Is 4 months a headstrong age?

[Erin B]

My smart & beautiful Butters is 4+ months old now (born December 6). She seems to be getting extremely willful. Is this an age thing that maybe she will pass through? 

After I finally got the crate thing sorted out and she learned to tolerate it, she spent a month running into it cheerfully every day when I left for work. Now when she knows it's crate time she flops down on the floor and goes limp. It's kind of funny but also not. :) I have to drag/cajole/treat/make stern faces to get her to go in. 

Last night for the first time she pulled the fall-down-go-limp thing when it was bedtime, too -- normally she trots upstairs beside me and heads right into her bedroom crate. She would NOT come so I finally just left her down there and went to bed. I don't know where she slept, but luckily nothing was destroyed this morning. 

She is also not responding to basic commands that she knows like the back of her paw. Yesterday on a walk she refused to sit, for pete's sake. She just stared at me. Sheesh! 

Anyway. Phase, or true colors shining through?? 

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Sounds like she is testing you. I'd tighten up the training to let her know that it's you who decides how things are done - especially since she is so young and still learning. They are adorable and so it's a challenge! :-)
You'll probably go through teething soon too, so expect lots of chewing (risk if left unsupervised!)
Best of luck!

[Erin B]

I want to laugh at her when she is lying there all boneless! But I know I need to be tougher and more matter-of-fact.

I don't plan to leave her uncrated again either at night or during the day. I do NOT trust her not to chew something or eat something weird. I was just at the end of my rope last night! Silly little thing. 

[SoSa]

I am convinced that 4 month is a headstrong age. We have been going through the same exact thing. I had to actually dona search on 4 month old puppy behavior. I even posted about this myself. I am hoping it's a phase. :-) Glad to know I am not alone.

[Chris]

We have one "special" treat she only gets when it is time to go in the kennel.  She really likes that treat and so far goes running for the kennel every time we say the word "kennel"

[Amy and Annabelle]

Mine does the same flop. We have termed it the Annabelle flop. At 8 months still does it. However, mine is a mini and only weighs 13lbs, so I can just swoop her up and put her where I want her if she protests. Usually it is when she wants to stay outside longer. But once in awhile she protests the crate. I think it's because she knows we are probably leaving without her. Never at night though. She is the one that puts herself to bed. Same time every night she heads to her crate for bedtime. I do think 4 months is a headstrong stage. It is when they are testing the limits to see what they can and can't get away with. I have never let Annabelle have her way. When she was 3-4 months she would bite at me when I picked her up and she didn't want to be. I had to wear work gloves there for awhile. She is much better now, but she still has a stubborn streak. Lucky for me she is little and no longer bites at me.

[Dexter Doodle]

Yup, 3-4 months was when my guy really started testing me to see what he could get away with. Still at 9 months, just about every night he puts on the "I'm too exhausted to go potty before bed" act. Sometimes it is funny and other times I'm not in the mood to deal with it. He knows by my tone that I mean business. He goes from sitting up to the position in this picture. I have to say that I feel the same way some mornings! These doodles certainly are characters!

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Yup, typical "toddler" stage!  And, then comes the Adolescent stage after that. :-)

Unless you are OK with letting her sleep outside of her crate, I would be careful about leaving her downstairs to sleep. Doing so will give her the message that she can get her way if she lays there long enough. Next time just snap on her leash and matter of factly start walking upstairs. An extra special "bedtime snack" in her crate might help, too.

At one year old, Winnie can still be quite the Drama Queen. On days when she comes home exhausted from doggy daycare, I swear I can almost hear her saying, "I can't possibly move right now. Yes, I know what you are saying, but I really CAN'T do it..."  But, it's different now than when she was younger. Back then it was more of a "make me!" attitude, which sounds like what Butters is going through right now.

Keep up with your training, and make sure to reinforce everything you say. If she doesn't want to sit, wait until she actually does it, or gently push her rump down. If you call her and she doesn't come, put her leash on and make her come.

Hang in there- it will get better!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

LOL.... The good news/bad news is: She sounds extremely NORMAL! She is coming into her own...think of it as a toddler who just learned the word NO, and what it represents.
I would not let her get away with any of this. Never ever give a command that you can not follow through on.. Re the into the crate thing. By letting her lie there where she was showed her you really didn't mean the command given to her. Be very aware that this is just the beginning of her " selective hearing". Patience and continuous training will get you both through this.