Is he just a teenager?!

[CountessFrog]

My cockerpoo has just hit 19 months old, and for the past couple of months he’s been really hard work.

Seems to have become very stubborn and much more disobedient. He’s trying my patience much more than my human teenagers.

I thought he’d be past that by now? Is this his adolescence?!

I hope not @CountessFrog! Our cockapoo is now nearly 19 months old!
I have noticed a couple of things lately, nothing too bad though. Like ignoring me if I ask him to sit while I put his lead on. He walks past me to the door to have a sniff out of the cat flap! I plan to sit on the sofa and ignore him for a few minutes if he does that today. He also ran across a field to say hello to a dog a few days ago. He hasn’t done that for about 4 months. I really do not want to have to bring out the long line again. 😐
What has your bundle of mischief been up to?!

Well...digging in the flowerbeds, ignoring recall, chasing after dogs when off lead (he’s been neutered), whining before we get up in the morning, alternating between ignoring us and being clingy in the house.

Does any of that sound familiar?!

Only one incident of selective deafness that I mentioned above. I am worried it is the start of another phase though.
He has started to take himself off to his bed when he sees the grooming kit being brought out of the cupboard. Small signs of defiance.
I hope he doesn’t start whining in the morning! I can cope with most things, but not if I am sleep deprived!
I’m sure they’re classed as a puppy until the age of two. Hopefully the worst of it will be over by then...

I do hope so. Not helped by the fact that DH is a very busy hospital doctor - much, much busier than when we got the dog. I seem to be doing all the looking after, and he is trying my patience (the dog, DH not far behind!).

My sprocker is five and a half months and has just started being a bit of a stubborn arse, ignoring commands he knew before etc. My trainer said 5-6 months is normally the start of puppy adolescence. Maybe hes a late bloomer

Perhaps the dog has picked up on these changes and that’s why he is acting up, @CountessFrog. I know dogs are very good at picking up on human emotion. My husband has had to go into work today. Dog is a bit out of sorts. Even more clingy with me. Roll on summer. At least then we don’t have to contend with muddy, wet fur!😄
@Sprockerdilerock, good luck with your bundle of furry mischief! It soon passes...or does it?!!😂

19 months does sound a bit late for the start of adolescence. The worst months for us were 6-11 months.

You say life in general is a bit stressful - could that be affecting the dog? Have his routines had to change? Is he getting the right amount of attention and exercise for his breed?

Thanks for your replies.

He gets brilliant exercise four days a week, goes out for hours off lead with our dog Walker in a group of dogs, comes back exhausted (and a bit wound up if I’m honest), but he’s much more placid on those days.

On other days he’s been getting shorter walks because DH isn’t here as usual, or I’m working and the hours of daylight are short.

He still gets out for an hour on those days, sometimes more, but im also finding it harder and harder to let him run off lead (he’s running up to other dogs, possibly because the dog Walker has socialised him to expect to play in groups?).

Come to think of it, the Walker might be the issue?. She initially just took him and one other dog, asked my permission to do that, which I was happy with. Then about six months ago she started meeting up with two other dogs walkers, which has not only changed the time of his walk (9am) but also hugely increased the number of dogs he’s walking with (which he loves).

It’s almost as though he’s gone a bit wild since he’s been hanging out with a group of dogs. Which I realise it what dogs want to do!

Could he be getting a bit too much stimulation when he's out?

I'm a dog walker myself and I sometimes take my own dog to work with me on group walks, or to socialise a new dog/puppy. But if he's out for too long, too often, his behaviour deteriorates and he gets a bit silly.

While playing in groups can be great fun for young dogs, too much of it can be very intense and dogs, imo, benefit greatly from slow, sniffy walks on their own or with one other dog. Unfortunately, there's a trend for walkers to do group walks only as that's where the money is!

The biggest group I will do is four for this reason - while dogs might love a big run round, it's not necessarily great for their social skills or their energy levels as they can find it very overwhelming at times, and I always vary location and type of walk too.

Thanks, that’s given me something to think about

He should be past adolescence but I'm sure mine was merrily digging up the garden at around 18/19 months. But, she has grown out of it hurrah.

And she used to jump up at all humans and try to befriend all dogs but is now a little snooty and aloof if anything. She's 3.5.

I'd say find another dog walker. Sounds like he's being led astray and getting over stimulated.

An hour a day walking is fine if you're doing other things like games etc in the garden/house. Cockers and poodles need just as much mental stimulation as physical. We've got snuffle mats, and hide treats in the house/garden (we've got a working cocker and a sprocker). Both were little shits until around 3............

Re toys.

I get a bit stuck with this. Soft toys, destroyed immediately. Rubber toys, not interested, puzzles - works them out very quickly. Ball - not good at bringing it back!

Can anyone recommend a particular toy that’s good for mental stimulation?

Smart breed and nearing two years. And male. Not adolescence. Its called "I'm a grown up, i make the decisions now". Lots of smart breeds, especially but not limited to males. My Border Collies have always, over decades, had such spats of independence for a day or two at least once a year. I deal with it by sanctions, restrictions, and reinforcing that I'm still in charge and make the decisions. Seldom lasts more than a day or two, as they're smart enough to realise which side their bread is buttered on. I'm a lot more fun if I'm not pissed off with them!

@CountessFrog

Re toys.

I get a bit stuck with this. Soft toys, destroyed immediately. Rubber toys, not interested, puzzles - works them out very quickly. Ball - not good at bringing it back!

Can anyone recommend a particular toy that’s good for mental stimulation?

Is he interested in any natural chews to keep him busy? Raw bones, yakkers etc.?

Yeah he’s got yak chews and all sorts of other things, he’s just....needy I think!

It's not adolescents they are over that at usually 12 month. I would look at excercise. My dogs go out twice a day for walks. It's what most dogs need.