I have a nearly 15 month old German shepherd/German pointer cross named Piper, and I am reaching the end of my rope!
Don't get me wrong, I love her so much. She's sweet and loving, smart and attentive, playful and so, so adorable. But she's also stubborn, strong-willed, rebellious, and so very loud. Around 8 months old she found her voice, and she has not stopped barking at us since. (We're working on it, and she is improving although the progress is slow and painful.)
The initial puppy stage was a tough transition with lost sleep, clinginess, fear of other dogs/people, and the potty training. But we adjusted fairly quickly and settled into our new routine. It's the lengthiness of the adolescent stage that is really beating me down.
She is the second dog that we've raised since puppyhood, so we were prepared for some of the hurdles. And our now 4 year old dog is such a good girl, so we have a light at the end of the tunnel for sure. But I personally think the 12-18 month stretch is the hardest. This was the time with our last dog as well that I really started to wonder if it was worth it. Because the adolescent stage hit around 6 months, which we were ready for, but it lasts so long! It feels like you'll never come out the other side. And by the time they're over a year old and still haven't chilled out, you want to throw in the towel.
Based on the trajectory of our other dog (who is around the same size), I expect her to start calming down in a few months. And on good days, I can see the amazing dog I know she's going to be. But oh my God we're in the trenches right now friends.
Which age range has been trickiest for you to navigate with your pup(s)? And if anyone has tips on curbing the incessant barking, please drop them for the sake of my poor ears!
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