Surviving Adolescence

Surviving the Teen Dog Phase: Tips to Help You Both Thrive

Adolescence can be a wild ride for dogs and humans alike! If you’re living with a teenage dog right now, take a deep breath, you’re not alone. 

Here are some practical ways to help you and your young canine buddy get through this sometimes-chaotic stage with your sanity (and your bond) intact.

🐾 Keep Up with Training Lessons

Stick with those training lessons! All those basic cues you learned in puppy class — watch, sit, down, stay — still matter. Keep practicing them every day.

If your dog suddenly struggles with a cue, try one of two things:

1️⃣ If it’s an essential behavior for daily life, take a step back and revisit the basics — think of it as starting fresh. Don’t worry: your dog will pick it back up faster this time around (even if it’s the second… or third… or fourth time!).

2️⃣ If it’s a fun trick or advanced skill that isn’t urgent, give it a break. Let your dog’s brain reset for a few weeks, then circle back for a quick refresher later.

🎾 Play, Play, Play!

Never underestimate the power of play. It’s one of the most underused tools in training and in building a great relationship with your dog. Make time for 5–10 minutes a day of your dog’s favorite game — tug, fetch, hide and seek, you name it!

Better yet, weave skills into your play. Games that teach cues, impulse control, or recall can be super effective and fun for you both.

Check out the Play With a Purpose Membership on Patreon to learn how to play in ways that encourage learning good behaviors.

🐕 Find the Right Exercise Balance

Teen dogs are often overflowing with energy, but finding the sweet spot for exercise is key. Too little, and all that pent-up energy can bubble over into mischief. Too much, and you risk turning your dog into a super-athlete who needs massive workouts just to cope.

What’s the best approach? Short, frequent play sessions throughout the day help burn energy without overdoing it. Mix in some enrichment that uses some mental energy, such as playing Find It Games. 

Save the long marathons for special adventures, not daily routine.

🌟 Stay Positive and Upbeat

Focus on everything your dog has learned and keep the training fun! The more enjoyable you are, the more your easily-distracted teen will want to stick with you. Be silly, be upbeat, and celebrate the little wins.

😂 Mistakes Happen — Laugh It Off

Every dog makes mistakes, especially adolescents. When your pup pulls a stunt that tests your patience, take a breath and try to find the humor in it later. Call a friend, share your story, and laugh about that moment you dashed outside in your pajamas to catch your runaway dog.

The more you can laugh, the easier it is to let go of frustration and move forward. After you’ve had your giggle, think about how you can prevent the same mishap next time with better management and a little extra training.

Remember: You don’t have to tackle the teenage dog stage alone! The Crazy Canine Adolescent Community is here to support you with tips, cheerleading, and a safe place to share the ups and downs. Come join us, we’re all in this together! 💛🐾

Turn Struggles Into Strengths

 Turn Struggles Into Strengths: A Supportive Dog Training Membership That Works

Do you ever feel like you're constantly managing your dog's behavior instead of enjoying life with your dog?

Whether it's barking, pulling on the leash, jumping on guests, or reacting to other dogs or people, these daily struggles can leave you feeling frustrated, defeated, and unsure of what to try next.

You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

That’s why we created the Turning Struggles Into Strengths membership here at Yooper Paws of Love. This membership is designed for dog owners who are ready to move beyond basic obedience and dive into understanding the “why” behind their dog’s behavior—so they can build lasting change through connection, not correction.

And this August, we’re taking it to the next level with monthly live workshops to guide you even further!

What Is the “Turning Struggles Into Strengths” Membership?

This powerful, supportive membership offers a mix of deep-dive resources, actionable training tools, and community encouragement—at an affordable price.

For just $14/month, you get:

✅ Challenging Behaviors Workshop Series
12+ hours of video lessons to help you navigate leash manners, reactivity, impulse control, and more.

