Act Your Age: Understanding Puppy Minds & Phases

Aug 4

3 min read

The cliffnotes to puppy development so you can stop panicking and start parenting

You're a parent to your puppy before you get to be their friends. And that's how it should be.

Nobody tells you this before you bring a puppy home: you are not just getting a dog. You are raising one. And close to like raising a kid, what you need from them (and what they need from you) changes completely depending on where they are in the journey.

Here's how I like to break it down with every client:

8-16 Weeks: Baby-Baby

This is the phase most people romanticize before they live it. Your puppy is a baby. Full stop. They are learning all about what exists in your world, adjusting to a brand new schedule in a brand new environment with a lot of really new, weird and exciting things. They are as overwhelmed as you are!

This is not the time for routine, rest, proving your predictability, and laying the foundations that everything else gets built on. Crate training. Potty training. Boundary setting. And lots and lots and lots of naps. Yes! In the crate! This is a lot of stars and stickers, or in trainer speak, treats! -- and its exactly where you should be with your puppy.

16-24 Weeks: The Furry Toddler

You might be finding your puppy is becoming a little more fun--they can hang a little longer, they're more curious and confident. They're figuring it out, and that personality is really starting to shine. and you're starting to feel like maybe... just maybe... you made the right decision bringing them home.

Enjoy it. Because something else is coming...

6-9 Months: Middle School

I can finish the sentence of anyone with a puppy who reaches out to me around this time. "Why is my puppy suddenly --" Because they are six months old.

You have officially entered the dreaded preteen phase. Buckle up, butter cup. This is where all those stars and stickers you practiced with in puppy-puppyhood become letter grades. Accountability enters the training game, and the behaviors you let slide, the commands you only practiced when you felt like it, the boundaries that were loosely enforced... your dog is about to show you exactly what stuck and what didn't. This is also the phase where most owners either lean in or give up. Lean in.

10-18 Months: High School Seemingly Never Ends

The rebellion has peaked and you're finally starting to see the other side. Hurrah! Your dog knows more than you think they do. This is when the relationship starts doing more of the heavy lifting. You become less dependent on treats and more reliant on the trust and structure you've been building together.

This is the "you've got to do it" phase of dog training. They know. Now they need to understand that it's not optional. The more "no, not like that" you give, the more "yes, go ahead" you'll give your dog in the very near future.

18 Months and Beyond: Community College

Some dogs get here faster. Some take the scenic route. Either way, you're starting to see the dog emerge from the smoke and rubble that may feel like the puppy phases. They're not fully baked through yet (coming so soon) but you can see who they are becoming. This is the fine tuning phase of those last ditch puppy behaviors sticking around... just got to make sure the nuts and bolts are nice and tight.

The Dog You Always Wanted: Around 2-3 Years Old

I know. Two years sounds like forever when you're in month six and your dog just ate your favorite shoes.

But here's what I want you to hold onto: the shittiest puppies make the most incredible dogs.

The hard ones, the stubborn ones, the ones who tested every boundary and pushed every limit — they become the dogs people stop you on the street to ask about. They become the dogs you cannot imagine your life without.

That's the reward. And I promise you, it is worth every single hard day to get there. You're not just training a puppy. You're raising your future Best Good Friend.

I'm Genna — a Canine Coach based in Charlotte, NC dedicated to helping owners better understand their dog so they can live their best lives with their best good friend. If this resonated, follow along on Instagram at @best.good.friend.training or subscribe on YouTube for more real life canine coaching. Ready to get started? Contact me here for all of your puppy needs.