There's a reason why your young pooch is acting up. Find out why!

I’d heard rumors of a doggy teenage rebellion stage. As it turns out, a study on animals surrendered to shelters showed that almost half of relinquished dogs were between 5 months and 3 years of age.

I wanted to learn more about this difficult stage to help more “teen” dogs keep their homes, so I spoke to certified dog-trainer Betsy Calkins, CPDT-KA, from The Educated Dog Learning Center for her professional insight.

“I wouldn’t characterize it as rebellion,” she prefaced. “Dogs don’t intentionally rebel against their owners. But they can be easily distracted by their environment and don’t always seem to be listening due to hormones and shifting interests — for example, the desire to find a mate.”

It was refreshing to hear that my dogs wouldn’t ignore me on purpose.

Getting your teen dog to listen again
“Be more interesting than your environment!” she advised. “When your dog is distracted, it means you must work harder to engage your dog in play. Older styles of training are about forcing compliance. In modern training, we now want to be interesting and fun so our dogs actually want to listen. Dogs love new experiences, so find appropriate, playful ways to keep them engaged.”

What’s happening to my teen dog?
If she has not been spayed, a female dog between the ages of 6 and 9 months is preparing for, and will soon start, her first heat. She can become more playful around male dogs yet more aggressive toward fellow females.

Temptations such as chewy shoes, open doors, and unattended meals can be impossible for your teen dog to ignore. Until you’re sure they understand and respect your rules and boundaries, you will need to manage their environment to keep your dog and your belongings safe.

Spaying or neutering dogs while they are puppies can prevent some hormone-induced behavior problems, but will not eliminate them. Remember to be patient with your “rebellious teen” dogs. They’re still puppies, after all.

WOW! Who knew that a dog went through “teenage” years like humans do! LOL! It's important to remember that your doggy is going through a lot of changes and doesn't mean to drive you crazy on purpose.

For more information on bad doggy behavior, check out Dogster.