Physical and Mental DevelopmentFor many breeds, now is when your puppy will do most of his physical growing. By the time he is 9 months old, he may have reached between 80 and 100 percent of his full adult size and weight. All his adult teeth will be in place. During this period of physical development, your dog will mature sexually. By around 5 months of age, a male puppy can produce sperm; by about 6 months, a female is capable of producing her first litter. Talk with your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your puppy as soon as poosible. Spaying or neutering your pet will eliminate the risk of an unplanned pregnancy, reduce roaming tendencies, and lessen certain aggressive behaviors, as well as help prevent the development of many common reproductive cancers. It is highly recommended that you spay your female dog before her first heat to obtain all of the health benefits. Mentally, your puppy is still very much in his youth. Remember, your dog is naturally a pack animal, and now he is beginning to try to figure out how to communicate with other dogs. If you have been working with him on leash, he might be ready for short, controlled walks where he will meet other dogs. Be sure your young dog will walk calmly on a loose leash (not pulling) before introducing him to new dogs. You need to be able to control the meeting, and your dog needs to feel comfortable on his leash for these encounters to go well.
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Testing Your Limits7 month Old Puppy Behaviors
Below are a few characteristics that will drive you crazy through adolescence. Recognize these puppy behaviors in your 7-month puppy, and understand that with a little extra attention and patience this phase will pass. Luckily adolescence in your pup doesn’t last quite as long as in human teenagers! Remember, your sweet loving puppy will return shortly, once he finishes destroying your home and pissing off the neighbors.
Your 7-month pup will suddenly become more interested in what’s going on around him and less interested in you. Don’t be jealous. See this as a challenge to make yourself more exciting to your puppy. Try playing more games and provide generous rewards for good puppy behavior. Switch up the rewards to keep your pup guessing. Treats, bones, toys, belly rubs, and “life rewards” such as park time, are all great to offer up.
Puppy brain farts are normal at this age. Simple skills your puppy could perform in his sleep are now a mystery to him. It is normal for puppy parents to take a step back in training, even with those pups that were star pupils at puppy school. Be patient with your pup, he has a lot going on upstairs, and simple puppy training review sessions can make all the dfference.
The most maddening aspect of adolescence is the destruction that often comes along with it. You thought you survived the worst of it, but during adolescence the puppy chewing returns! This can include gnawing on everything (furniture, shoes, trees, etc.), digging giant potholes, jumping up on visitors, barking, and the list goes on. The best advice we can give you at this point is to practice your breathing exercises :). Keep your pup focused on training, and always reward handsomely when your puppyy displays actions you want to encourage.
Try Some Advanced Training On Your 7 Month Pup
Your 7 month puppy may take a few steps back in training during puppy adolescence, but don’t let this discourage your efforts! Learning ebbs and flows for all developing babies and continuing the education is a key to staying on track. We recommend you enroll your pup in an advanced training, tricks or agility class.
Advanced training sessions keep your pupyp mentally stimulated, focused on behaviors you want (rather than those you don’t), and will further strengthen your bond. Remember to always use your positive reinforcement techniques.
If your pup shows concern or fear, take a step back, reassess, and plan on more gradual exposure in the future. We will discuss socialization more next month, but remember to get out there as early as possible to experience the world!
A Quick Note: If your puppy is losing focus during training sessions, try to shorten the length of each session. Ideally, sessions should be no more than 3-5 minutes in length and spread out throughout the day.
The Unpopular Truth About Your Puppy’s “Teenage Phase”
Many dog owners think the worst of the puppy years is well behind them when their pooch surpasses six months of age. However, the first 12 months of a puppy’s life is chock full of new experiences for which a pup needs the support and guidance of his devoted owner. During the 7th month of life, puppies continue to go through development periods socially, emotionally, and physically, and it is during this time that behavior continues to be shaped by socialization and the pup’s environment. Though by age seven months, your puppy will be comfortable in your home and a happy member of your family, there are still some growing pains for the two of you to weather together.