Top 15 'Adolescent-Angst-Easing' Training Techniques to Explore for Teenage Dogs Navigating Their Rebellious Phase - Goh Ling Yong
Remember that adorable, fluffy puppy who hung on your every word and couldn't bear to be more than two feet away from you? Well, if that same dog is now giving you the canine equivalent of an eye-roll, pretending they've never heard the word "come," and chewing on your favorite shoes with rebellious glee, congratulations. You're officially the proud parent of a teenage dog.
This phase, typically hitting somewhere between six and eighteen months of age, is often called the adolescent period. It’s a whirlwind of hormones, brain development, and a sudden, passionate desire for independence. Your once-perfect pup is now a lanky, goofy, fur-covered teenager testing every boundary you’ve ever set. They're not being bad on purpose; their brain is literally under construction, and the part responsible for impulse control is temporarily closed for renovations.
It can be a frustrating, exhausting, and disheartening time for any dog owner. But don't despair! This is not a reflection of your training failures. It's a normal, predictable developmental stage. With a healthy dose of patience, a great sense of humor, and the right set of tools, you can not only survive this phase but emerge with a stronger bond and a wonderfully well-adjusted adult dog. Ready to transform that adolescent angst into angelic attentiveness? Let's dive into 15 tried-and-true techniques.
1. Go Back to Basics (But Make It Fun)
Just because your dog aced "Sit" in puppy class doesn't mean it's a permanent fixture in their brain. Adolescence often brings on a case of "training amnesia." The best way to combat this is to go back to square one with your foundation cues: sit, stay, down, come. But this time, you're not just teaching the cue; you're reinforcing its value in a world full of new, exciting distractions.
Keep these refresher sessions incredibly short—just two to five minutes at a time. Use ridiculously high-value rewards (think cheese, chicken, or their absolute favorite treat) to make it worth their while. Treat it like a fun game, not a chore. The goal is to remind their teenage brain that listening to you is the most rewarding thing they can do.
Pro-Tip: Start in a low-distraction environment like your living room. Once they're responding enthusiastically again, gradually increase the difficulty by moving to the backyard, then the front yard, and eventually on quiet walks.
2. Prioritize Impulse Control Games
A teenage dog's motto is often "act first, think later." Impulse control is not their strong suit. That's why dedicating time to games that specifically teach self-control is one of the most valuable things you can do. These games teach your dog that waiting and thinking before acting leads to better rewards.
A classic is "It's Yer Choice." Place a low-value treat in your closed fist and present it to your dog. They will likely sniff, paw, and lick at your hand. The instant they pull their nose away, even for a split second, mark the behavior with a "Yes!" and reward them with a high-value treat from your other hand. They quickly learn that ignoring the temptation is what gets them the prize. Other great exercises include waiting politely for their food bowl and a rock-solid "Leave It."
3. Introduce Scent Work (Nose Games)
A tired dog is a good dog, but a mentally tired dog is a happy, calm, and well-behaved dog. Scent work is one of the most powerful ways to engage your dog's brain. Forcing them to use their most dominant sense—their nose—is incredibly stimulating and naturally calming. Twenty minutes of dedicated sniffing is often more exhausting than an hour-long run.
Start simply. Hide a few smelly treats under a towel and let them "find it." Progress to hiding them in a snuffle mat or around a single room. As they get better, you can make the hiding spots more complex. This activity builds confidence, provides a fantastic outlet for their energy, and strengthens their ability to focus on a single task.
4. Master the Art of 'Capturing Calmness'
We often make the mistake of only paying attention to our dogs when they're doing something wrong (barking, jumping) or something we've asked them to do (sitting). The "Capturing Calmness" technique flips this on its head. The goal is to actively look for moments when your dog offers calm behavior on their own and reward it.
Is your teen dog lying quietly on their bed instead of pestering you? Calmly walk over and drop a treat between their paws. Did they choose to settle on the rug instead of barking at a sound outside? Quietly praise them and give them a gentle pat. By reinforcing these moments of unsolicited tranquility, you teach them that being calm is a highly profitable behavior.
5. Level Up Your Recall Training
If there's one command that flies out the window during adolescence, it's "come." The world is just too fascinating, and you, unfortunately, become less interesting than that squirrel, that leaf, or that intriguing smell on the ground. It's crucial to rebuild your recall to be bulletproof for their safety.
Never call your dog to you for something negative (like a bath or to leave the park). Always use a happy, exciting tone of voice. Most importantly, make coming back to you feel like winning the lottery. Use your most prized treats that they only get for recall. Practice on a long line (15-30 feet) in a safe area to prevent them from learning to ignore you. Make it a game: hide behind a tree and call them, or have a family member hold them while you run away, then call them with explosive enthusiasm.
6. Focus on Management, Not Just Training
Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we are huge proponents of proactive management. The truth is, you can't be actively training your dog 24/7. Management is about setting up your dog's environment to prevent them from practicing unwanted behaviors in the first place. Every time your dog successfully counter-surfs or chews on the furniture, that behavior is reinforced.
Use tools like baby gates to block off certain rooms, tethers to keep them close by when you can't supervise, and their crate for safe, quiet downtime. If your dog jumps on guests, have them on a leash when people come over. This isn't a punishment; it's a smart, temporary way to guide them toward making good choices until their training solidifies.
7. Incorporate 'Brain Teasers' and Puzzle Toys
Boredom is the arch-nemesis of the adolescent dog owner. A bored teenage dog will invent its own, often destructive, fun. Combat this by feeding their meals out of puzzle toys instead of a boring old bowl. This forces them to work for their food, engaging their mind and slowing down their eating.
