Billy: How should an owner handle adolescent behaviour changes?
When a young Billy becomes less reliable, return to the last version of the behaviour that was working and rebuild from there. Watch Billy's response closely and change one variable at a time. Return to easier cues, shorten sessions, increase reinforcement, and manage the environment while skills are rebuilt. Keep the easier version in the routine while reliability returns; do not test the hardest version every day.
What can change during adolescence
Billy's official fci name is recorded as BILLY. Here, that matters because it is useful context, but the individual dog's response still decides the next step.
Rebuild the behaviour you want
- Return to easier cues, shorten sessions, increase reinforcement, and manage the environment while skills are rebuilt.
- Keep the official fci name in view (BILLY) and make the next step reversible, observable, and easy to stop.
- Keep the easier version in the routine while reliability returns; do not test the hardest version every day.
Arrange an assessment if
Escalate for sudden personality change, pain, disorientation, or aggression that cannot be safely managed.
References
Official FCI name: BILLY
FCI nomenclature page > breed name
FCI group: n°6 - Scent hounds and related breeds
FCI nomenclature page > Group
Country of origin: FRANCE
FCI nomenclature page > Country of origin of the breed
FCI standard date: 4/24/1997
FCI nomenclature page > English standard date
FCI standard PDF: https://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/025g06-en.pdf
FCI nomenclature page > English standard PDF link
Utilization: Hound
FCI standard PDF page text > utilization
General appearance: Well constructed hound, strong, yet light; forequarters more powerful than hindquarters
FCI standard PDF page text > general_appearance
Gait: Gallops easily. SKIN: White, sometimes with deep brown or almost black spots; supple and fine. COAT Hair: Sh FCI-St. N° 25 / 24.04.1997 4
FCI standard PDF page text > gait
Use the tools