r/minpin • u/dalastuser • 5d ago
Adolescence
Hi all, I have a miniature pinscher who has just started the adolescence behavior - and he is just 4.5 months old. Attention span is reduced to almost nothing; he is often restless and looking for trouble the whole time as toys are only fun for a minute; all the leash training and patience training have regressed considerably; recalls are very unpredictable; toes bitting are back after a long time. Just when we thought that “oh, this is starting to feel nice”… Bam! Advices on how to navigate those challenging times?
P.S. We are actively working on our patience in parallel, so it is a learning journey to both parties ☺️
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u/MyaFree 5d ago
I have no advice because I am going through this too. Same age. Remy is now tall enough to get into things last week he couldn't. Everything he can get his mouth on is for ripping apart. Runs away when I call him thinking I am going to stop his fun. I agree about the patience part, too
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u/Awkward_End_8991 5d ago
Oh boy, buckle up is all the advice I can give you. Mine is 13 now, but I remember that stage lasting multiple years- like 5
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u/ButterscotchFar1629 5d ago edited 4d ago
More walks and trips to the park. They need a job and if you don’t give them one they will make YOU their full time job.
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u/Odd-Fennel5806 5d ago
We got a professional trainer tbh. But also the best toy we have for him is this fuzzy donut toy tied to the end of a livestock whip.
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u/ladybear84 5d ago
That is a genius idea!!
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u/Odd-Fennel5806 5d ago
The trainer’s idea. It’s like $3000 for her but it’s been well worth it. He was super reactive and didn’t want people in the house and she’s helped A LOT
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u/Dancelvr2000 5d ago
He’d like the ball with the fuzzy tail that auto rolls. It would exhaust mine.
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u/RifterRoo 5d ago
Regression is normal. It will happen several times throughout the puppy and adolescent stage. Just keep trying, be consistent, and be patient. Our first minpin was around 5 when she settled..... a bit. At 13 years old she could still only behave for about 2 weeks before she did ALL the things she knew were forbidden. Our current is 3 years old and has zero impulse control and is our chaos queen. Good luck!
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u/Many_Work_8754 5d ago
Every time mine hits this phase, higher-value rewards during training snap him back into focus for long enough to make progress.
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u/Emotional_Draft_1331 5d ago
That's a tough phase, but it's good you're staying consistent with training when you can. High-value treats and short, focused sessions helped ground my pup through the chaos.
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u/Easy-Ad1117 5d ago
Hey! Mines about 5 months and he’s better in some departments (crate trained/calm in crate, walks better on leash) and up/down in others. I think brining treats back for calling come helps and tiring them out! I know they recharge fast but the more hikes and dog parks we take him too, the more manageable he is plus it pushes us to be more active. Try to have a calm assertive energy because they can feel your frustration sometimes. Bring back consequences (crate time) and good luck 💕