This Dog Parent Shows Us the Stages of Having a Pup, and It's Chaotically Sweet
While I wasn't there for the beginning of my fur nephew's life, I was there for his wild toddler phase, and let me just say: It's not for the weak. Between his little shark-like bites and running around like a little tornado, it was a chaotic time.
For many pet parents, this is just another phase in a young pup's life. As one pit bull parent showcased, it's just step two of the three stages of having a puppy. While at first these pups are nothing but sweet and cuddly, they quickly turn wild during their toddler phase later on.
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"I Wish I Had the Same Amount of Energy That Puppy Has"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Fp7qzwjSz1k
Although every puppy is different, this pet parent outlined the general phases of having a pup. Between 0 and 3 months, the pups are usually sweet angels that lure you in with their cuddliness. Apparently, this is how they manage to entrap their prospective new parents.
From 3 to 18 months, these pups grow into adorable gremlins with no stop button. Filled with constant zoomies and ankle attacks, these once sweet angels begin to lean into their wild side. Similar to a toddler's "terrible twos," these pups will test your limits in every sense. After 18 months, these sweet tornados start to simmer down, although this last phase is still up for debate to some.
"I wish I had the same amount of energy that puppy has," exclaimed one viewer in the comment section, which over a hundred others quickly agreed with. Another user commented, "My Aussie stayed in the 3 - 18 months phase xD For 8 years."
A third viewer added to the conversation with, "I have had many puppies and these stages are for real. My current puppy is 13 months old and she has those ZOOMIES every day. Sending love to Stormi."
Related: Rescue Pup Claimed the Bed, and His Spare Human Can't Do Anything About It
The Phases of a Young Puppy
While it might just seem like a funny skit from Stormi's parents, dogs indeed go through their own "terrible twos." However, unlike human children, puppies enter adolescence between 6 and 18 months. To many, this is the most challenging phase, which brings about a second chewing phase and rebellion as they try to establish themselves as "leaders of the pack."
Eventually, dogs reach maturity after this stage, when they tend to calm down and settle. However, this will also depend largely on training and breeds, as larger breeds tend to mature faster.
Although Stormi's parents aren't that far off with their phases, not everyone will get lucky with a calmer pup after 18 months. That's just the quirks of pet parenting.
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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 11:20 AM.