Puppies have different developmental stages. As your puppy grows you might have asked yourself “when does my puppy reach maturity”? Your puppy has two maturity developmental phases. The first one is their sexual maturity and the second one is the social maturity. Let’s dive in and explore the different maturity stages of when a puppy becomes and adult dog.
Sexual Maturity: A Biological Milestone
Sexual maturity is one of the key milestones in your puppy’s life. This phase marks the time when your puppy’s reproductive organs are fully developed, and they become capable of reproducing. Typically, small breed dogs will reach sexual maturity earlier than larger breeds. Smaller breeds grow at a faster rate, so they reach maturity, quicker.
One important thing to note is that sexual maturity is not an indicator of emotional or social maturity. Even though your puppy’s body may be ready, and can reproduce, their social maturity is still a work in progress (sounds a bit like teenagers, doesn’t it?).
Social Maturity: A Behavioral Milestone
Social maturity is where you puppy has arrived, so to speak. By now, puppy parents can’t wait to have their puppy reach maturity. This developmental phase is where your puppy is now mature and has the ability to navigate social interactions and behaviors more effectively (the stage that everyone yearns for when dealing with puppies). Social maturity is a gradual process and will vary from dog to dog (sounds a lot like young adults, doesn’t it?). Your puppy will reach social maturity around 2-3 years old. This is another scenario where small breed puppies will grow faster and are likely to reach social maturity earlier than large breed puppies.
After you survive the puppy biting and chewing phase, and when you make it through the ‘tumultuous teen’ phase, you finally reach a point where things all come together. I’ve said it many times before… puppy raising is hard, y’all. You may see more self-control, and less exuberant behavior. You may feel that things are more seamless in your home and there is less chaos.
Basically, you’ve been a warrior during the puppy developmental stages and put the time in to do the training and now you’ve come out on the other end where you will feel like you have a more harmonious relationship with your dog.
Caution: Having a Puppy Reach Maturity Doesn’t Always Mean Things Go Perfectly
The flip side of social maturity is this is also where you might see more challenges creep in if you were lax in your training. This is also where you might see some less than desirable behaviors towards strangers, dogs, and other animals due to a lack of socialization earlier on. It’s possible your dog may have a hard time handling stress and coping with new experiences. Note: genetics play a large role in who our dogs are You can do everything right and still experience challenges when your puppy becomes socially mature. Emotional and social maturity are influenced by a combination of genetics, early socialization, and positive training.
Final Words on Dog Social Maturity
Having a puppy reach maturity is multifaceted. Your puppy’s journey to adulthood encompasses sexual, social, and emotional development. While your puppy might experience sexual maturity earlier, social and emotional maturity take time and nurturing. Understanding your puppy’s different developmental stages will make you a more informed puppy parent. Remember, your puppy isn’t doing things to be spiteful, and they don’t have selective hearing. Your puppy’s developmental stage and their training influence their behavior. Each puppy matures at their own pace (just liked kids and young adults).
Feeling like you’ve missed the boat on training your growing puppy? Yes, I thought I had more time. I could use help getting back on track.
