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Adolescence is a time of big changes — your dog is still growing, but their behaviour, sociability, and responsiveness can shift in unexpected ways.

It is a challenging stage for many dogs and their people, but you don’t have to face it alone!

Why is Canine Adolescence Often so Challenging?

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Adolescence is a normal — but often bumpy — stage of development.

Between 6 and 24 months, dogs go through significant physical, hormonal, and neurological changes that can affect how they behave and respond to the world around them.

Their brains are still developing, especially the parts responsible for impulse control, emotional regulation, and decision-making. As your young dog learns to become more independent, they may begin to test boundaries or react differently to familiar people, dogs, and environments.

Many adolescent dogs struggle with handling stress or conflict, and behaviours like pulling on lead, barking, ignoring cues, or reacting to other dogs can emerge or intensify during this stage.

This can feel like a step backwards — but it’s a normal part of growing up. With the right support, you and your dog can navigate adolescence with more confidence, clarity, and connection.

Help for Canine Teenagers

Welfare-friendly guidance tailored to your growing dog.

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We help you give your adolescent dog the right mix of positive experiences, clear communication, and practical training to stay safe and happy during this often-tricky stage.

Social Skills
As your dog transitions from puppyhood into adolescence, their sociability with people and other dogs may shift. We can guide you in adapting play and social routines to keep interactions positive, age-appropriate, and safe.

Training
It is normal for adolescent dogs to become less responsive, assert independence, and try out new behaviours. We will support you with training and management strategies that build engagement, trust, and cooperative behaviour — all while keeping things fun and motivating.

Conflict Resolution
As your dog grows, so might the size of their reactions! Barking, mouthing, lunging, growling, or snapping can emerge as canine teenagers explore how to navigate challenges. We help you understand what’s part of typical development — and what may need a little extra support or early intervention.

Struggling with more complex behaviour?

If your dog is showing signs of reactivity, separation distress, anxiety, or resource guarding, our Behaviour Support page may be a better fit. 

What our clients say about us:

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"We did the Teenage course with Lucie and have seen such a great improvement in our 2 year old lurcher. Lucie is so attentive to the dogs and adapts her teaching to suit them. Would 100% recommend to anyone!"

Sarah - Nomee's human

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"Lucie is brilliant! We had the canine adolescence pack for our 11month husky x shepherd and have already seen lots of changes in his behaviour. She knows a lot and is a delight to deal with!"

Ticiana - Logan's human

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083 326 0162

or email us at:

info@luciespooches.ie

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