A concerned mother noticed a change in her dog’s behavior, especially when it comes to sleeping patterns and refusing to sleep in the bed.  She sent me a few questions, and I have included the answers below for you to read.  She was concerned about her dog possibly being a “loner” and her earlier life in a shelter.

First, let me say that I do not know a single dog that is a “loner”.  We crave attention, whether it is from our families, toys, or other dogs.  This dog is still a puppy, about five months old.  There is a lot going on at five months, as this is the early stages of dog puberty.  Puberty for dogs is a lot like the human kind.  Around the age of five or six months, sometimes a little later, changes start occurring.  This is when we start to develop our adult bodies, and that is especially evident in our feet and tummy areas.  Our feet become adult-sized almost overnight, and we become exceptionally clumsy.  We also lose the round belly in favor of a more lean physique.  Puberty in a dog may last until the dog is 14 months old. Continue Reading