Ahh, the Teenage Years

I've been reading on the forum about how most Corgis go through a sort of stubborn/teenage phase (around 1-2 years old?).

Well, I've noticed it in Darcy the past six weeks or so (she's nearly a year old). Things that she'd done with TOTAL ease before (letting me slip her harness onto her neck, being lured by treats to "come," etc), she stopped doing COMPLETELY. Out of the blue, no reason. I saw this willful/playful stubbornness come through in very specific ways. In fact, it's been a real time-consuming challenge some mornings before work, just trying to get the harness on her to go out each morning. She runs from me and hides, making it a game (when again, up to that point, she'd NEVER done this). So frustrating!

I'd also read on the forum about how they usually "snap out of it," or grow out of it eventually. Well, the past 5 days (knock on wood!), she's totally snapped out of it. She's completely cooperated with the halter issue, and I don't have to chase her around anymore. I have NO idea what changed (there's no explanation, except that she's grown out of it). Don't get me wrong - she's still a stubborn rascal, and I know that's a good Corgi trait (herding, etc). But I just think it's fascinating, watching these dogs grow up and mature and go through "stages," almost like children - Terrible Twos and Teenager. Makes perfect sense, as they're testing boundaries, etc. But it's fascinating to watch it happen in very specific ways.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on March 25, 2012 at 12:49pm

There just may be another explanation. Darcy may have connected the two facts 1) we go out for a walk and that leads up to 2) Chelsie leaves for work, thus she resisted part one, hoping to avoid part 2. Animals do learn sequences.. Since that did not work ( you went to work anyway ) she gave it up after a few days. Dogs really are smart!

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Permalink Reply by Chelsea on March 25, 2012 at 12:50pm

That's a good point! You're probably right! Hadn't thought of it that way....

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on March 25, 2012 at 12:53pm

Enjoy your smart, growing pup :-)

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Permalink Reply by Amber and Kirby on March 25, 2012 at 6:09pm

my little boy just started his teenage behavior

. the breeder says he will grow out of it. his father did XD

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Permalink Reply by Roger/Laurie on March 25, 2012 at 9:34pm

I am still waiting for my corgi boys (5 and 6 years old) to grow out of the stubborn stage!

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Permalink Reply by Alison Prasavath on March 26, 2012 at 4:07pm

Noodles went through his terrible 2's when he was just over a year old. It lasted for 6 months and I seriously think that was the longest 6 months of my life...even longer than the puppy stage. I couldn't trust him being off his leash and it was almost like everything I said, he would do the opposite. Needless to say I was thrilled to have my baby boy back after that time. He is now almost 7 and I'm loving every minute with him. He still has his stubborn moments, but then again, he is a corgi.