Do Dogs Experience Puberty Like We Do?

Dogs do indeed go through emotional changes and gain independence during puberty -- it just happens within the first couple years of their life. Learn how you can help your 'teen' pup grow up in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to brain Stuff production of I Heart Radio. Hey
brain Stuff. Lauren vog obam here with that age is
old question, Do dogs go through puberty? Okay, well, if
it's not ages old, it's at least an interestingly odd question,
and an important one for dog owners. You might assume
the answer is no, because you probably don't ever remember

(00:22):
your lab or doodle barking I hate you. You've ruined
my life. You never let me go to the dog park,
and then stumping off, slamming the doggie door behind him,
Although that's unlikely to happen for several reasons. The answer
to weather dogs and other animals go through puberty is yes. Dogs,
for instance, go through hormonal changes that are similar to humans. However,
because they have significantly shorter lifespans, the moody and difficult

(00:45):
period of adolescence happens when they are puppies. A typical
puppy goes through puberty sometime between four and twenty months,
the equivalent of a humans first eighteen years. Small breeds
developed faster than large breeds, and like humans, female dogs
typically share faster than males. They won't have acne or
school dances to contend with, but like human adolescence, dogs

(01:07):
in puberty may exhibit some less than desirable behaviors. Males
tend to mark and mount, as well as rome, which
is the dog equivalent of sneaking out of the house
to cruise for girls with a car full of friends.
Female dogs reach sexual maturity once they go into heat.
They'll show physical signs as it approaches, such as excessive
shedding and looking of genitals. Male dogs are drawn to

(01:27):
the female scent when they are in heat, so girl
pups should be kept indoors and have a secure physical
barrier around them when outdoors. A female dog can become
pregnant during her first heat, just like they tell you
in high school, and due to an increased chance of
health and behavioral problems, devetinarians device against spain or breeding
a dog before that. In addition to sex specific behavior,

(01:48):
pubescent boy and girl dogs share a variety of new
personality traits and behaviors, which can include anxiety insecurity, irritability, jumpiness,
and increased independence, including a reluctance to come when alled.
They may also begin to act territorial and protective, or
even become picky about playmates and fight with other dogs.
Dog adolescence is also accompanied by an abundance of energy.

(02:10):
Perhaps unlike humans, I remember being distinctly difficult about getting
out of bed in the morning. In dogs, that energy
can often lead to chewing the wrong things, pulling on leashes,
and digging, though you can mitigate all of that by
providing positive outlets such as playing, running, and going on
frequent walks and outings. In addition to needing healthy avenues
for extra energy. During this period, experts say it's important

(02:33):
that pets are mentally stimulated by playing, exploring new places,
and learning new tricks. Dogs should be routinely socialized because
along with puberty can come a sudden fear of people
or things that haven't been issues in the past. This
is a critical time when early adolescent puppies develop emotionally,
gain confidence, and decide who they trust. Sadly, the majority
of shelter dogs arrived during adolescence because people don't realize

(02:55):
their pets sudden bad behavior is a developmental phase that
will end if you decide to include a four leg
an addition to your family. You know the road ahead
isn't paved entirely with rainbow shaped squeaky toys, but when
Muffin begins to act ornery around six months. Be thankful
that she isn't too embarrassed to be seen walking with you.

(03:17):
Today's episode was written by Meg's Bar with and produced
by Tyler Clang. Brain Stuff is a production of iHeart
Radio's How Stuff Works. For more in this and lots
of other dog on topics, visit our home planet, how
stuff Works dot com. And for more podcasts from my
heart Radio, visit i heeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or
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