---
title: "Week 19: alone time and the first signs of adolescence"
description: "Building independence before the hormones arrive."
url: https://evapup.com/journal/week-by-week/puppy-week-19
category: "Puppy Week by Week"
author: "Olivia Marsh"
published: 2026-07-11
updated: 2026-09-13
---

# Week 19: alone time and the first signs of adolescence

Building independence before the hormones arrive.

Week 19. Building independence before the hormones arrive.

## Alone at home

Work up to two hours in the crate or a puppy-proof room with a chew. Leave and return without ceremony.

> **Separation anxiety.** Whining for a minute is normal. Frantic scratching, drooling, or destruction is not. Ask a trainer early.

## Early adolescence

The recall gets slower and the puppy tests boundaries. Keep paying for the basics.

### Exercise

Still short. Growth plates are open until at least a year in large breeds.

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