Dog puberty usually occurs when your pup is between 7 months and 2 years old and as with humans, it can bring a whole load of behavioural and physical changes. Find out everything you need to know about the signs of puberty in puppies and what you can expect in this handy guide.
There is one thing that all puppy owners can rely on – and that is that their lovely cute, biddable puppy will one day grow up to be a canine adolescent, which brings with it both behavioural and physical changes.
Dog puberty is the period between sexual maturity and social maturity and can happen between around seven months to almost two years, depending on the breed (larger breeds take longer to develop). Another way of looking at it is as a time when their hormones are running ahead of their brains – pretty much like with human teenagers!
During this stage of dog puberty, one of the first things you may notice is that your puppy’s behaviour starts to change. Things that you have taught them may seem to be inadvertently forgotten and they appear to ‘forget’ the simplest things, whether this is toilet training, recall or walking nicely on the lead. There may be changes in their interactions with you as they become clingier or, at other times, the puppy who used to hang on your every word seems not to notice you even exist!
This is a time when your puppy is starting to look at the world through the eyes of an independent adult and reassessing their behaviour strategies. You may see your puppy behaving fearfully or reacting to things they have apparently taken in their stride in the past.
Other dogs start to treat them differently, as they no longer have the ‘puppy privileges’ they used to enjoy. They have to rethink their social skills at a time when their hormones are raging as according to Pet Medical Center, an adolescent male dog has much higher testosterone levels than adult male dogs! This can lead to competitiveness and even aggression.
Their usual behaviours and personality can also seem exaggerated during dog puberty, for example puppies who may have been a little reserved can now become very shy, while the bold ones can become overly confident.
You may decide not to get your dog neutered, or have decided to neuter after they’ve entered their adolescent period, in which case it is important to understand the physical changes occurring in both male and female dogs.
A female dog’s first heat will usually start at between six to 15 months of age, then once they’re mature, will occur approximately every seven months. A useful indicator to estimate when your dog’s first heat will be is to ask the breeder how old your bitch’s mother was when she first came into season.
The entire season usually lasts 3-4 weeks from beginning to end. The first physical signs you tend to see are a degree of swelling or redness of the vulva, a small amount of clear discharge and some increased licking of the area. You may notice your bitch needs to urinate more, or urinates more often when out. Other dogs might also begin to take an increased amount of interest in her, although she will not allow mating at this point and may even be quite aggressive if approached in this way by a male dog. This period can last 4-14 days (and on average about 9 days), and is called ‘pro-oestrus’.
In sorts, yes, dog’s do have periods. After the pro-oestrus stage, the female will enter the oestrus stage – which lasts around 9 days. During this time, you may notice more vulval swelling, enlargement of the mammary glands and bloody discharge, which can vary from just a few spots to a constant trail.
During the oestrus stage, she will be highly fertile and ready (sometimes extremely keen!) to breed. Males will also show even more interest in her than they would previously have done. It is worth being cautious both during this phase and for a few days after all signs of the season have passed, as otherwise, if your female is mated, she can still become pregnant – even if it’s only your dog’s first heat.
Walking earlier/later when the park is emptier is important during this period, as well as keeping her on a lead at all times, as she will be attractive to other male dogs.
No feeding changes will be needed though, due to the hormonal changes, you may notice a mild change in appetite in your dog, but this is not something to be overly concerned about. Be aware that there may be some discharge from the vulva and blood so you might want to avoid taking her into certain areas (such as carpeted floors!) or it may mean that it’s not appropriate for her to do activities such as going into work with you if you have a Pets At Work policy.
As the physical signs of oestrus subside, you may notice that your dog starts to become clingy or restless due to the hormonal changes.
False pregnancy in dogs is quite common, also known as a ‘pseudopregnancy’, or a ‘phantom pregnancy’, it’s a condition where her body feels like it is pregnant, even though she is not. If this occurs, it tends to happen about 10-12 weeks after the end of her season. She may display the following symptoms:
Luckily, false pregnancy in dogs does pass (normally between 1-2 weeks), and usually no treatment is needed, although if she shows severe aggression or very obsessive nesting behaviour your vet may advise some medical management. You can help by removing the objects she is attempting to ‘nurse’ or nest with, and thereby stop the association she is having with mothering-style behaviour, and ensure you keep her busy and occupied with exercise and activities. It is worth being aware that often once false pregnancy in dogs starts, she will continue to have them each heat.
