Navigating
Adolescence
Thoughtful guidance through a stage of change
Adolescence is one of the most misunderstood stages of a dog’s life. Just as you think things are starting to settle, everything seems to shift. Behaviours change. Focus disappears. Confidence may wobble. Hormones kick in. And suddenly, your lovely young dog doesn’t feel quite so easy to live with.
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This stage is completely normal, but it can be challenging — both for the dog and for the person living with them. At Love Your Paws, we approach adolescence with empathy and insight. We don’t ask for more control or push for perfect behaviour. Instead, we focus on helping you understand where these changes are coming from and how to respond with clarity, calm, and kindness.
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The adolescent brain is still developing. Emotional regulation, decision-making and impulse control are all a work in progress. Our training supports both ends of the lead, giving you practical tools and helping your dog build the skills they need to cope in the world. It's not about fixing behaviour. It's about guiding your dog through a time of growth, change and discovery. Together.
shape your dog’s journey through adolescence
(from 6 months)
Created specifically with adolescent dogs in mind, this class focuses on real-life skills that support connection, calm, and confidence.
We practise loose lead walking, recall, focus around distractions, and settling in new places.
But more than that, we talk honestly about what your dog is going through, and how you can support them through it.
(from 6 months)
Adolescence is when many dogs start to struggle out and about , pulling on the lead, ignoring recall, or finding the world just too exciting.
These small, supportive sessions give you a space to practise real-life skills in real environments, with the guidance you need to make progress.
Training Walks are a brilliant add-on to your regular class, helping you put learning into action with calm, thoughtful support.
(from 5 months)
There’s something incredibly grounding about watching an adolescent dog follow a trail with purpose and confidence. Track n’ Trail gives dogs the chance to engage their brain and body in a completely natural way. We start with short trails and support your dog to succeed. Along the way, you’ll learn how to read their body language, understand how they’re solving problems, and share something quiet and powerful together.
(from 6 months)
Scent work can be a lifeline for adolescent dogs. It gives them purpose, builds focus, and channels energy into something satisfying and successful. We teach your dog to search for a Kong toy in a range of environments, and help you build a calm, rewarding partnership through scent. These sessions are ideal for dogs who need a shift in focus, or who are finding other types of training more difficult at this stage.