adolescence?

Kenshi

Tomoe, my Kishu girl, is nearing 5 months old. I have to check a calandar to be sure but I think she's 18 weeks right now.

Seems like she's been extra bitchy lately - her sudden attacks of zoom-and-bite when out for a walk have been frequent and longer-lasting. She tolerates petting very little, makes many more impatient noises when you don't give her your food - which I can't say has NEVER happened but happens very infrequently. General nippiness and refusal to stay focused on the person holding her leash are on the rise.

I think she might still be teething, but I am not knowledgable enough about dogs to open her mouth and judge whether there are still baby teeth in there.

But in general - is this a terrible teen phase?

What advice do you guys have for me?

In particular, is there another shoe that might drop that I should look out for? Should I not let her out unsupervised for awhile or anything like that?

Thanks.

sunyata

Hmm. Since I have no experience with a Kishu, I can not answer your question with accuracy... But I can say at about 4.5 - 5 months, both of my Shibas started to really test their boundaries. AND, couple that with the start of teething in most puppies, it can be a very frustrating time for owners.

The best advice I have is to remain consistent. And do not let her get away with anything you would normally not let her get away with. Just like a 2 year old, they learn ridiculously fast and will remember if they are able to get away with something even just once.

Best of luck with her rebellious stage!

dlroberts

I'll second Casey's analysis. The timing sounds about right for the first boundary testing phase. It is not uncommon for dogs to seemingly "forget" manners or behaviors they learned and practiced around that age. I don't remember exactly, but I think somewhere around 5-6 months is when that normal starts and it can last up to another 6 months or more depending on the individual dog. Then, you're likely to get another one of those phases around 18 months. So get ready!