Positive Training For Canines

21/10/2026

Why has my dog's recall suddenly fallen apart?

If your adolescent dog used to come running when called but now seems to have developed selective hearing, you're not alone!

One of the most common concerns I hear from owners of a teenage dog is:

'They used to have such good recall. What happened?'

The good news? Your dog probably hasn't forgotten their recall.

The less good news? Adolescence often brings big changes that can make responding to you much harder than it used to be.

Their brain is changing
During adolescence, the parts of the brain responsible for impulse control, decision- making, and emotional regulation is still developing. This means your dog may know exactly what you're asking but struggle to act when something more exciting catches their attention.

Suddenly the world becomes more interesting
That squirrel, another dog in the distance, an interesting smell, or even a leaf blowing may not compete with your recall cue in a way that it never did before.

Emotions can be bigger
Many adolescent dogs become more sensitive to things around them. Excitement, frustration, uncertainty and over arousal, can all affect their ability to respond when called.

More freedom doesn't always mean they're ready for it
It's easy to assume that becasue our puppies had a great recall, they've mastered the skill. But recall isn't something we teach once, and then have forever. It's a behaviour that needs ongoing practice and reinforcement, especially through adolescence.

So what should you do?
Go back to basics
Use a long line if recall has become unreliable
Reward generously when your dog comes back
Avoid calling them when you're unlikely to succeed
Set up opportunities for success rather than testing them in difficult situations

Most importantly try not to take it personally.

Your adolescent dog isn't ignoring you to make life difficult. They're navigating a stage of development where the world feels bigger , more exciting, and sometime more overwhelming than ever before.

The time and patience you invest now will pay off later.

🩵 Remember, a temporary dip in recall is normal. It doesn't mean you've failed, and it doesn't mean your dog is stubborn. It simply means your dog is a teenager.

Have you noticed your dog's recall changing during adolescence? Let me know in the comments 👇

20/10/2026

Lovely evening with the pups and juniors last night 🐾

🐶 One space available in puppy class on Monday 26th October 🐾

Got a new puppy? Come and join us for some fun, reward-based training to help your puppy get off to the best start! 💙

Suitable for pups after their first vaccination and up to 16 weeks of age

Drop me a message if you’d like to grab the space! 😊

19/10/2026

🐾Building Trust Through The Tough Times: Relationship-Building Ideas for Adolescent Dogs 🐾

If you live with an adolescent dog, you may feel like you're riding an emotional rollercoaster.

One day they're happily responding to cues, the next they're ignoring you, barking at things they never noticed before, or seeming completely distracted by the world around them.

It can be frustrating. But adolescence isn't a time to tighten the reins or demand more obedience. It's a time to focus on strengthening your relationship.

Remember, your dog isn't giving you a hard time. You're dog IS having a hard time.

As they're brain develops and hormones fluctuate, they need us to be a source of safety predictability, and support.

🩵 So how can you build trust during these challenging phases?

✅ Spend time together with no agenda
Not every interaction needs to involve training. Sit togetherin the garden, watch the world go by, or simply enjoy each other's company.

✅ Listen to what your dog is telling you
if they seem overwhelmed, worried or tired, respect that communication. Trust grows when our dogs learn we listen to them rather than push them beyond what they can cope with.

✅ Play together
Games create positive associations and strengthen your bond. A short game of tug, scentwork, or hide-and-seek can do wonders for your relationship

✅ Let them make choices
Whenever it is safe to do so, give your dogs some control over their environment. Choice builds confidence and helps dogs feel secure.

✅ Reward generously
Adolescence can make the world seem much more exciting than we are! Reinforcing behaviours you like helps your dog learn that working with you is worthwhile and enjoyable.

✅ Prioritise rest and wellbeing
A tired adolescent isn't always a calm adolescent. Adequate sleep, enrichment and downtime are essential for emotional health.

Dogs who trust us most aren't necessarily the ones who perform perfectly. They're the ones who know we'll support them when things are difficult.

The adolescent phase won't last forever, but the relationship you're building can last a lifetime.

