To gain a better understanding of these transitions, we got in touch with PAWS, an animal welfare nonprofit based in Lynnwood, Washington, dedicated to rehabilitating orphaned and injured wildlife, sheltering and adopting homeless cats and dogs, and educating the community to inspire compassionate action.

"Physical maturity in dogs occurs in one to two years; however, emotional maturity can take longer," Rachel Bird, the Shelter Manager at the organization, told Bored Panda.

"There is variance depending on size, breed, and socialization. Small breeds will generally mature quicker than larger breeds."

It's very important to prepare yourself for dog ownership and do your homework. For example, research by the Royal Veterinary College revealed that many British owners who acquired a puppy during the height of the Covid pandemic were struggling with their pet's behavior as they reached 21 months.

The findings showed that a fifth of respondents reported their dog had eight or more behavioral problems at that age, such as pulling on the leash, clinginess, or aggression, while 33% said training their dog was harder than they expected —something that was more common among first-time owners.

The authors of the study said a key problem was that many people did not do enough research and were unaware of the level of responsibility involved in training their dog.

They went in with high hopes, but when they realized that raising a well-rounded dog wasn't just a walk in the park, they began struggling and often projected their thoughts and feelings onto their pets, rather than addressing the issues.

"Socializing a puppy with people and other animals is the most important factor in raising a happy dog," Rachel Bird explained to us.

"This is followed by obedience training, manners development, and lots of enriching physical and mental activity through all stages of development."

However, if people manage to look after their dog, they can also start teaching their kids about the benefits of having a pet. Writing in the journal Nature, scholars from the University of Western Australia said they analyzed data from 1,646 households over three years—specifically those with children aged 2 to 5—and found that pre-schoolers with family dogs were less likely to have conduct or peer problems, and had a lower overall difficulty score than those from non-dog-owning families, after adjusting for socio-demographic factors as well as child screen time and sleep patterns.

Also, things do get easier with time. Not just because you gain experience as an owner, but also because "adult dogs tend to be calmer and need less exercise," Rachel Bird said.

"They are better at listening and following routines, and can usually stay home alone longer successfully. They are likewise much better at communicating when they need to go outside."