While puppyhood is often viewed as the hardest part of dog training, teenage pups can be equally as demanding, requiring a different approach to training as they get used to their new thoughts and feelings. Much like humans, this time can be tough and result in some frustrating behaviours that might leave owners feeling like their training progress is going backward.

As the 1 million furry friends that joined families in lockdown are now going through the “doggo-lescence”, the UK’s number one puppy training app, Zigzag, has surveyed 1,500 UK dog owners to understand their knowledge of teenage behaviours in dogs – revealing that 1 in 3 Londoners would consider giving up their dog for displaying what is actually normal teenage behaviour.

Lorna Winter, co-founder and head of training at Zigzag has revealed the top 4 signs that your cute and cuddly pandemic pup is going through the doggo-lescence.

Peeing on the floor… I thought we were past this

When asked to identify problematic behaviours in teenage dogs (ranging from eight – 24 months), almost half of Londoners (45%) said peeing on the floor.

When pups are very young, they have small bladders, over which they have limited control, which can lead to spontaneous bathroom breaks wherever they might be. Now, toilet training is a skill that will improve over time, so patience is a virtue with this one.

However, it’s not uncommon for the occasional toilet mishaps to make a comeback as your pup goes through puberty. This is likely because teenage dogs can become more anxious during this stage of life, which can unfortunately manifest in peeing on the floor!

Zoomies – so much energy!

Over one in three (38%) of dog owners in the city also identified increased energy levels as a problematic and challenging behaviour amongst teenage dogs.

All breeds are different when it comes to energy levels, and the time at which they start to settle into a more relaxed life as an adult dog, but in general by one year pups start to get the “zoomies” less.

However, this doesn’t mean pups will no longer have an abundance of energy and occasionally seem hyperactive. They still need plenty of physical and mental activity to avoid them getting into mischief – especially during their teenage phase.

Nice walks or additional mental activities are a good way to deal with teenage zoomies – they just have an excess of energy to burn, so another walk or enrichment can help them get rid of some of it.

Dazed doggy, who are you?

All dogs stare into space at one point or another and you’ve probably thought to yourself, what are they looking at? Dogs have different vision to us and are highly receptive to scent – so when they stare into nothing, it might be that they are trying to pay attention to a certain smell, which can look like they’re staring.

Teenage pups can become more aloof during adolescence, with almost 1 in ten dog owners in London finding that their pup stops coming back when called or loses interest in their owner. Although this is irritating, it’s not your pup being troublesome or naughty, they have a lot going on in their brains during this stage of life and are prone to becoming more daring and exploratory, wanting to sneak off on their own adventures – we’ve all been there!

Mass destruction

If your pup is suddenly engaging in destructive behaviour every time you leave the house – chewing up sofas, shoes, doors, basically anything they can get their paws on… it’s likely they are anxious, bored, or just being a teenager!

It’s worth watching your dog on camera when you leave them alone, do they seem stressed when they are being destructive, or do you see other signs of anxiety? In this case, you’ll want to look into a separation anxiety protocol so that they don’t feel so upset when you leave.

However, in lots of cases, your pup is just being a typical teenager!, with 35% of London’s dog owners identifying this as a problem in their teenage pup. If you have a teenage pup and they’re having a bit of a party when you’re gone, then this is probably a sign you need to up their daily mental and physical stimulation – as mentioned, teenage dogs have a lot of energy and they need an outlet!

Ultimately, the doggo-lescence phase is a temporary and manageable challenge – with the right approach, love, and commitment, both dogs and their owners can successfully navigate this transition. Embrace the journey and try not to label your pup as ‘naughty’ or ‘problematic’ for displaying what are actually very typical behaviours for their age.