Congratulations on making it to the final week of your puppy’s early training journey! As your puppy enters the teenage phase, it’s time to build on everything they’ve learned and start preparing them for adulthood. This week, we’ll discuss how to manage teenage behaviours, keep training fun and consistent, and choose activities that encourage mental and physical enrichment. Plus, we’ll look at what’s next for your dog in terms of advanced training, sports, and continued learning.
The Teenage Phase & How to Manage It
Just like human teenagers, puppy adolescence can be challenging! Around 6-12 months, puppies may seem to forget everything they’ve learned, become more independent, or even develop a bit of an attitude. This phase is normal but requires patience and understanding.
🎯 What to Expect:
Less attention-seeking: Your puppy might start testing their boundaries and exploring more independently.
Increased energy: Adolescence is often accompanied by a burst of energy. This is a time when they might get more excited and act impulsively.
Testing limits: Puppies may push against training cues, ignoring commands to see what happens.
🎯 How to Manage the Teenage Phase:
Stay Consistent: Don’t let bad habits slip through the cracks. Maintain the same rules and expectations as before.
Keep Sessions Short and Fun: Adolescents have shorter attention spans. Keep training sessions 10-15 minutes and always end on a positive note.
Redirect Energy: Provide plenty of mental stimulation (puzzles, tricks, scent games) and physical outlets (games, walks, runs).
Be Patient: Your puppy will come out of this phase more mature and refined, but consistency and patience are key.
📝 Tip: If you find your puppy is becoming stubborn or distracted, increase the challenge of your training sessions rather than becoming frustrated. Puppies love to solve problems and need new challenges to stay engaged.
Keeping Training Fun & Consistent
Training shouldn’t feel like a chore for you or your puppy. Keeping it fun and rewarding will ensure your puppy remains enthusiastic about learning.
🎯 How to Keep Training Engaging:
Use Play as a Reward: Puppies love to play! Use toys or games as rewards for completing training exercises.
Try New Tricks: Teach your puppy some fun tricks like spin, roll over, or high five to keep their minds sharp and engaged.
Change Locations: Practice training in different places to expose your puppy to new environments and increase focus.
Incorporate Scent Work: Hide treats or toys around the house or yard for your puppy to find—this encourages problem-solving and uses their natural instincts.
🎯 Consistency is Key:
Always use the same cues and rewards so your puppy knows exactly what’s expected.
Reinforce good behaviours daily, even in small ways, so they become ingrained.
📝 Tip: If your puppy gets bored, mix up your routine—different games, new tricks, or practicing in a new place can keep training exciting.
Choosing Activities for Mental & Physical Enrichment
A mentally and physically stimulated puppy is a happy one! As your puppy grows into adulthood, it’s important to continue providing opportunities for both mental and physical enrichment.
🎯 Physical Enrichment Activities:
Longer Walks or Hikes: As your puppy matures, they’ll need more exercise, especially if they have a lot of energy.
Playtime: Fetch, tug-of-war, and agility exercises are great ways to burn off energy.
Swimming: If you have access to safe water, swimming is a fantastic full-body workout that’s easy on joints.
🎯 Mental Enrichment Activities:
Interactive Toys: Puzzle toys, treat dispensers, and snuffle mats provide mental stimulation and encourage problem-solving.
Scent Work: Hide treats or toys and let your puppy sniff them out. You can also try scent detection games to keep them focused and engaged.
Advanced Training: Teach more complex behaviours like “find it”, “bring me the toy”, or even trick sequences.
📝 Tip: Dogs love to work their brains. If you notice them getting restless or destructive, it’s often a sign that they need more mental stimulation.
What’s Next: Advanced Training, Sports, and Ongoing Learning
While your puppy’s basic training is nearly complete, their learning journey is far from over. Here’s what you can look forward to:
🎯 Advanced Training
Advanced obedience: Teach behaviours like go to mat, send to spot, or stay at a distance.
Service or Therapy Dog Training: If your puppy shows interest, you could train them for therapy dog work or service dog skills (e.g., retrieving, alerting).
🎯 Dog Sports
Agility: If your puppy is active and loves to jump, weave, and run, agility training can be a fun and rewarding sport.
Flyball or Canine Freestyle: These sports are also excellent for bonding and providing structure.
Scent Work or Tracking: Stimulate their sense of smell by introducing tracking or scent detection activities.
🎯 Ongoing Learning
Stay Engaged: Keep training new tricks and skills throughout their life to prevent boredom.
Socialisation: Even as an adult, your dog should continue to meet new dogs and people to ensure they stay well-rounded and adaptable.
Regular Mental Stimulation: Incorporate daily puzzles, scent games, or training exercises to maintain their sharp mind.
📝 Tip: Never stop learning! Dogs enjoy challenges, and training doesn’t end with the basics. By continuing to explore new activities and advanced training, you’ll keep your dog engaged and happy for years to come.
What’s Next for You & Your Puppy?
This week, we’ve talked about transitioning to adulthood, managing the teenage phase, and the importance of ongoing training and enrichment. The journey of raising a well-rounded dog continues, but you’re now well-equipped to handle whatever comes next! Whether you pursue advanced training, start with sports, or continue exploring new activities, there are endless opportunities for both you and your puppy to grow together.
Thank you for following this 10-week journey! Keep up the amazing work with your puppy and enjoy the journey ahead. 🌟
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