Males do not have a season like bitches, and once sexually mature they can breed all the time, although are at their most fertile between around 12-18 months old.
Usually, the testicles in a male puppy will descend into the scrotum very shortly after birth but sometimes they may take over one month and, very rarely, up to 1 year (although usually they have descended by 3 months of age when you take your puppy for his second vaccine). Once the testicles descend and his testosterone levels begin to rise, the puppy will start to lift their leg to urinate. The increased hormones can sometimes lead to behavioural changes including aggression, but these are very variable and differ between individual dogs.
Now you know everything you need to know about dog puberty! Looking for more puppy advice? Read our puppy adolescence article.
Brace yourself for dealing with the many moods of adolescence. If your teenager frequently becomes submissive, don’t scold her. Kneel down on her level and praise her when she responds positively. If he becomes aggressive, frightened, or anxious, don’t rush to calm or comfort him, because that reinforces the behavior, by giving him the attention he wants.
Like people, dogs react differently to puberty. Some have an easier time of it than others, but a “teenage dog” of any breed can display unpredictable, even uncharacteristic behavior – which can last an entire year. Behavior seems to depend more on the individual dog than on the breed.
The urge to chew also drives your teen-puppy‘s actions, and often is the first evidence that your dog is getting his secondary teeth and is coming of age. If you’ve let your strict crating rules lapse, you may well arrive home one day to find some significant damage done to a sofa, wooden bedpost, plastic toy chest, or other similarly chewable object. As teeth first erupt, and even after they’re beyond the gum line, they need a good workout to ensure strong and accurate placement. All that gnawing helps align a dog’s teeth in his jawbone. So, replenish your supply of rawhide and chew toys and hang on for the ride!
Even when it seems hopeless and your dog seems to have forgotten all he has learned, don’t give up on training your dog. In fact, obedience classes are just what your dog needs. He’ll be around other dogs and learn to relate to them. He’ll develop confidence and self-control that will serve him throughout his life. And, at a stage of life that can be confusing and difficult, he’ll get a chance to spend lots of time interacting with his favorite companion – you.
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How to know when your dog is hitting puberty
When hormones first start to fluctuate, your pup will get a big boost of testosterone — even more than most adult dogs have in their bodies (via Purina). At times, testosterone can even lead to fights between otherwise friendly dogs or other kinds of territorial behavior. “Marking” territory with a small amount of urination is not uncommon.
Hormonal changes may also manifest as one of pethood’s most embarrassing behaviors: mounting. As mortifying as it may be, your male “teenager” may feel the urge to mount people, objects, or other dogs. Luckily, you can help curb this unwanted behavior.
Because a male puppy’s testicles reach physical maturity shortly after birth, the rise in testosterone marks the true beginning of puberty. Although a male dog can breed at any time once mature, they are at their most fertile from 12 to 18 months of age, on average.
With female dogs, puberty is a bit more complicated. Not only do you have the hormonal and behavioral aspects to worry about, but you’ll experience your pup’s first heat cycle, too. This will start between 6 and 15 months of age, according to Purina, and repeat about every seven months afterward.
These are a few telltale signs that your pup is in season, courtesy of Guide Dog Foundation (another way of saying she’s “in heat”):
You’re also likely to notice social and behavioral changes such as increased anxiety, playfulness, or possessiveness. No two dogs will react the same way to these hormonal changes, just like people.
With some pups, according to Menteith, their personality becomes amplified during puberty. Your playful puppy might grow into a furniture destroyer when their hormones are raging, while your timid dog may become suddenly more fearful. Other dogs, however, might undergo a more drastic behavioral shift as they experience life in a changing body and environment.
Interactions with other animals may be tenser, even with dogs your furry friend previously got along with. It’s nothing personal; your pup just needs to reevaluate their social environment as they “lose their puppy privilege,” according to Purina, and learn new ways to interact. Even human-dog relationships may experience some rocky moments as your buddy finds the balance between the neediness of a pup and the independence of an adult. They’ll figure it out!