Kongs stuffed with a mix of kibble, wet food, and peanut butter and then frozen are a lifesaver. LickiMats smeared with yogurt can encourage calming licking behavior. There is a huge variety of puzzle toys on the market, from beginner to advanced. Rotating these toys keeps them novel and exciting.
8. Practice Cooperative Care and Handling
Adolescence can sometimes usher in a new sensitivity to being handled. Your pup who once loved belly rubs might now be squirmy during nail trims or ear checks. Cooperative care involves teaching your dog to be an active, willing participant in their own grooming and health procedures.
Teach a "chin rest" cue, where they voluntarily place their chin in your hand. This can become a signal that they are ready and comfortable for you to proceed with brushing or an ear inspection. Reward every small step with high-value treats. This builds immense trust and reduces stress for both of you during essential care routines.
9. Refine Leash Manners (The Battle Against Pulling)
That perfect loose-leash heel your puppy had has likely been replaced by a freight train impersonation. Their strength has increased, and their desire to get to the next interesting smell is powerful. It's time to double down on loose-leash walking training.
Use a front-clip harness to give you better mechanical control and discourage pulling without causing discomfort. Practice the "Stop and Go" method: the second the leash gets tight, you stop moving. Stand still and silent until they offer any slack in the leash (even a slight turn back towards you), then immediately start walking again. This teaches them that a loose leash makes the walk happen, and a tight leash makes all the fun stop.
10. Embrace the Power of 'Place' Training
Teaching your dog a 'Place' or 'Go to Mat' cue is a game-changer for managing a rambunctious teen. It gives them a specific spot to go to and settle down, which is invaluable when the doorbell rings, you're eating dinner, or you just need a moment of peace.
Start by luring your dog onto their bed or a specific mat. Reward them heavily once all four paws are on it. Gradually build up the duration they stay there, starting with just a few seconds. Eventually, 'Place' becomes their default station for relaxation, giving them a clear job to do when they might otherwise be underfoot and overexcited.
11. Provide Appropriate Chewing Outlets
While their adult teeth are in, the instinct to chew is still incredibly strong in adolescent dogs. It’s a natural stress-reliever and a way for them to explore the world. If you don't provide them with a "yes" for their chewing needs, they will find their own "no's"—like your new running shoes or the leg of your dining table.
Offer a wide variety of safe and durable chew toys. Think rubber Kongs, nylon bones, and natural options like bully sticks or beef tendons (always supervise with natural chews). Rotating the chews every few days keeps them interesting and prevents boredom. Make the appropriate chew toys far more exciting than your forbidden items.
12. Socialize Smartly, Not Recklessly
The critical socialization window of puppyhood may be closed, but socializing your adolescent dog is still important—it just looks different. This is often when fear periods can resurface, or they may become more selective about their doggy friends. Flooding them with overwhelming experiences like a chaotic dog park can do more harm than good.
Focus on quality over quantity. Arrange one-on-one playdates with well-behaved, tolerant adult dogs you know. Practice "parallel walking" with other dogs, where you walk on the same path but with enough distance that they can observe and exist calmly without forced interaction. The goal is to build neutrality and confidence, not to make them play with every dog they see.
13. Vary Your Reinforcement Schedule
When you first teach a new skill, you reward every single successful attempt. But to make a behavior strong and reliable, especially with a teenager who gets bored easily, you need to move to a variable schedule of reinforcement. Think of it like a slot machine—you don't win every time, but the possibility of a big jackpot keeps you playing.
Once your dog reliably knows a cue like "Sit," start randomizing the reward. Sometimes they get a piece of kibble, sometimes just verbal praise, and sometimes they get a super high-value jackpot of chicken. This unpredictability keeps them engaged and eager to work, as they never know when the next big payout is coming.
14. Keep Training Sessions Short and Dynamic
The attention span of an adolescent dog can be fleeting. Long, grueling 30-minute training sessions are a recipe for frustration for both of you. You'll get much better results by incorporating multiple short, snappy training sessions throughout the day.
Practice "stay" during the commercial break of your favorite show. Work on "touch" for two minutes while you wait for your coffee to brew. Do a quick round of impulse control games before you head out the door for a walk. These "micro-sessions" keep your dog's brain engaged, prevent burnout, and show them that training is a fun and integrated part of their daily life. As Goh Ling Yong often advises, weaving training into your everyday routine makes it a sustainable habit.
15. Remember to Breathe and Have Fun
This is perhaps the most important technique of all. It's easy to get caught up in the frustration of a chewed-up remote or a recall that goes unheard. But your dog is incredibly attuned to your emotional state. If you're stressed and angry, training will become a chore for them, too.
Remember to celebrate the small victories. Did they choose to grab a toy instead of your sock? Awesome! Did they offer a sit without being asked? Fantastic! End every training session on a positive note with a cue they know well. Most importantly, don't forget to just enjoy your dog. Go for a hike, play a game of tug, or just cuddle on the couch. This phase is temporary, but the bond you're building is for life.
Navigating the choppy waters of canine adolescence is a true test of patience, but it's also an incredible opportunity. By staying consistent, managing their environment, keeping their brains busy, and leading with a positive and supportive attitude, you are shaping the amazing adult dog they are destined to become. You've got this.
What are your go-to techniques for surviving the doggy teens? Share your stories and survival tips in the comments below! We'd love to hear what's working for you and your rebellious-but-lovable pup.
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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