Work with the adolescent brain, not against it.
Unlock the neuroscience of the adolescent brain. Understand why adolescent dogs become impulsive, distracted, sensitive and intense. Learn how to support them with science-based, dog-centered strategies.
The Adolescent Dog Brain Course is relaunching in Autumn 2026. Join the waitlist to be notified first and receive an exclusive early-bird discount.
"This course is a must for everyone who lives and works with adolescent dogs."
- Understand the neuroscience
- Make sense of the behavior
- Apply better strategies
If life with your adolescent dog feels like a constant struggle, you are not alone.
Adolescent dogs are the age group at the highest risk of being surrendered to shelters.
This is a sad reality that reflects a real challenge. Adolescent dogs do not behave like puppies anymore. They are less compliant, less self-regulated, more explorative and more impulsive (to name just a few). And this is definitely not your fault. It is a natural developmental stage that serves a biological purpose.
Unfortunately, there is little knowledge among dog guardians, and most dog professionals, about how to effectively handle this developmental period without “having to sit it out” or resorting to aversive methods and other control-based approaches.
As a result, guardians that care for adolescent dogs feel isolated in their struggle, at their wit’s end, and in desperate need for sustainable solutions.
Make adolescence a window of opportunity
Your dog is not being defiant, they have a brain that is literally under construction.
Understanding how adolescence affects your dog’s brain, how these changes translate into behaviors, and why they occur, is a game changer.
This knowledge is powerful. You will gain a better understanding of how your dog experiences this particular time in their life. It will allow you to readjust your role as a caregiver, and adapt your expectations so that they suit both your needs and your dog’s current capacity.
Instead of trying to control a teen dog and increasing the gap between both of you, you will be able to actually support them in a meaningful way, and build a strong foundation for a lifetime of mutual trust and cooperation.
The Adolescent Dog Brain Course is relaunching in Autumn 2026.
Join the waitlist to be notified first and receive an exclusive early-bird discount.
Why learn about the neuroscience of adolescence?
Evidence-based
Gaining accurate, evidence-based knowledge about this developmental period allows you to cut through the noise and take informed decisions that serve you and your dog.
Empowering
Understanding what is going on eases the constant anxiety that makes you blame yourself or your dog. Instead of being in constant doubt, you will feel more confident with your journey together.
Actionable
Translating your newly gained knowledge into actionable skills with your dog, is the best investment into the relationship with them. It will foster more connection, trust and cooperation on the long term.
Don't take our word for it...
"This course is a must for everyone who lives and works with adolescent dogs."
“This course changed how I approach individual dogs whose needs I did not understand enough before. It helped me support guardians more effectively and challenged me to think beyond my original concepts of adolescent dogs. It is a must for everyone who lives and works with adolescent dogs”
Andrea Scott
Dog trainer
"I use what I learned in this course with every single client."
“I use what I learned in this course with every single client whose dog is between 6 months and 2 years old. It helps me explain the maturing canine brain without getting too ‘sciency’. Lexi’s course gives just the right amount of neuroscience — enough to understand the brain without going over my head. Highly recommended.”
Mais St. Thomas
Dog trainer
Meet your instructor
Alexandra is a trained neuroscientist with almost 15 years of experience in academia and research. She has authored and published scientific papers on different aspects of brain development.
Since 2023, she has also worked as a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant, bridging neuroscience, welfare, and practical behavior support. Through Canine Mindscape, she helps dog guardians build meaningful, trusting relationships with their dogs and supports dog professionals in applying accurate, relevant science to their work.
What you'll get...
Expert instructor
Alexandra holds a PhD in neuroscience and works as a certified behavior consultant. If you want to learn about dogs and brains, you are at the right place.
Clear explanations
Complex topics are broken down into understandable, accessible concepts without overwhelm, while still allowing for depth and maintaining nuance.
Auto-evaluation
Auto-evluation quizzes allow you to test your knowledge and verify your understanding of the material.
Downloadable PDF summary
A PDF handout will be available for you to download. It recapitulates all essential points and illustrations of the course.
Ask your instructor
You can always reach out to Alexandra with additional questions or thoughts that the course might have sparked in you.
Self-paced & lifetime access
The course is pre-recorded. You can learn at your own pace, from the comfort of your home and re-watch the course material as often as you like.
What's inside
Topics of the course include:
- Core neuroscience concepts you need to make sense of adolescent behavior.
- How the brain develops from puppyhood through adulthood, and why adolescence is necessary
- Why cognition, emotion, reward, stress sensitivity and self-regulation change during this period.
- Why adolescent dogs are especially sensitive to stress, pain and aversive experiences.
- Which strategies help adolescent dogs build resilience (including better self-regulation) and will support your relationship in the long-term.
No prior neuroscience knowledge is required. The course starts with the foundations and builds from there!
The Adolescent Dog Brain Course is relaunching in Autumn 2026.
Join the waitlist to be notified first and receive an exclusive early-bird discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the course need any prior knowledge?
No. You do not need a background in neuroscience to take this course. The course starts with the foundations and explains all relevant scientific concepts step by step. Some basic knowledge of dog training may help you connect the material to real-life examples, but it is not required.
Is the course for dog guardians or professionals?
Both. The course is designed for curious dog guardians and dog professionals who want to understand adolescent dogs more deeply.
If you are a dog guardian, the course will help you make sense of your adolescent dog’s behavior and support them with more clarity and confidence.
If you are a professional, the course will give you a deeper science-based framework that you can apply in your work with adolescent dogs and use to explain this developmental stage more clearly to your clients.
The course is information-rich and includes neuroscience, but it is taught step by step and does not require a scientific background.
Will this course show me how to train my adolescent dog?
Not in the sense of a step-by-step how-to programme. This course does not provide specific training protocols.
Instead, it helps you understand why adolescent dogs behave the way they do and how to support them more effectively.
The final section focuses on building resilience in adolescent dogs and breaks this down into practical, actionable steps you can start applying immediately.
Many of these strategies are not formal “training exercises”, but they can be even more powerful because they shape the conditions in which behavior develops.
If you want to explore any concept in more depth after the course, Alexandra is happy to point you in the right direction.
Can I contact the instructor with additional questions?
Of course! Alexandra is passionate about her work and loves to exchange ideas with her students. You can always drop her an email and she will get back to you as soon as possible.
How long do I have access to the course?
Lifetime access. As long as the internet exists, the course will be there for you to come back as many times as you wish.
What is the refund policy?
Due to the digital nature of the course, all purchases are final once access has been granted. This means we are unable to offer refunds after purchase. Thank you for your understanding.
Have another question?
You are welcome to drop an email to [email protected] with any additional question.
The Adolescent Dog Brain Course is relaunching in Autumn 2026.
Join the waitlist to be notified first and receive an exclusive early-bird discount.