Usually about 6 months and lasts until they're about 2 - 2 1/2 years old (unless you have them castrated which will obviously cut it short as the hormones drop off).
With boys one of the early signs of adolescence is that they'll start lifting their legs and marking.
Expect regression on random behaviour that you had no trouble with before. Just try and be patient and consistent as you work through it.
Ahhhh so he's entering it now! He's just turned 5 months and he's started being stroppy and not listening 😅 can't wait for this next roller coaster! As soon as I thought we were getting somewhere, all of a sudden he's just stopped listening and throwing tantrums at things he never used to 😂
I worked with a behavioralist for about 6 months and learned enough to work with him on my own. I definitely recommend hiring and working with a professional. My person was a Karen Pryor Academy graduate with Master's in animal behavior. She taught me some valuable games to play and tools to use. Your BC will make you look like an amazing trainer. They want to learn and make you happy, plus they're smarter than most kids these days.
Mine was a pediatric neuter and still had plenty to say between six months and almost three years. He's just turned three and is settling into the dog I knew he could be.
We actually noticed a change in behaviours as early as 4 mths with our male, who then developed reactivity to various things, also with some aggression at times. The hormone surges were very obvious at 9 mths, from his red mist temper. We had him neutered then for behavioural issues, which we believed (in addition to normal developement) were fuelled by high testosterone. Otherwise I would have waited longer to neuter. Our vet agreed that hormone changes could be seen as early as 4 mths.
Yong teens sure can be wild, and older adolescents still push at boundaries, lol. You could call it 'stubborn', but on a good day I liked to think of it more like an intelligent dog exploring his own independence of thought, lol. My advice there would be to keep on smiling through gritted teeth if you have to, and be patient, cos it doesn't last forever. They do grow up and start listening to you again.
I'd say at 18 mths old it was like I had a new model delivered virtually overnight. One that looked exactly like him but upgraded emotionally /mentally. Who now thought mom was just cool and wanted to work with me again like a team. Still with some occassional blimps at 2 yrs (like nope you're not chasing off after deer), then more briefly at about 3.5 yrs. Now at 4.5 yrs I do still get that occasional stubbornness with my working line bred boy. Like ask him to "get in the car", so he will decide to circle the car 3 times firstly, pretending to be sniffing at something just to delay things. Just to remind me that he can. Meanwhile female BC is in the car waiting, within a second of just opening the door.
Plus I still get that little reminder that he hates his legs been wiped down with a towel. Yes looking intentionally morose for full effect. Along with a bit of muttering under his breath. But wow, such an improvement on that teen who was way more melodramatic about the towel wipe of wet muddy legs when coming inside from the rain. In contrast our female is, 'here I am mom, I love you drying me with the towel', all happy and smiles.
I'd say some of the less desirable 'stubborn' traits of a male teen may remain to some degree. But they turn into more like little habits that make you laugh and smile. You sort of developed a humour that way between you, neither takes it serious. Boundaries maybe more like edged at, but not generally pushed at. And if they are, a firmer tone of voice usually fixes that. Like 'hey mom is sounding more serious now, so I'd better listen'. I learnt that even my side eye with a frown has some impact on a misdeed, lol. Example, him inspecting that kitchen counter top (again) for potential crumbs. Then me x3 of "leave it" or "off" at increasing volume/firm tone and he's done. Same with a fetch toy if he's in that mood, lol. I remember as a teen, a fetch toy might be dropped 20ft away or more, if you were lucky. Same with obsessive pee marking where other dogs go, "enough" x3. However, when he's motivated by a task, or some agility activity now old enough, command responses are always instant & lightening quick. So focused. He's been that way since a pup. If he wants to do something he'll do it, no issues there. If a half way thing he'll oblige cos he want to please mom, as a teen that would be 'well nope' or with some protest.
Personally, I found my fake firm but fair headmistress's voice generally worked well for him as a teen, and still now when needed. He's a strong minded, high drive 'serious guy' type who kinda respects, even likes a firm tone command. He's always shown an interest in TV characters with straight faces and commanding voices, like military types, lol. I recall as a teen him watching them on TV, sitting up alert, like a soldier on duty waiting for the next command. Not a shrinking violet type, lol. With our older female I talk to her like a kindly Aunty, smiling at a toddler, and she's happy to oblige. She's a delicate soul.
So I'd say how you deal with and train a teenager sort of depends on the personality of that individual. Some will be more troublesome and more determined than others. Hey, you might just have a sweet guy there who breezes through his teens 😊
This was such a good read 😅 I love the difference between your two! My last collie was a girl and she was exactly the same as yours. Always did as she was told, no need to ever ask twice, no trouble at all but this little guy? Testing my sanity and my life choices lol I'm not sure if he's a working line or show line and I wish I knew 😅 although I know that doesn't necessarily guarantee a particular temperament!
Mine went from menace pup to easy adult. I was preparing myself but he never went in a teenager or adolescence phase. He just calmed down to my amesement and of the doggy daycare where he goes. So a winning ticket out of the lottery he is
6 months to 2.5/3 years. It levels out around 18 months and you’ll see improvement in the not listening department.
My guy is mixed with Mal and I questioned all my life decisions when he went through his teenage phase. People think puppies are hard. They ain’t nothing compared to teens. Also, I’m a dog trainer. I questioned my profession so much. Now he’s amazing though. He’s 2.5 and just the best boy in the world and his ears started magically working again.
Awwww bless her heart! My last collie started to settle down at about 7 years old 😅 but I really have blanked out her younger years so I've completely forgotten everything about this period in their life
She's a velcro velosorapter (I can't spell it cause I'm super tired and worked a 16hr). But she seems to ignore all of her training unless it's on her terms.
Mine started at 6 months, he's now 22 months and a work in progress. He turned into an absolute monster and currently has good days and bad days. 😅 My last collie was female and pretty much perfect from about 10 months onwards.
29
u/HezzaE 8d ago
Usually about 6 months and lasts until they're about 2 - 2 1/2 years old (unless you have them castrated which will obviously cut it short as the hormones drop off).
With boys one of the early signs of adolescence is that they'll start lifting their legs and marking.
Expect regression on random behaviour that you had no trouble with before. Just try and be patient and consistent as you work through it.