✅ Behavior-Specific Resources
Monthly posts tackle real-life challenges like:

• Resource guarding

• Separation anxiety

• Barking (fearful and excited)

• Jumping on guests

• And more, based on actual member needs

✅ Access to 3 Additional Collections
All members receive instant access to:

• Play With a Purpose Collection

• Helping Fearful Dogs Feel Safe Collection

• Confident Canines Collection
  These are perfect for building confidence, connection, and calmness in your day-to-day life.

🗓️ New! Monthly Live Workshops Begin August 4th

To give our members even more hands-on support, we’re launching a new live workshop series beginning:

📅 Monday, August 4th
🕚 11:00 AM (Central Time)

These workshops will be held on the first Monday of every month, offering focused support, guided Q&A, and new strategies to help you continue building strength and success with your dog.

Can’t make it live? No worries—replays will be available for all Patreon members in the Turning Struggles Into Strengths Membership!

🔒 Doors Close Soon – Enroll Before August 4th!

Enrollment for this round of the Turning Struggles Into Strengths membership closes at midnight on Monday, August 4th. Once doors close, you won’t be able to join until the next open registration period.

This is your opportunity to join a supportive, positive, judgment-free space where you can get the help you need without breaking the bank.

For less than the cost of a one-time private lesson, you get:

• Expert training advice

• Personalized feedback

• Access to proven methods that build trust and understanding

❤️ From Struggle to Strength—Together

At Yooper Paws of Love, our goal is to help dogs and their people work as a team so you can enjoy life together with less stress and more joy. We focus on relationship-based training that teaches your dog to make good choices, manage their emotions, and look to you for guidance.

If you're tired of the struggle and ready for real, lasting change—this is your next step.

👉 Join the Membership Now

Questions? We’re Here to Help!

Still not sure if this membership is right for you?

Email us at dogtraining@yooperpaws.com for a free sample post in this membership.
Schedule a FREE 15-minute phone consultation and we’ll help guide you to the best option based on your needs.

Online Dog Training Works.

Supportive Training Should Be Accessible to Everyone.

Let’s turn your struggles into strengths—together.

Patreon Membership

 

Why Should You Join The Yooper Paws Patreon Memberships?

Affordable, Positive Dog Training – Tailored to Fit Your Life

At Yooper Paws of Love, we believe dog training should be accessible, affordable, and rooted in compassion. Our Patreon Memberships offer a variety of support options designed to help you and your dog succeed—no matter your experience level, location, or budget.

We offer free resources to get you started, and affordable memberships packed with valuable tools, videos, and community support—all centered on building teamwork and trust with your dog.

For our Service Dog Clients, the resources you need the most will be available on the Crazy2Calm Patreon Page, however if you join one of the memberships there, reach out to me for a discounted price on Yooper Paws Memberships. Many people find that joining both memberships is extremely helpful.

Free Membership – A Great Place to Start!

Our free Patreon membership gives you immediate access to a growing collection of educational tools, including:

• Yooper Paws Monthly Updates
  Stay informed about local and virtual events, training tips, and new resources.

• Focus Around Distractions (FAD) Workshop Series
  Follow Azul’s training journey over 3 years to learn how to help your dog focus on you instead of environmental distractions. Includes 15+ hours of video content.

• The Canine Car Club Podcast
  Teach your dog to feel safe and calm in the car with quick, practical lessons you can listen to on the go.

• Creating a Calm Christmas Series
  A 12-part series filled with strategies to help your dog handle holidays, family gatherings, and schedule changes year-round.

You can find all these memberships on our Patreon page here!

🐾 Paid Membership Tiers

Each paid membership offers deeper training support, access to more advanced content, and the guidance of certified Canine Coaches across the U.S. You can join or cancel at any time—no commitment required.

Play With a Purpose – $6/month

Perfect for new puppy parents and dog owners who want to have more fun while training.

Learn how purposeful play can improve your dog’s focus, manners, and overall confidence. Divided into 4 fun sections:

• Training with Tug (June focus)
  Teach gentle mouth skills, self-control, and trading behaviors.

