Terrible Teens Phase

[Chrystie22]

Just a quick question: when does the so-called 'terrible teens phase' start in a GSD and how long does it last?

Diva is now 14 months old and still very much puppy-ish in her behaviour; she's always been a challenge but now more than ever, she wont listen (well pretend she is deaf more like..) to anything we ask of her, altho we dont give up until she does so she has no choice but to relent eventually!!

We had finally managed to 'settle her' a bit a few months ago but then we had visitors, then she was spayed, all this disrupted her routine and now she has started mouthing again, jumping up and generally being a brat. We are firm and consistent so she doesnt get away with it but it is really frustrating!

[wildmoor]

not sure what you mean by teenage phase you do get a rise in testosterone in both male and female dogs between 8-14 months but this then starts to reduce to adult levels

[Caryll]

The terrible teens can last anything up to 2 years old! But she will respond again eventually, I'm sure!

The only word of caution I would give, though, is that early spaying can lengthen the time to almost indefinitely. Pneuma (my boss's daughter's dog, who I looked after for a few months) was spayed at nearly 6 months, and she has never grown out of the teenagerish behaviour and she's getting on for 3 years old, now! The only plus with her is that she isn't disobedient, just very puppyish all the time. It can be quite wearing!

[Chrystie22]

Pam - by teenage phase, I mean the stage between puppyhood and adulthood, ie when they are grwon up a bit but not fully, if that makes sense?!

Caryll - dont know what you mean by 'early spaying'..Diva had 2 seasons before being spayed and she was 13 months when she had the op so it doesnt qualify as early surely?!

[wildmoor]

Christie there are a couple of stages they go through from puppyhood to adults, at her age 14 month bonding with you and your o/h should be firmly established her attention span should be longer and the cockiness that is caused by a surge in hormones should be starting to diminish, do a small 15 min training session on a long line daily - use of long line stops her ignoring your commands such as recall as you can real her in

re puppy behaviour in adult dogs is not always caused by neutoring sometimes it is just the character of the dog - I have a 6 1/2 year old that sometimes reverts back to puppy behaviour he wasnt neutored untill over 3 yrs by then mentaly, physicaly and socialy he was an adult

[Tedsmum]

Hi Chrystie
I think it really varies from dog to dog.
Some start early and go on til 2 years or more, it just depends on the individual.
Ted is now approaching 2 years old and has had his moments but never really been too bad.
I think he was most trying when he was about 14 months, but seems to be maturing nicely now.
It is like everything else, a gradual changes and you find youself say "oh that hasn't happened for ages - thank goodness".
Keep up the good training and you will soon see her turn into a mature young lady. x

[Chrystie22]

Originally Posted by wildmoor

Christie there are a couple of stages they go through from puppyhood to adults, at her age 14 month bonding with you and your o/h should be firmly established her attention span should be longer and the cockiness that is caused by a surge in hormones should be starting to diminish, do a small 15 min training session on a long line daily - use of long line stops her ignoring your commands such as recall as you can real her in

Thanks for the insight (sorry didnt explain myself clearly earlier). We do specific training sessions everyday, well actually she's in constant training as she doesnt get anything without doing something for us; she generally responds well, albeit sometimes being a bit reluctant - guess it's the cockiness you mentionned - but as I said earlier, we dont give up. I had GSDs when I was a child but dont remember them being as challenging as Diva has been so far...but Im talking 30 years ago so guess GSDs have changed since.

[wildmoor]

Originally Posted by Chrystie22

Thanks for the insight (sorry didnt explain myself clearly earlier). We do specific training sessions everyday, well actually she's in constant training as she doesnt get anything without doing something for us; she generally responds well, albeit sometimes being a bit reluctant - guess it's the cockiness you mentionned - but as I said earlier, we dont give up. I had GSDs when I was a child but dont remember them being as challenging as Diva has been so far...but Im talking 30 years ago so guess GSDs have changed since.

lol they were English lines you now have German lines

[Chrystie22]

Originally Posted by wildmoor

lol they were English lines you now have German lines

Well, Im French Pam so not sure our GSDs were English lines, always thought they were German, but correct me if Im wrong! Or is there such a thing as French line GSDs??

[wildmoor]

Were you in France then at that time, some French lines are WG, but others are not they had the breed and breed clubs aslong as Germany have
similiar to the Old German Lines that are not SV reg although the difference is with the Old German lines they are extremely sharp, you will find in all countries there are more than 2 types