My guy is 2 years old now - is he still a teenager?

[Patricia Dianne]

Happy New Years everyone and everydog:
Over the last 2 years I have seen mentioned on this forum a time during the life of a puppy when they enter the "teenage" years. I was just wondering what time frame would be considered to be these teenage years?

Ruckus turned 2 years old on December 23rd and he seems to have matured overnight as far as his training goes - everything really seems to be coming together - his little lightbulb is starting to shine brightly. However, I do notice that he is starting to test myself and my son a little more in different areas (nothing that can't be handled: things like trying to decide which direction a walk will take; not sitting down when asked the first time (we just wait him out); he has hip-checked me, on purpose, when I decided not to take his leash off to let him run loose when I realized he was still too close to the road (sort of like a mini-Rottie temper tantrum) etc.). We are not concerned with the testing stuff as we know that it is a continuous game he/we will play but my question is "does this testing period coincide with his age"?

Thank you.

Patti, Ty and Ruckus

[groupieindenial]

In my experience, YUP! They are not mentally mature till about 3-4 years of age. My boy is almost 3, and he has gotten SOOO much better in the past year. I notice this mostly with "self-control". Walking, he WANTS to chase the squirrel, or the rabbit, but he knows he can't. He used to not think, pure instinct and drag me in the bushes!! (That was just this past summer, so he was 2.5yrs then!!)

Of what your describing, and the body checks, I don't think is as much as testing you, as just being silly. My boy does this mainly when we are at our club training, he is just geared up - and kinda showin off. We do these random sits and downs, and if he's not fast enough, no treat. He gets a little pushy, and flies through the air and body checks me, just about knocked the wind outta me when we had a crowd of like 20 ppl watching. He doesn't do this when we are training by ourselves! Some pple think I need to get him more serious, but I'm not into giving him a correction to curb his enthusiasm - not at under 3 yrs of age - he's still maturing.

[Patricia Dianne]

I totally agree with your comment about his "self-control" at this point in his training/life - the term self-control was the phrase I've been looking for to describe the maturing in his personality . . . although I too have found myself pulling the occasional twig or bramble out of my hair, brushing myself off and quickly looking around to see if anyone saw what happened after unexpected trips into the bushes as well in the past (ahhh memories) . . .
Okay, so I won't start stressing about this "testing" thing, I made it through the teenage years with my son so I've had lots of experience (sigh) ... thank you for your answer to my question.

Patti