What Are the Causes of Personality Changes in Dogs?

If you are a dog owner then you either have or will witness personality changes in your dog.

  1. Significance

    • It is important for owners to understand normal changes and changes that require special attention.

    Normal Changes

    • Female dogs typically come into their first heat cycle between 8 and 16 months. This can cause your dog to either become more withdrawn or more aggressive. High energy dogs usually start to tone down at about 12 months, so a suddenly calmer dog is also normal.

    Changes that need Attention

    • If you notice that your dog is being more destructive than usual, then physical pain might be the cause of this personality change.

    How to Know

    • The only way to know for sure if your dog's new behavior is the result of normal development or something more serious is by taking your dog to a veterinarian.

    Fun Fact

    • At the age of one year, a dog is as physically mature as a 15-year-old person.