Hi Vee - They are almost through with the worst part of a puppy... mine is a year old, and there are days now, where I don't sit and shake my head, asking myself, "Am I nuts, or what? Getting this dog..." I'm told they are still puppies until they are around 2 years old. She does act like a dog sometimes, now, instead of a wolf puppy that got into my house somehow. We got her at 2 months old last year, and she made "most improved" at obedience school in January. (that tells you just how bad she was.. she had already had a 10 weeks of puppy classes before that..) But - I wouldn't live without a dog. Kathy