Have you noticed your relationship with your dog changing during adolescence? I'd love to hear what's working for you in the comments 👇

18/10/2026

The Power of Going Back to Basics with Your Adolescent Dog 🐾

Has your once responsive puppy suddenly developed selective hearing? Forgotten how to walk nicely on lead? Started pulling, jumping, barking or generally acting as though they've never heard a cue before?

First of all, take a deep breath. You're not alone, and no, your dog isn't being difficult on purpose.

Adolescent is a period of significant change. Your dog is navigating physical, hormonal, and emotional development while trying to make sense of an increasingly complex world. During this stage, it's common for behaviours that seemed solid in puppyhood to fall apart.

When this happens, many owners feel they need to do more training, teach new skills, or push ahead to the next level.

But often, the most effective thing you can do is to go back to basics.

Think of it like building a house. If the foundations start to wobble, you don't keep adding the floors. You strengthen the base first.

Revisiting puppy foundations can help your adolescent dog regain confidence and understanding. For example:

👉 Name response
👉 Focus and engagement
👉 Recall games
👉 Loose Lead walking in easy environments
👉 Settling and relaxing
👉 Rewarding calm choices
👉 Confidence building activities

These skills may seem simple, but they're the building blocks that support everything else.

Returning to basics also reduces pressure. Instead of expecting your adolescent dog to succeed in challenging situations , you're giving them opportunities to practice and be successful again. Success builds confidence, confidence builds learning, and learning builds resilience.

Remember learning isn't always a straight line.

💙 This is why, in my Adolescent and Above Course, we spend time reinforcing the skills that matter most. Whether your dog is struggling with focus, lead walking, recall, over-excitementor simply finding the world a bit overwhelming, we work on rebuilding those foundation skills in a supportive, positive environment.

🐶 My Adolescent and Above Class is suitable for adolescent dogs who may need a little extra care support with everyday life skills and training foundations. If you'd like to turn your teenage chaos into calm confidence, I'd love to help!

🐾 My next 6-week course begins on Monday 9th November 8-8.45pm at Colden Common

☎️ Get in touch to find out more or to book your place

Happy Training
Leah
0777 131 4947
[email protected]

17/10/2026

Why Sleep Matters More Than We Think in Adolescent Dogs 🐾

Is your teenage dog suddenly struggling to listen, becoming more reactive, having endless zoomies, or seeming unable to settle?

Before assuming they need more training, more exercise, or firmer boundries, it's worth asking one more important question:

Are they getting enough quality sleep?

Just like human teenagers, adolescent dogs are going through huge physical, hormonal, and emotional changes. Their brains are developing, their bodies are growing, and they're processing a vast amount of information about the world around them every single day.

That's exhausting work.

Many adolescent dogs need 16+ hours of sleep. Yet, its surprisingly common for young dogs to become overtired.

An overtired dog may:
🐾 Struggle to concentrate during training
🐾 Become more reactive to other dogs, people or noises
🐾 Seem unable to switch off
🐾 Become mouthy, bouncy, or overexcited
🐾 Have a shorter fuse when faced with challenges
🐾 Appear 'naughty' or 'stubborn'

Often what you are seeing isn't a training problem.

It's a tired brain trying to cope.

In our busy lives, there's sometimes pressure to keep dogs occupied with longer walks, more activities, and constant entertainment. But learning how to rest is just as important as learning how to sit or walk nicely on a lead.

Rest is when the brain processes learning, stores memories, and recovers from the stress of daily life.

So if your adolescent dog seems to be having a difficult week, consider whether they might benefit from:
👉 More opportunities for uninterrupted sleep
👉 Quieter walks with less stimulation
👉 Enrichment activities that encourage calm behaviour
👉 Fewer social activities for a few days
👉 A comfortable, safe place to relax without interruption

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do for your dog's behaviour is.....absolutely nothing.

Let them sleep 🩵

If you would like help with your adolescent dog why not get in contact and we can discuss your best options?

