People keep mentioning that even well behaved dogs can turn into obnoxious teenagers.

Do you think this is really the case, or do you think it could be because you've had the dog a while now, got complacent and aren't concentrating so much on keeping their training up to scratch?

*fingers crossed*

So, if you had a well behaved puppy and young dog, when you suddenly realised he had turned into an obnoxious teenager, were you treating the dog differently to how you'd treated him when he was say, 4 or 5 months old?

that is probably the case what you have said

With my 2 Lilly didn't hit a naughty stage at all, but Zipper definately did.
He went from near perfect recall and Loose Lead walking to zero recall and pulling like a train at about 8 months.
Training and rewards hadn't changed, apart from the natural reduction of treats, he was definately pushing the boundries.
It took about 6 months to get him back to where he was at 8 months

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

Interesting topic! I am not sure, but do think about the subject a lot actually. I have been dreading the onset of the 'Kevin' stage and so have been training and training to try and offset it.

So far....touch wood ....all I have had is some more determined attempts at boundary pushing which can be dealt with with a big dollop of patience .

In fact (touch wood again!!) I have noticed over the last week or two that Kilo appears to be calming a little. Hope I haven't just tempted fate too much!

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Sadie didn't - she was a horrible puppy though, decided the kitchen needed decorating twice! (ripped all paper off the walls).

Decided that the internet connection was in the wrong place - chewed that.
Took a dislike to the kitchen furniture. Climbed on the furniture - got to the dart board this way, chewed the board.

Benjie - I am told was a horrible teen (I've only known him 3 years)

Louie - ugh teen coupled with the crazy cross he is!

Actually he wasn't so bad. Never chewed anything as a puppy, learned to toilet outside fairly quickly. The only issue we had with him is his chase instinct and whilst it's still there - it isn't as bad - it's took me 3 months to get to walk around the lakes just next door to our house but he now doesn't chase the ducks (as often depends where they are).

I think you just have to stick your head down and get on with the training during the teen stage. I've cried, got angry, got frustrated, shouted - everything but we've got there and I'm now less stressed

Tummel's been ok i suppose, he lost his recall for a couple of months but i focused all training on that, then once that was sorted moved onto his manners. He was great from April and he seems to be acting up again, he hasn't lost his recall but he will pretend he hasn't heard me, he throws tantrums at least once a week, last week i told him to drop a bit of poo on a walk and he decided every time i tried to recall him he would run in the opposite direction he hasn't tried it again though(he got a fright as when he was rolling in poo i ran off and hid) but he really is pushing boundaries again, at least i have the knowledge that i got through it once and i can do it again(and i have PF to moan on )

I definately believe in the Kevins

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Owned by Tummel the rottaridgeador and Dante the Italian Spinone

Kenzie did around 10-12 months. She lost her recall (had to put her back on a long line) and was just generally a pain in the behind. I definitely think this was 'teenage-ness' because I don't feel I got complacent. She came out the other side just as quickly as she started, and again I can't see any reason why she suddenly went back to being a well-behaved dog.

Having said that, Kenzie was a very good puppy and even the teenager phase wasn't THAT bad.

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That's actually a good point in terms of how they behave normally. Kilo has been fairly hard work in that he isn't hard to train as he's a clever bugger BUT he has pushed boundaries from day one so hasn't suddenly changed from a very compliant dog into a stubborn one....he has always been stubborn!

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