: Healthy rewards for dogs in puberty

It is imperative that you stick with your young dog's training despite puberty. Small treats as a reward for good behaviour should of course not be missing in this rebellious phase.

Our grain-free soft snacks are ideal for this purpose. We cannot guarantee that your pubescent dog will always listen to you because of the snacks. However, we can promise you that with Bellfor Soft-Snacks you are choosing a healthy and tasty treat that your stubborn four-legged friend will surely love, too.

Get to know Bellfor Soft-Snacks.

Our conclusion on the subject of puberty in dogs

As you can see, the dog's puberty is something every owner has to go through sooner or later. If you support your four-legged friend in this phase of their life without giving up your authority, the stress will eventually be over.

However, if you feel overwhelmed with the situation and do not know how to handle your dog during his rebellious phase, do not hesitate to seek help from an experienced dog trainer or dog psychologist if necessary.