Will my puppy's behaviour change once he reaches adolescence?

Question

He is 5 months and is a lovely confident dog. He plays well with other dogs (quite submissive with them). He is OK to train, and recall is pretty perfect. Im going to get him neutered at about 6-7 months, but will his behaviour change when he is 6-18mths etc He is a shih tzu jack russell cross.

Answer 1

Small dogs mature more quickly than larger dogs - you can expect him to reach physical maturity at about 1.5 years (whereas a large breed is still growing up to 2 years).
So, your dog is already starting adolescene. As you are neutering him in the next month or so you will nip most of the effects of testosterone in the bud and he won't have the opportunity to develop too many bad habits.
When a dog reaches adolescence they start to realise that they are bigger, more powerful and have an influence in their family/pack. Just like human adolescents, they test the boundaries and check whether you mean no or if they can get around you. If they can get around you then you end up with a nightmare dog. But, if you stick to your rules and the training you have already established with your pup, you will get him through this period easily.
He will also have higher energy levels until he reaches maturity and should be fed on puppy food until hes about 10 months to 1 year depending on the recommendations of your vet and the food manufacturer.
From your description you have done things right while hes a baby and you won't have much trouble!

Answer 2

It sounds like he'll be a great dog. I have 2 Sheltie puppies that are 5 and 7 months. It is amazing how mature my 7 month is getting. She still has the same loving personality! I'm sure that your puppy won't change that much. Just make sure that he gets they same amount of attention you gave him when he was younger. It'll help that you're getting him neutrered. He won't become as territorial as a non-neutered dog. Have you taken dog obedience or agility with him? Jack Russels are great at agility. It gives them alot of confidence and keeps their brains and bodies in great shape! It is also an excellent way for you guys to bond even more! The biggest change that I've noticed witih puppies around 6 months old is how much more protective they are. They are much more apt to bark at any little noise. Barking can become a problem. My older Sheltie puppy has also started to jump on people more which we're working on. She just seems alot bolder. However, like I said, she is still very sweet and smart and I lover her so much!

Answer 3

Its a good question!
Since your dog is well trained, the biggest difference you'll notice at 18 months or so is that he may become slightly more independant and mature in his attitude when around other dogs.
If he's basically well behaved around people that won't change.
Neutering will keep him slightly submissive around other dogs. He'll be less likely to get into certain kinds of fight. Females and entire males will object to him less, because neutering alters their scent. No scrapping over females is a good thing!
I think you and your dog will benefit from your efforts to train him, and the neutering.

Answer 4

Yes -

I think you are right to ask this question. Some dogs do change from submissive dogs that love to play with all dogs to being dog aggressive. This is because of a dogs natural pack order instinct. This also comes from a dog wanting to protect it's owner even when there is no danger.
Your dog may remain playfull and friendly, it may not.
You can only guarantee good dog behaviour by socialising them well from puppy into adulthood

Answer 5

Although dogs shouldn't be attributed with having human characteristics, they are intelligent enough to be able to understand the concept of, and execute, certain actions that their owners require of them - if these actions are asked in a way that dogs find rewarding. So, with this rule in mind, owners have to be clever as well and find a way of training their dog that actually works quickly and efficiently. The eBook I wrote explains how to achieve this ideal - how to speak “dog” so that you’re able to communicate effectively with your four-legged friend.
As with any training, the best time to start is as soon as you get your new pet. The fundamentals for successful housetraining are:

- Crate training is very important so it should be mastered.
- A schedule is required for feeding and exercising.
- Be vigilant and patient throughout the training period.

House training is most likely every dog owner’s top concern. And it should begin as soon as possible. That's the very first day your dog comes into your home. If you've adopted a new furry friend and spend months in the home without aiding him/her achieve success when it comes to training then s/he’s going to set a precedence that you now need to change. So, concentrate on prevention as opposed to cure. House training comes down to one
rather simple skill - being a good dog time manager. And this means managing your pup's time so that you let them have as few chances as possible to make house training blunders.

If you want a free copy of my ebook just send an email to: [e-mail]

I'll send you immediately the book and some tips on how to live better with your dog.

Answer 6

Puppies go through different stages until they reach puberty, like human kids. My dogs went through a skittish phase around 9 and 10 months where the protection instinct started coming in but they were unsure what to do with it. Getting him fixed will probably prevent him from getting some normal male behavior like humping and such but as long as you are consistent with his training he will become a well adjusted confident adult. A puppy goes through changes but will not become a totally different dog when he is grown. With my dogs once they got through a couple phases they ended up the exact same personality as I started with. I think he will be a great grown up.

Answer 7

I don't think you will see a big change in his behaviour between 6 and 7 months. Getting him neutered is a good idea. We didn't get our collie neutered and he got out of our yard and got with the Rotti next door and made 12 puppies. Ever since then he had a really bad attitude like, "I'm the man...don't got to listen to you stupid people." He got a real attitude problem after he made puppies. He ended up breaking out of our yard and we haven't seen him since.

Answer 8

Dogs grow up just like people. The older the dog the more calm and knowing they are. As far as once you get the dog neutered, he should become less aggressive and not have those typical male tendencies. Also expect a little weight gain from him and he will fill out once you get him neutered.

Answer 9

yes normally behaviour does change,some dogs change alot some dogs dont.my 11month old pup at 5months was exactly the same at 5months he was perfectly recalled etc...that all changed when he reached 10months i now have series problems re calling him.Neutering will help him calm down a bit but as long as you reinforce his training he should be ok,my other dog a jr x didn't change atall during adolecence.Good luck

Answer 10

i have 3 dogs 1 of which is a puppy your dogs behaviour will change once hes had his bits off. i have 2 german sheps the male has calmed right down since doing it and they are both now very well behaved.