When considering the possibility that the self is behind the wheel of your dog’s behavior, think about the big six. Examine the following: Age (development and condition related to age), Sex (M/F and Fixed/Intact), Health (disease, infection, virus, parasite), Nutrition (quality, quantity, and tolerance/allergy), Disability (deafness, blindness, amputation, etc.), and Individual (the wild-card factor).

Age

FEAR PERIODS. There are two primary developmental fear periods in puppies that can make your canine kid act like he’s suddenly seeing ghosts, now afraid of things in his environment that rolled off him days before. While they vary a bit from individual to individual, the first fear period is generally from eight to eleven weeks of age, and the second from six to fourteen months. These phases can seem to be minimal and last just a few short days, or they can feel like they drag on for months. Try to be confidently assuring yet sensitive to not push your puppy into overwhelming or stressful experiences during this time.

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