Raising a dog is a lot like raising a child — just with more fur and fewer words. Just when you think you’ve survived the puppy stage, adolescence hits (between six to 18 months), and suddenly, your sweet little pup turns into a rebellious tornado of energy. One Golden Retriever owner recently captured this madness in a viral Instagram video, giving the world hilarious yet painfully relatable glimpses of life with a teenage dog.
Instagram video captures Golden Retriever’s endless zoomies and tantrums
Zebby, the spirited Golden Retriever, has fully embraced his rebellious phase, and his owner documented every chaotic moment in a now-viral Instagram reel. The video, shared on @zebbythegolden, starts with a relatable caption: “POV: You have a teenage dog.” What follows is a montage of Zebby’s daily antics. He is seen chewing slippers, sprinting through the house in uncontrollable zoomies, and knocking things over.
Outdoors, Zebby’s mischief only escalates. In one clip, he gleefully rolls in the grass before yanking an entire picnic cloth across the ground. Another scene shows him locking his legs in protest when his owner tries to guide him with the leash, as if to say, “You’re not my boss.” The owner’s caption sums it up perfectly: “The attitude runs strong over here.”
In the comments, fellow pet parents chimed in with their own stories of teenage-dog drama. One user shared, “I just had to fight my teenage dog to go to bed (this is post 2 mile walk and play outside) & he refused to give me a kiss goodnight when I finally got him to bed.” Others commented, “The zoomies are real,” and “lol the toddler and teenage years look similar!” Clearly, Zebby’s defiant phase is a universal (and exhausting) rite of passage for dog parents.
So, how do you survive life with a teenage pup? Consistency is key. Reinforce training with patience — don’t let bad habits slide just because they’re “going through a phase.” Plenty of exercise helps burn off their endless energy, and mental stimulation (like puzzle toys or training games) keeps them from getting bored and destructive. Most importantly, keep in mind that this stage doesn’t last forever. With time and guidance, your wild adolescent pooch will eventually mellow out, hopefully.
