March 6, 2026, 11:51 am | Read time: 6 minutes

A dog’s adolescence is a surprising experience for many owners. Suddenly, nothing seems to work as it did before. Recall signals become less reliable, walks become more restless, and familiar training routines seem shaky. At the same time, it’s a phase where not only the dog changes, but also the behavior of its caregivers.

In my training practice, it becomes clear time and again: Men and women often train their dogs differently. Not out of principle or lack of commitment, but due to different patterns of perception and action that become noticeable when dealing with adolescent dogs.

These differences are neither better nor worse. They simply reflect different approaches—and explain why training situations during this time are often accompanied by misunderstandings, discussions, and uncertainties.

Adolescence as a Stress Test for Humans and Dogs

Between the sixth and eighteenth months of life, a dog undergoes a phase of intense neurological and hormonal restructuring. The brain is rewired, sex hormones increase, and stimuli are evaluated differently.

These changes pose a challenge not only for the dog but also for its owners. During this phase, it becomes clear how differently people deal with uncertainty, loss of control, and change.

Adolescence acts like a magnifying glass: It amplifies existing training styles, relationship patterns, and personal attitudes. What was barely noticeable before now becomes visible.

How Women Often Experience Adolescence in Dog Training

In many training situations, it becomes apparent that women notice changes in their dog’s behavior particularly early. Small uncertainties, altered body language, or new stress signals are often sensitively registered. This usually results in a very relationship-oriented approach.

Many women initially try to stabilize emotionally during adolescence. They speak more calmly, seek more eye contact, adjust training sessions, and try to avoid overwhelming the dog. The focus is often on providing the dog with security and meeting it where it currently stands.

This approach strengthens bonding and trust. It helps the dog not to feel abandoned during an internally restless phase. Particularly sensitive or insecure dogs benefit significantly from this.

At the same time, this great empathy can sometimes lead to unintentional reduction of demands. Out of consideration, rules are relaxed, training sessions shortened, or difficult situations avoided. The dog receives emotional support but less clear guidance.

In practice, this occasionally manifests in statements like:

“It’s just not in a good mood today.”
“I don’t want to overwhelm it right now.”
“You can tell it’s processing a lot right now.”

All of this is not technically wrong. It only becomes problematic if it leads to long-term uncertainty because structure is lacking and the dog is no longer challenged or encouraged.

How Men Often Perceive Adolescence in Dog Training

Many men approach their dog’s adolescence more through performance, functionality, and goal orientation. Changes in behavior are often interpreted as a training problem that needs to be solved.

The focus is often on stabilization: Rules should be followed, routines maintained, and training goals achieved. Training plans are consistently followed, demands are clearly formulated, and repetitions are required.

This approach provides adolescent dogs with important orientation. Clear processes and reliable expectations have a stabilizing effect and help the dog navigate the internal chaos.

At the same time, a very performance-oriented approach can create additional pressure during this phase. If a dog is temporarily less resilient due to neurological restructuring, overly high expectations can lead to frustration—on both sides.

Typical statements in this context include:

“It could do it before.”
“It just has to learn it now.”
“You can’t give in there.”

This attitude is also not fundamentally wrong. It becomes problematic when individual developmental phases are not taken into account.

Why Do Women and Men Train Their Dogs Differently?

The different approaches can be explained more socially than biologically. From human psychology, we know that women, on average, communicate more relationship-oriented, while men often act more solution-oriented and goal-oriented.

These patterns often transfer to interactions with dogs. Women tend to incorporate emotional processes more. Men focus more on structure and goal achievement.

Additionally, dogs respond to these differences. Sensitive dogs often orient themselves more towards empathetic caregivers. Temperamental dogs often benefit from clear communication. This further reinforces existing dynamics.

When Different Styles Meet

These differences become particularly apparent in households where both partners are actively involved in training. During adolescence, tensions often arise here.

While one person demands more consideration, the other insists on consistency. While one side wants more breaks, the other demands more practice. Both act out of responsibility—but with different emphases.

In training practice, it becomes clear: Conflicts usually do not arise from incorrect training but from a lack of coordination. The dog receives contradictory signals. Sometimes behavior is tolerated, sometimes corrected. Sometimes withdrawal is accepted, sometimes demanded. This complicates organization, especially in a phase where the dog particularly relies on it.

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The Most Sensible Combination

From a behavioral biology and training science perspective, neither approach is optimal on its own. The most effective is a combination of both.

Adolescent dogs need emotional security and stable structures. They require understanding for their development—and clear guidelines for their behavior. They benefit from patience—and from reliability and thinking breaks.

Ideally, the different styles complement each other: Empathy provides trust, structure provides orientation. Relationship creates motivation, rules create security. Where this balance is achieved, adolescence usually proceeds much more smoothly.

Conclusion

Women and men often train and raise their dogs differently because they perceive and evaluate behavior differently. While many women act more relationship-oriented, many men focus on structure and goal orientation.

Both approaches have their strengths and risks. The key is not which style is “right,” but how well it succeeds in combining both.

Adolescence is not a test of perfect training but a maturation process for both dog and human. Those who accompany it with expertise, openness, and mutual understanding lay the foundation for a stable, trusting relationship in adulthood.