Happy training
Leah

☎️ 0777 131 4947
💻 [email protected]
🌍

We offer dog training in the Wi******er and Eastleigh area using positive training methods. Classes with our 10 year experienced dog trainer are fun and relaxed

16/10/2026

Let's talk about body language 🐾

Below are 4 photos of fearful dogs. What signals do you see that would indicate these dogs are fearful? Comment on each photo what you see 🩵

15/10/2026

I had the pleasure of meeting and assessing young Jovi for Pawsable yesterday.

For such a young lad, he did amazingly well. The bond between him and his human was lovely. We visited Waitrose, the park and a cafe and he took it all in his stride, totally acing the assessment.

Really can't wait to watch his progress through the program 💪🏻🐾

Well done team Jovi 🎉

14/10/2026

More exercise isn't always the answer....🐾

When our adolescent dogs start bouncing off the walls, it's easy to assume they need a bigger walk, a longer hike or more physical exercise.

But often, that's not what they're really missing.

Just like teenagers, adolescent dogs are going through huge changes in their brains and bodies. During this stage, they can become more easily overstimulated, emotionally reactive and struggle to cope with the world around them.

Sometimes adding more physical exercise can actually make matters worse, creating a fitter dog with an even bigger fuel tank!

✅ Enrichment helps satisfy natural behaviours such as sniffing, licking, chewing, foraging and problem solving.

✅ Rest is essential for growing brains and bodies. Overtired dogs can struggle with focus, become more reactive and find it harder to regulate their emotions.

✅ Emotional Wellbeing matters just as much as physical fitness. Dogs need to feel safe, understood and able to process their experiences without being constantly ''on''

A slow sniffy walk, a food puzzle, a scatter feed in the garden, or simply a day to decompress can sometimes be far more beneficial than adding another mile to the walk.

If your adolescent dog seems "too much", ask yourself:

💭 Do they need more exercise? 💭 Or do they need more opportunities to rest, decompress and engage in species - appropriate enrichment?

The goal isn't to tire our dogs out. The goal is to help them feel balanced, fulfilled and emotionally well.

What enrichment activity does your adolescent dog love most? 🐶

13/10/2026

Reggie and Rosie are our latest additions to puppy and junior classes. Both are lovely and I look forward to watching their progress over the coming weeks 😍

www.positivetrainingforcanines.co.uk/book-now/

11/10/2026

Help! My dog has suddenly started barking at other dogs! 😧

'My dog used to be fine with other dogs, but now they're barking at them on walks!!'

It can feel like it has come completely out of nowhere. If your dog has entered adolescence, typically between 6-24 months depending on breed, it's not unusual to see barking, lunging or generally bigger reactions towards other dogs start to emerge.

So what happened?

🐾 Their brain is changing. The parts of the brain responsible for emotional regulation and decision making are still maturing , which can lead to more impulsive reactions.

🐾 Confidence can fluctuate. Many adolescent dogs experience fear periods where things that previously seemed fine suddenly feel worrying, overwhelming or even scary.

🐾 Increased awareness of the world. As puppies mature, they become more conscious of their environment. They start paying attention to things they may have ignored before, including other dogs.

🐾 Previous experiences start to matter more. A dog doesn't need a dramatic negative experience to become reactive. As they mature, they may begin to feel differently about interactions they once tolerated or enjoyed.

🐾 Barking is communication. Most reactive barking is not about dominance, stubbornness, or a dog trying to be the boss . More often, it's a sign that they are feeling uncomfortable, conflicted, frustrated, worried, or simply don't know how else to cope with the situation.

The good news?

The appearance of reactivity during adolescence does not mean your dog is aggressive, and it certainly doesn't mean you have failed. With understanding, management and training that focuses on changing emotions rather than suppressing behaviour, many dogs can make huge progress.

If your adolescent dog has started barking at other dogs, take a step back and ask yourself:

👉 What might they be feeling?
👉 What are they trying to communicate?
👉 How can I make them feel safer?

Behaviour is communication. When we start listening, we start helping.

Have you started to notice changes in your adolescent dog around other dogs? Let me know in the comments below 👇