Thriving Through Puberty: Mindful Solutions for Your Adolescent Dog
Instructor: Darran Rowe, BSc(hons), CAB PGDip*
The adolescent stage in a dog’s life is a unique and challenging time for both dogs and their owners. Packed with hormonal changes, shifting behavior, and a newfound independence, this phase requires patience, understanding, and mindful techniques to ensure a harmonious transition into adulthood.
Darran Rowe, a postgraduate qualified and accredited canine behaviorist with over 25 years of experience of dog development and training, has designed this course specifically for dogs navigating adolescence. With a focus on mindfulness, this program combines behavioral science with compassionate training to help you build a deeper understanding and connection with your dog while fostering calmness, engagement, and focus.
* Darran is currently continuing his Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh University, to Masters (MSc) level through dissertation.



Darran Rowe with a few of his own 10 dogs.
What You’ll Learn:
- Engagement and Focus: Techniques to capture and maintain your dog’s attention, even in distracting environments, setting the foundation for reliable training and enjoyable walks.
- Promoting Calmness: Strategies to help your dog stay composed during moments of overstimulation or frustration, reducing unwanted behaviors like barking, pulling, or jumping.
- Understanding Body Language: Decode your dog’s signals to better understand their emotions, motivations, and needs, creating a relationship built on trust and empathy.
- Mindful Connection: Exercises and routines to deepen your bond with your dog, ensuring they feel supported and secure as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence.
- Safety During Puberty: Learn to manage risk-taking behaviors and impulsivity to keep your dog safe during this developmental stage.

Who is this course for?

Owners of Adolescent Dogs (6 Months to 2 Years)
If your dog is showing signs of independence, hormonal changes, or behavioral shifts, this course is tailored to address the unique challenges of the adolescent life stage. Your dog must be full vaccinated to attend this course.

Dog Owners Seeking Practical and Mindful Solutions
Whether you’re struggling with loss of focus, or impulsive behaviors, this course provides actionable strategies grounded in behavioral science and mindfulness to create lasting results in a positive and fear free way.

Anyone Looking to Strengthen Their Bond with Their Dog
If you want to deepen your connection with your dog and navigate the ups and downs of puberty with patience and empathy, this course will empower you to create a harmonious partnership built on trust and understanding.