Owning a puppy can be just as tricky as raising a small child. It requires the same energy, too! Having a puppy can bring you new chaos that can sometimes seem unmanageable if you’ve never raised one. It might seem like the frantic spiral will never end and leaves you wondering, “when will my puppies ever calm down?” Like humans, dogs age in phases of development, so the frenzy-filled days are limited.
What are the Phases?
There are four phases to describe the different stages of development in dogs: puppy, adolescent, adulthood, and senior. Each of these phases is marked by varying maturity levels, energy, and social skills. To determine when your puppy will calm down, you must understand these phases.
The Puppy Phase
This phase typically lasts until your dog is between 6 and 18 weeks old. Here, you should start introducing different methods of socialization for Fido to learn how to interact with his surroundings.
The Adolescent phase
This phase starts between the ages of 6 weeks to 18 weeks old. It continues until they’re between 18-and 36 weeks old, depending on their size. As their hormone levels shift, you’ll notice your dog developing a more “teenage” attitude. Consistency and patience are essential when training.
The Adult Phase
This phase starts directly after their adolescent stage and lasts until 7 years old. Training becomes less necessary, as the skills they learned during puppy-hood and adolescence will be paying off.
The Senior Phase
This phase encompasses your dog’s golden years. It starts once they hit seven and continues until they pass away. You’ll notice their energy levels dropping, and their appearance begins to change.
So, when will my puppy calm down?
It depends! Your puppy’s hyperactivity isn’t “just a phase” they can grow out of. While a puppy phase does exist, you as the owner have to put in a lot of effort to socialize them. You must train them to learn how to interact with their surroundings in a calm and collected manner. Certain hyperactivity or socialization issues can worsen into adulthood without the proper training.
There are plenty of ways to train your pet. If you prefer to do it alone, you can always find guides online. However, it can take time and patience that isn’t always accessible. Happy Tails offers plenty of training plans to peruse, with a free evaluation.
