ADOLESCENCE. Teenage dogs can be as unbelievably difficult and frustrating to live with as human teens. During this developmental period (roughly six to eighteen months), your sweet little puppy is gradually becoming a young adult. The hormones hit, blinding all logic. Exciting new urges to roam and sniff and pee on things arise. Decision making, judgment, and impulse control go out the window, while risk taking and impulsivity skyrocket. People may feel their dog has forgotten everything they’d ever taught them during this time, and even wonder if their little beast has gone quite mad (in fact, this is the age when most dogs are surrendered to animal shelters). Be patient, be consistent, and know that it is all just a normal part of development that your dog needs you to ride out with confidence.

Sex

PHEROMONES. Intact males and females can present a catalyst for social tensions, conflict, and altercations between dogs—even when the intact animal has nothing to do with it. When a dog’s brain is dominated by the olfactory cortex (smell)—either the “scent of a woman” or the alluring stud factor of intact animals—it can pique more than the interest of other dogs. Reproduction is one of nature’s most fundamental resources, and these signals can set off a host of challenges both inside a home and in neutral environments. Be aware of the possibility that the introduction of a sexually intact animal can strike a match in any given social scene between otherwise harmonious companions.

Health

PAIN. Dogs hide pain way better than we do. Many owners are surprised to discover, after a visit to their veterinarian or an experienced behavior specialist, that their dog has been in pain for some time. An abscessed tooth, a bad hip, an ear infection, or even a disease such as cancer could be taking a serious toll on your buddy, and you wouldn’t even know it. Changes in behavior are sometimes the only cue that our dog is in trouble; that’s why it is so important to consider that health issues could be a possible explanation for strange behavior.

AGGRESSION AND ILLNESS. A healthy dog can, on rare occasions, behave aggressively toward an unhealthy dog in the home—even if the animals have been close companions for years. The symptoms, smells, and behaviors associated with disease in the unhealthy dog may act as instinctive signals to the other dog, triggering an attack on the weaker animal. Though this does not occur often, it is important not to blame the aggressor unfairly or to make assumptions about the dog’s intentions and temperament if such an event should occur.

Nutrition