• Balls with a Brain (July focus)
  Build impulse control and recall skills through ball play.

• Playing with Enrichment (August focus)
  Engage your dog’s brain and body through scent work and creative activities.

• Playing with Your Food (September focus)
  Turn mealtime into a training opportunity for calmness and problem-solving.

🔹 Also available: Play With a Purpose E-Book for a one-time purchase of $18.

Helping Fearful Dogs Feel Safe – $10/month

For dogs who bark, lunge, or react strongly to new people, animals, or environments.

This entry-level program designed for all dog owners with posts that break it down in easy to understand bits of information that include links to YouTube videos and pre-recorded training resources. This Membership includes:

• A 2-hour core video that introduces emotion regulation and safety-building strategies.

• Step-by-step guidance on leash manners, exit strategies, and confidence games.

• Access to the Confident Canines Collection with nearly 50 posts to explore at your own pace.

• Each month a new post is added to continue building the collections.

• Direct support from our trainers and community.

💡 Comparable reactive dog courses often cost $500–$3,000. We’ve created a heart-led, budget-friendly alternative.

Turning Struggles Into Strengths – $14/month

For dog owners facing a wide range of behavior challenges and looking for comprehensive support, this membership takes a look at more of the nerdy side of dog training helping you to understand why your dog is behaving the way they are and giving you lots of resources for modifying your training to create a great partnership between you and your dog.

This powerful membership combines two key collections:

1. Challenging Behaviors Workshop Series
   Over 12 hours of foundational videos on leash manners, impulse control, and managing reactivity.

2. Behavior-Specific Resources
   Monthly posts that expand on the resources posted elsewhere, applying it to real life problems such as resource guarding, separation anxiety, jumping on guests, barking (fear- and excitement-based) and other struggles that are currently happening with members.

✅ Includes everything from:

• Play With a Purpose Collection

• Helping Fearful Dogs Feel Safe Collection

• Confident Canines Collection

Trainer in Your Pocket – $18/month

Our highest level of access and support—like having a personal trainer in your pocket. In addition to all the great content, members are able to schedule a free 30 minute chat with a trainer each month and get access to planning worksheets and templates to help you create a unique training plan for you and your dog.

Includes ALL content from every membership tier, PLUS:

• Private group chat with Canine Coaches

• Monthly live Q&A sessions

• The ability to submit training videos for feedback

• Priority access to direct messaging support

💬 Get fast, expert advice without the $1,000+ price tag of traditional training programs.

Opening for New Members this Fall:

• A Fresh Start Membership (open for registration every October)
  A structured training path for new clients ready to reset and rebuild routines. This is perfect for dog owners looking to build up their relationship with their dog to a higher level. Weekly activities can be tailored to beginning, intermediate, and advanced dog training teams.

• Positively Safe Puppy Membership (launching Fall 2025)
  Support for puppy parents building positive, proactive habits from the start.

You can find all these memberships on our Patreon page here!

Many of our workshops and e-books are available for single purpose through our Patreon Shop. If you are not able to do a membership at this time, these individual purchases may be exactly what you are looking for.  Be sure to check out these e-books:

• Positively Puppy (6 week class)
• Play With a Purpose
• Leash Manners
• Coming Soon - Camping With Your Dog

❤️ Our Philosophy

We’re not just teaching dogs to obey—we’re teaching humans and dogs how to communicate, connect, and grow together.

Most traditional training is based on commands and compliance. At Yooper Paws, we believe in using love, play, and science-backed strategies to help dogs:

• Make thoughtful choices

• Seek support from their humans

• Stay safe, calm, and happy in their environment

Our goal is to help you become the teammate your dog needs—while having fun together along the way.

We encourage you to join as a free member and check out the content there first, then look at what you really need help with the most and how much time you can commit right now to help your dog. Then if you still are unsure of which membership is right for you, reach out to us for a FREE 15 min phone call where we can point you down the path that will help you the most based on your needs.

Online Dog Training Works!

Affordable Dog Training Should Be Available To Everyone!