When does a puppy become a dog?

[Doolallygirl]

At what age? My dog acted like a puppy would (bouncing around all day long and chewing fingers/arms as if he was teething, not biting down hard) until he was about 2 I think. Just wondering at what age they become known as a dog/bitch?

[jills]

A farmer I knew used to say....5 years a young dog, 5 years a good dog, 5 years an old dog. I know some dogs who've stayed 'puppies' for a long time...especially spaniels for some reason!!

[number8]

Gawd knows - my 12 year old epileptic arthritic Labrador, despite being a bit slower, still acts like he did as a one year old: His latest one is barking at the back door to get let in, and then when I approach the back door he legs it around to the front of the house and barks at the front door.

[jills]

he sounds like fun scubaboy!

[number8]

jills - 'tis quite amuasing during the day, not so great at 3 in the morning when I've let him out for a wee. Still, wouldn't have him any other way.

[jills]

what a big love....makes me laugh just thinking about it. May he always be so full of fun, especially given his ailments.x

[FP]

Laughing at scubaboy's answer, I remembered my father in law's old ginger cat who would rattle the letterbox on the front door at 5.00 in the morning to be let in and then go straight to the back door and miaow to be let out. This would happen several times every morning until he got bored!!!

[Robinia]

These answers have really made me laugh. I've got a K.C. spaniel nearly 8yrs but acting 8 months. His favourite trick is to bark like mad, as if someone's coming to the door, as soon as I'm in the loo. Of course there's always the rare time when it's true & he says he's just keeping me in training to be the fastest wee'er in the midlands!