Mary Allen
He pulls on the leash, barks at everyone, obviously doesn’t know his name anymore, and tries to chase the postman. There is no doubt: your dog has arrived in the fluffy phase. Now it is important to show strong nerves and consistency in order to turn the boor back into a good four-legged friend.
When Does the Dog Go Into the Fluff Phase?
There are two particularly critical phases in dog socialization. The ranking phase takes place between the 13th and 16th weeks of life. The dog deliberately tests what he can allow himself to do with his owner, what opportunities the environment offers him, and what place he occupies within the family pack. It is already important that you make it clear to the dog with loving determination who is higher in rank. If the dog is between seven months and one year old, there is often a phase of complete oblivion: the dog behaves like a rebellious teenager, lacks concentration, and suddenly seems to have forgotten its good upbringing. Overall, he may then have a “long line” and occasionally seem confused. The play behavior from puppy days weakens. Instead, there is an increased hunting instinct or sudden territorial behavior.
You should consistently show the rebellious yob his place in the hierarchy. But calmly, patiently, and without any violence or shouting. Screaming confuses the dog or is misunderstood as incitement: when the owner “yaps”, the dog barks as well. Basically, it is advisable to attend a good dog school – at least until the dog is one year old.
What Goes on in the Dog Brain?
To understand your dog, it helps if you visualize what’s going on in his head: During puberty, the nerve cells experience a real growth spurt, which improves the brain’s efficiency. Important connections are strengthened, less needed ones are reduced. But all this does not happen evenly. The changes primarily take place in the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain on the front side. This area of the brain is responsible for thinking, learning, and performing learned skills. However, since the maturation process progresses more slowly in this part of the brain, impulsive actions occur. At the same time, another area of the brain, the so-called amygdala, experiences a growth spurt. The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions such as fear, anger, and aggression. In addition, there are hormonal fluctuations in the production of dopamine and testosterone and the receptors responsible for them. The dog becomes more nervous and may become aggressive or stress-prone. In “puberty” dogs react excessively to external stimuli and are not necessarily appropriate to situations that are actually familiar. Depending on the character and temperament of the animal, the mood changes abruptly.
Adolescence is just as stressful and emotionally confusing for dogs as it is for humans. Conflicting emotions and last but not least the hormones unsettle the animal and put it in a chaotic state of mind in which it wants to find its position again or even emancipate itself from its owner. Territorial behavior, sex drive, and hunting instinct are also developed in this phase. So if the dog suddenly seizes the sofa and defends it, marks it, starts rushing cats and rabbits, or messes with other dogs, these are not upbringing mistakes. All of this is natural and normalizes again after about half a year – provided you don’t let yourself be unsettled and master this difficult time together with your dog.
How Do You Deal with a Dog in the Fluff Phase?
With calm and serenity you help your four-legged friend the most in this phase. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should just let him do it. On the contrary: Give your dog a lot of attention now. Start all over again and practice important commands with him every day, even if he has long since learned them. If good basic obedience was already present before puberty, this pays off with rapid learning success.
You need a lot of patience. The dog may become stubborn and get on your nerves with his behavior. It is important to have sovereignty when dealing with the animal – in the end, you will have more staying power.
Don’t let the dog sense that his behavior is making you nervous or provoking you. Only when the owner stands seemingly unperturbed by the capers of his four-legged friend does he perceive him as a reliable fixed point to which he can orientate himself. This also plays a major role because the dog goes through the second phase of personal attachment during this time.
Praise is particularly important. If the pubescent dog has done something well, don’t be stingy with the recognition and give them a treat or play session with their favorite toy as a reward. With enough motivation, the dog will rediscover the fun of learning and will soon be well-behaved and obedient again.
Scaredy-Cats and Aggressors – Personality Changes in Dogs
In the confusion of puberty, many a dog develops completely new behaviors. Some animals accost strange dogs on the way or even try to provoke a biting. Other dogs develop anxious behavior from one day to the next and are suddenly afraid of everyday situations.
In both cases, your authority as the leader of the pack is in demand. If your dog is a rowdy breed, put him on a short leash and consistently lead him away from the scene without making a fuss about it. But keep watching his behavior. If it turns out that this is not just a developmental phase of the animal and aggressive behavior is becoming the norm, you should enlist the help of a professional dog trainer. You shouldn’t take the dog’s conspicuous aggressiveness lightly: the animal is endangering others and itself.
If your dog is suddenly a scaredy-cat, set an example for him to be calm and serene. If the leader – meaning you – is not afraid, then there is no need to panic. It can be counterproductive to calm, pet, and comfort the dog in such situations, as it reinforces his belief that something scary is going on.
What Else Should You Keep in Mind During the Fling Phase?
During this time, it can help to avoid tricky situations or to secure the dog, for example by keeping it on a leash when encountering other dogs. You should absolutely avoid serious changes in the dog’s everyday life, for example, a change of location. It is better not to start a new exercise program during this phase, as this could confuse you and overwhelm your dog.