02/09/2026
A wise friend once said to me: "adolescence is ghastly" and boy was she right.
Dear little Raffles is now a not so little, not so dear, 1 year old dog. I kid - he is still lovely, but the last few months have been a ride.
Being a trainer or a behaviourist or an experienced owner doesn't make this easier. Sure, maybe it means I'm less likely to permanently ruin my dog somehow, but it doesn't actually make raising them any easier.
I still have to deal with the regression in recall, the increased interest in the environment and other dogs, the decreased interest in me, the emergence of breed traits and sexually dimorphic behaviours like leg cocking and marking, and the emotional roller-coaster that all teenagers go through.
I am reaffirmed in my belief that dog training/behaviour modification/puppy raising is never a straight science - it's always an art as well, because we are dealing with living beings with their own thoughts and feelings.
Teenage dogs are the most frequent age group surrendered to rescues.
But I can see glimpses of the wonderful dog he is and will become, and I tell myself to just be as patient, understanding, and supportive as I can be.
Happy First Birthday Raffles.
Wherryman Spaniels
