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Adolescent Dogs – Why are they challenging and what can we do?

Adolescent Dog Behaviors

– Billie Groom Expert in CCBT
 

If you are struggling with behavioural changes in your adolescent dog, it is not your fault, and you are not alone. The adolescent stage, beginning at approximately six to eight months and ending at around twenty-four months of age, can prove frustrating for even the most experienced pet parents. The most common advice, that of “exercising patience because the stage will pass,” can be challenging when nothing is working, unwanted behaviours are increasing, and you feel defeated. By changing the way in which we view this stage from a regression in obedience to a progression in cognitive abilities, the adolescent stage becomes an opportunity to increase our bond and improve our relationship with our dog.

 
One does not need to be an expert to recognize when a dog is flipping-you-the-bird or suddenly acting like the guy-at-the-party-with-the-lampshade-on-his-head. Your dog, who excelled at puppy-class and was treat-motivated and eager-to-learn, suddenly poo-poos treats, decides sitting is stupid, and the squirrel in the tree deserves a full-blown lecture. Even though your dog knows it is wrong to chew, he or she suddenly shows a renewed interest in your socks and underwear. The high-value treat is simply not a good enough incentive to “come when called” or ignore the family cat. You are at your wits end, and you have no idea what to do!
 
 

Why do these changes in behaviour occur? Why do dogs who have had little, if any, trauma in their lives, and are well socialized and friendly, suddenly rebel? Studies performed by scientists suggest the adolescent stage is a product of brain development that can lead to change in behaviours often perceived as disobedient or ill-mannered.

 
Perhaps we perpetuate the annoying behaviours chalked up to “the adolescent stage” by continuing to implement methods which, although effective in other life stages, increase unwanted behavior simply because of this brain development and the principles governing these methods.
 
 

Let’s dissect this.

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Brain Development

Dogs in the adolescent stage,(6-24 months) experience brain development that, irrelevant of upbringing, breed, or training methods during puppyhood, commonly lead to change in behaviors.

 
Cognitive skills are heightened during adolescence. Much like teenagers, they make decisions based on feelings and emotions, with little thought to outcomes or repercussions. Brain development decreases the connectivity between the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for receiving information and mediating emotion and memory, and the pre-frontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls and organizes emotional reactions, leading to a decreased ability to “read and process,” increased reactions, and poor decision-making skills.
 
 

Whilst puppies have cognitive abilities, these abilities commonly act in our favor, allowing us to teach and bond through the use of positive reactive reinforcements. As dogs mature, change in cognitive functions can lead to behaviors deemed challenging, obstinate, unruly, and even aggressive. By continuing to apply positive reinforcement training, we can, unintentionally, perpetuate these unwanted behaviors.

 

Counter Conditioning is successful with dogs over two years old because the brain development allows for processing, which, as mentioned earlier, is compromised during adolescence.

Principles Governing Conditioning Methods

Operant Conditioning is the most common method applied in dog training. It is designed to teach, and to encourage or discourage wanted and unwanted behaviors (respectively) through the use of reactive reinforcements. It is preferable to use only positive reinforcements, which is one half of operant conditioning, although what is termed “balanced training” can be effective when applied properly. Most pet parents naturally apply balanced training – it is, essentially, human nature to react with an emotion of displeasure when our pup messes inside, and to praise our pups when they do their business outside, thus achieving “house-training.”

 
Adolescent dogs who know “right from wrong” often choose to do unwanted behaviors. Why? Perhaps to get attention, to see the outcome, to get their own way, or simply because it is more fun to run around the park than come when called, and getting in the garbage will certainly discourage you (“the bad human”) from ever leaving again in the evening! (Yes, they employ “negative reinforcements” to discourage you from doing an unwanted behavior – clever dogs!).
 
 

Raising the stakes (so to speak) by increasing the value of the reward is not always effective, and implementing boundaries, increasing restrictions, or implementing negative reinforcements can be ineffective and even counter productive. Simply put, operant conditioning has served its purpose.

 
Counter Conditioning relies on associative elements and desensitization. By associating a positive element, such as a treat or toy, repeatedly with the stimuli causing the unwanted behavior, such as lunging at bicycles, dogs change their perception of the bicycle. The principles guiding Counter Conditioning require the stimulus to be present, and for the dog to be calm enough to process it, (distance can help with this). The goal is to associate the stimulus causing a reaction, for example, a bicycle, with a positive element, thus changing perception of the bicycle through repetition. Based on brain development explained earlier, this process can be challenging, lengthy, and although the behavior may change, (for example, the dog sits), the perception of one bicycle may not carry over to bicycles in other areas or to other stimulus, making the results “unpredictable” or “sporadically successful.”

So Now What?

Although patience and love are needed (I am guessing everyone reading this article have those in abundance), these are not “methods.” “Managing” situations with “coping mechanisms” (ie- pulling the blinds, walking at midnight, and avoiding hosting dinner parties) are not always reasonable in busy families. Increasing restrictions, such as prohibiting dogs on the bed or couch, or discontinuing fun activities, is a bummer, unfair, and certainly not the goal of most pet parents.
 
 

To effectively work with adolescent dogs, we need a method designed to harness cognitive skills, allow for processing, and encourage decision-making (which is different from “options” as provided with enrichment exercises). Mindsets are changing toward taking a proactive approach, acknowledging emotional intelligence, respecting individual thought patterns, and addressing the reason for behavior, not the behaviors themselves. To achieve these mindsets and approaches, we must adhere to a methodology grounded in these principles.

 
UPWARD Dogology is an evidence-based methodology grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), making it effective with dogs whose behaviors are stemming from cognitive skills. It is non-harmful, easy to apply, and dogs love it!

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a scientifically proven methodology for addressing behaviors commonly derived from thought patterns and perceptions generated by cognitive skills. Cognitive abilities include memory, object differentiation, emotional intelligence, object placement, and the ability to think, process, and make decisions.
 
 

CBT takes a holistic, proactive approach by addressing the reason for the behavior, not the behaviors themselves. CBT works 95% in positive situations, harnessing cognitive skills, establishing platform exercises, and encouraging decision-making skills.

 
UPWARD Dogology is a methodology, or a formula, that adheres to the principles and practices of CBT and is the only method that effectively applies CBT to canines. It is flexible, and adapts to each individual dog, allowing us to work at the pace of the dog. UPWARD Dogology is, inherently, non-aversive, force-free, creative, logical, and adaptable.
 
 

CBT is particularly effective in addressing behaviors associated with anxiety and aggression, and ones common during the adolescent stage. Some conditioning methods can address these behaviors as well, so it important to be flexible and knowledge on all non-harmful, effective methods. Additionally, holistic practices, natural remedies and medication can aid in the success of a rehabilitation program.

 

By incorporating UPWARD Dogology, alongside other non-aversive, proven effective methodologies, into mainstream dog-training, we can easily and effectively adapt to changes during the adolescent stage. The adolescent stage becomes the perfect time to gain a better understanding of our dog, include our dog into our family activities, and create a life-long bond.

 

For more information on CCBT and UPWARD Dogology, please visit www.upwarddogology.com , listen to our podcast – Dog Training DisrUPted, Upward Dogology, or find our book, The Art of Urban People With Adopted and Rescued Dogs Methodology; Rescued Dogs, on Amazon and at Friesen Press.

 
 
 

Written by Billie Groom, B.A. Expert in CCBT, VP DWAA, CCS, ABS Member, PhDLC/Aug 2023

 
 
 

https://www.upwarddogology.com

 

/https://linktr.ee/upwarddogology

 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1020154/

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/billie-groom-b6964037/

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