The age at which dogs grow out of their puppy brain and settle into adulthood ranges from 12 months to the 12th of never
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Andrews McMeel Syndication
When Terry Albert’s Labrador retriever Tank was 10 years old, a friend commented, “He’ll be a great dog when he matures.”
When does that happen? It’s the $64,000 question. The age at which dogs mature is, well, nobody knows, really. The usual answer is 18 to 24 months. Puppies spend those first two years maturing physically, but it can take a while for their brains to catch up. Breed, age at spay or neuter, training foundation and individual temperament are all factors.
And we can get so used to wild and crazy puppy antics that when our dogs start to settle down -- if they do -- it can come as a shock. First-time dog owners especially may worry that something is wrong with their pup. Here’s what to expect when -- or if! -- your pupper becomes an adult.
The process of a puppy reaching maturity is a physiological phenomenon, but it’s also brought on by environmental stimulus, says veterinary behavior specialist Debbie Horwitz, DVM. “So what you encounter during that time is going to affect how you behave,” she says.
Puppies acquired over the last two years haven’t necessarily had the same experiences that previous puppies had growing up. They may not have been to puppy kindergarten or spent much time sitting outdoors at a crowded coffee shop or visiting other establishments. Those pups may respond differently to new people or experiences than pre-pandemic puppies.
Training can affect when puppies mature. Dogs in training for detection work or to be service dogs start to become a little steadier between 18 months and 2 years of age, Horwitz says. “It takes a while to train dogs to reliably do things,” she says.
That’s true for companion dogs, too. What Horwitz calls behavioral leveling usually occurs when dogs have become familiar with their environment and know what’s expected of them. They’re less distractible, more able to settle on their own.
Breed and individual temperament matter, too -- maybe most of all. The age at which dogs start to mellow varies wildly. “Studies say between 12 to 36 months, but that is a big range. I see it clinically around 2 years for larger breeds,” says Kathryn Primm Gressett, DVM.
Dogs from working lines, whether they’re sporting breeds or sled dogs, tend not to get serious or to slow down for years. Flat-coated retrievers, for instance, are nicknamed the Peter Pan of dogs. If they get a grown-up brain at all, it’s not until they’re 5 or 6 years old. Labradors have a similar trajectory.
Shelties and collies start to chill out when they’re 12 to 18 months old, but for Australian shepherds and border collies, 2 to 3 years tends to be the magic age, owners say.
Dex, a German shepherd, is 16 months old.
“I think that USPS lost his adulthood,” says owner Rebecca Barocas. “Some days I fear I will be living with a 100-pound exuberant puppy forever. His breeder says at 3 years, his adulthood, like magic, will arrive.”
Toy breeds such as cavaliers might calm down at a young age -- or they might retain a puppy brain throughout life. One, who shall remain nameless, was raiding leftovers on picnic tables at the ripe old age of 8 years old.
Sometimes memory is at fault. Horwitz has friends in their 70s who recently acquired a springer spaniel puppy. “It has been years since they’ve had a puppy,” she says. They love Wrigley, who’s 15 months old, but they’re surprised by his energy level.
“We had Labs. They weren’t like that,” they told Horwitz. She reminded them that they had two children at that time. They all wore each other out. But she can tell Wrigley is starting to calm down: “In another six months, they might be saying, ‘What’s wrong with Wrigley? He’s so quiet when people come over.’”
So take heart, new puppy owners. Your pup will (probably) get a grown-up brain one of these days.
Q&A
How to find
a veterinarian
Q: My mother is moving to be near me, and we need to find a veterinarian for her cat. What should we look for?
A: Great question! Making sure a cat gets regular checkups with a veterinarian who’s familiar with her is the best way to catch and treat developing health issues before they become serious, giving your mother the pleasure of her cat’s company for all of the cat’s nine lives.
The foundation for a great relationship with a veterinarian is confidence and trust in the entire veterinary team. A well-run practice requires the skills of the front desk people, vet techs and veterinarians. Here’s what to look for.
-- Will your mother feel comfortable calling or coming in with any question or concern? She should be taken seriously when she brings her cat in for something nonspecific, like slowing down, a change in bathroom habits or becoming snippy with the kids?
-- Does the veterinarian respect your mother’s observations about her cat? She’s the one who knows her pet's normal habits and attitudes.
-- Do you both like the way pets are treated at the practice? Ask for a tour of the clinic before becoming a client. (They may ask you to come during off hours and to wear a mask to protect everyone’s health.) You should see the same level of care, compassion and cleanliness in the back room as in the lobby and exam rooms.
-- How is the veterinarian’s “petside” manner? Your mother should be confident that even if she’s waiting in the car, her cat is always treated as if she were standing there looking over the veterinarian’s shoulder.
When she finds a veterinarian she feels that way about, she has found the right one.
Bonus: Here’s how to be an exceptional veterinary client: fearfreehappyhomes.com/how-to-become-an-exceptional-veterinary-client. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Feline bone
count varies
-- How many bones does a cat have? The range is between 230 and 250, with a lot depending on their tail and toes. A long-tailed Maine coon cat will have more vertebrae than a Manx with no tail or a Manx mix with just part of a tail. And a cat with extra toes -- they're called polydactyl -- will have extra bones as a result. The average cat has about 244 bones, 38 more than our 206 bones. But we have something cats don't: collarbones. Without a collarbone, a cat can fit its body through openings the size of its head. Assuming it isn't overweight, of course.
-- Give your bird choices when it comes to perches. That plain wooden dowel that came with the cage is boring. Add in a rope perch -- the bouncy coil types are lots of fun for birds -- a mineral perch (not sandpaper), an acrylic perch and a natural tree branch. Rope perches can be run through the washer and dryer or the top rack of your dishwasher. Mineral perches feel good underfoot, and birds enjoy wiping their beaks on them. Acrylic perches are sturdy and easy to clean. Choose natural branches from trees such as almond, apple, citrus, ash, elm, dogwood and magnolia. Cut them to fit inside the cage, scrub with soap, rinse well, and break off and discard any insect pods before giving to your bird.
-- When you think rats, you probably picture a gray-brown street rat or a white lab rat. But when it comes to color, domestic rats, aka fancy rats, are highly diverse. They can be found in such shades as silver mink, platinum, blue, chocolate, cinnamon, champagne and fawn, and can have markings including hooded (the head a different color than the body) or masked. They’re beautiful! -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.