Junior dog adolescence: He suddenly stops listening

Around 6–12 months, it happens: Your well-behaved young dog seemingly forgets everything. Recall? Never heard of it. Sit? No idea. Welcome to puberty — and no, your training wasn't in vain.

What happens in a dog's brain

The brain is being rewired, hormones are surging, external stimuli suddenly become highly interesting. What was learned isn't gone — it's just harder to retrieve. This phase lasts weeks to months and will pass.

The 5 Survival Rules

1. Lower your expectations: Train as you would with a beginner — less distraction, more reward.
2. Long leash instead of off-leash: Every successful "escape" will otherwise become a favorite hobby.
3. Don't take it personally: He's not testing "dominance" — his brain is a construction site.
4. Maintain routines: Fixed rituals provide stability when there's chaos inside.
5. Demand rest: Adolescent dogs quickly get over-excited — sleep is training.

The Most Important Thing

Stay persistent, stay friendly. Those who train consistently and fairly now will later have an adult dog with stable signals. The daily short plan from "Hört aufs Wort" also works as a refresher during puberty — and the training tracker shows you that progress is being made.