Every dog owner out there has long suspected that dogs and humans both share puberty. It hasn’t been until recently that scientists have discovered that dogs not only go through puberty, but they also share some of the same traits as humans do when they go through it. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that dogs go through puberty since all mammals do. The surprising thing is that dogs react very similarly to humans going through the chemical reaction we all think of as puberty.
Puberty is more than an imaginary change
Everyone goes through puberty, but it’s difficult to remember exactly what it’s like. There’s so much more going on than what’s physically seen. Puberty changes every aspect of a person in every way possible. Someone going through puberty goes from being a child to an adult in a relatively short time. People think that humans are the only ones that go through such a drastic change, but science has proven otherwise. Your furry friend goes through puberty, and it’s just as difficult for them as it is you.
What do dogs experience when going through puberty?
Well, the one thing that dogs don’t experience is pimples. No, you won’t have to worry about your dog’s face being covered with zits. However, you will notice that your dog becomes moody, and they won’t want to listen. Does that sound familiar? It should because everyone who has ever been through puberty knows all about the period when you don’t want to listen to your parents. Your dog goes through the same thing, and it’s what drives him to do the things that he does. If you think he’s rebelling against you, then you’re right. That’s exactly what he’s doing, and it’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.
How should you react when your dog is going through puberty?
How would you react if your teenager was going through puberty? The one thing that you don’t want to overreact. Stay calm and understand that puberty is real, even for dogs. Yes, your dog is moody, and sometimes that makes things very difficult. Nothing is going to get better if you overreact. You can’t expect your dog to behave if you aren’t. So, with that in mind, you need to stay calm and don’t get bent out of shape. Take things one step at a time and see where they lead you. It’s a huge mistake to think that you’re going to be able to somehow change your dog’s behavior. Get through this and allow them to experience the changes that their bodies are going through.
There’s nothing you can do to stop it
Once you realize that there’s nothing at all you can do to stop any of this, that’s when you begin to accept it. Puberty doesn’t last forever, and soon you’ll have your dog back. It’s only a matter of working through this short period in a dog’s life. After the two of you get over the hurdles of puberty, then your relationship will be back to normal. Until all that happens, try to keep your sanity while your dog is freaking out. Just remember, you gave people a hard time when you were going through puberty, and now you’re getting a taste of your own medicine.