Episode #276 The Teenage Puppy: Surviving Adolescent Regression (6–18 Months)

Your puppy was doing so well… and then suddenly they stopped listening.

In this episode, we break down one of the most frustrating — and completely normal — stages of dog development: adolescence. Between 6 and 18 months, many puppies begin testing boundaries, ignoring cues, losing focus, and acting as if all previous training disappeared overnight.

We cover:

•  Why adolescent regression happens 
•  Boundary testing and reinforcement history 
•  Why most handlers accidentally raise expectations too quickly 
•  How to reset training without starting over 
•  Practical strategies for rebuilding consistency and reliability 

If your once-sweet puppy has entered their chaotic teenage phase, this episode will help you understand what’s normal, what’s not, and how to get through it without losing progress — or your sanity.

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