Rebellious Dog? Canines Exhibit Similar Behaviors To Adolescent Humans
Teenagers in their adolescent years usually tend to be emotional and rebellious. According to studies, this age group has its fare of challenges. And similar to humans, young adolescent dogs also experience a period of hormonal-fueled conflict. During this stage, dogs give their caregiver’s a difficult time and don’t respond to commands.
The research observed Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German shepherds raised in dog training programs in one study. In this study, caregivers were requested to rate the puppies based on their attention-seeking behavioral issues. Some of the expected behaviors include trembling, agitation, whining, or sitting close to one household member.
Consequences of insecure attachments
Results of the study showed that puppies with high scores in all the categories began experiencing puberty earlier. The puppies began puberty at only five months – which is not normal. The findings further reflect research on adolescent teenagers, and showed how insecure attachments to caregivers might cause early puberty.
Testing for obedience and compliance
To check whether dogs respond swiftly to commands, researchers tested a group of canines between 5 and 9 months. In this experiment, two people commanded the dog to sit: one stranger and a caregiver. At only five months, all puppies sat when given the command. But at eight months, the adolescent dogs refused to follow instructions from their caregivers.
Interestingly, the dogs responded swiftly to the strangers. Such disobedience toward familiar authority somewhat mirrors adolescent teenage behavior.
Benefits of socialization and proper training
With socialization and proper training, it’s easier to eliminate these undesirable traits. After carefully analyzing results from multiple dog guides, researchers believe that adolescent dogs are trainable. However, the study encourages lifelong training to discourage your dog from being rebellious. That said, dogs need regular training to ensure they pass the frustrating and rebellious stage.
Unfortunately, most pet owners only focus on giving their dogs the simple, common commands like stay and sit. While these skills are essential for all dogs, you need to use them more frequently. When your dog no longer responds to cues quickly, you need training sessions to reinforce the skills. As a suggestion, reinforce the desired response with a delicious treat.
Conclusion
Training your adolescent dogs can enhance their skills, and enhance your bond with your furry friends. But if you notice your dog is withdrawn, uneasy, or aggressive out of the blues, visit the vet to determine whether the dog has an underlying health problem.
References: Pet Coach, Dogster, Wag walking
Copyright: Local Value
