I have a mischievous, bossy Corgi puppy...please help!

Hi, I have a 7.5 month old Pembroke corgi that we bought from the breeder when she was 3 months. From the start, she has been a handful! This is our first Corgi (I previously had a Maltese...and did not have a single problem with him for his entire 15.5 year lifetime). We recently had her spayed, but she is still extremely rambunctious and energetic. She is super friendly to strangers but is very bossy and demanding with us. Even after taking her out for a 3 mile walk, she will bark incessantly at me. She barks when she wants me to throw her favorite stuffed toy, when she wants my attention, and for no other reason. She loves to nip and bite my fingers (and bark) whenever I walk into the room or sit down to play with her. I can't even sit down on my own sofa without having her jump onto me, biting and barking. Also, despite having already lost her puppy teeth several months ago, she loves to chew on everything. Overnight, while in her playpen, she chew a hole right through the carpet. We go through a new toy at least once a month. On other occasions when we've caught her in the act of doing something bad (like jump onto and standing on our dining room table with all 4 paws, or stealing magazines/gloves etc on our coffee table), we tell her a firm "No" and she starts barking at us like crazy. Like she's always talking back to us. When she gets a hold of an object (like my glove or a paper towl) that she's not supposed to have, I tell her firmly, "No...drop it." She understands both commands. But when I do this, she just dodges and runs away like an escape artist. Even if we tempt her with her treats or ice cubes (which she loves), she'll sneak and run away with lightening speed. She is one bossy and dominant girl, and we would really appreciate it if any of you had any advice on how to address some of her behavior problems!

Also, is this something she'll outgrow as she gets older? All of the other corgis I've interacted with (even females) are calm and obedient!

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What do you do when she is sassy or nips your fingers? There are certain ways you treat a corgi that you may not treat another breed of dog. I suggest basic obedience and NILF. I do have Livvy and although she is the most loving of all my corgis...she also need the strictest rules. She needs to know you are "in charge". Obedience should help with the recalls and many other issues:)

Thank you to all who have responded. We've considered puppy classes or obedience training before...but I was just doubtful of it because she's never bossy or demanding when she out and around strangers. She only becomes demanding and sassy when she's at home with us and in familiar environments. We can look into some obedience training, though. Do any of you have any suggestions for trainers/classes in the Greater DC/Maryland area?

Here are two in Maryland , if the location works for you:

http://www.smkc.org/training.html

http://www.catoctinkennelclub.org/

if not you can look for an Obedience Training Club in your area

Yep. My Lucy is bossy, sassy, demanding, mischievous, impish, scampish--those traits that go with independent, smart herding dogs. Lucy is nearly two and still possesses puppy-like energy. Of course, she cracks me up when she does some of  these things but I have also begun to see the calming effects of training. If she didn't make me laugh so much, it would be exasperating. Welcome to Corgiville!

Yep, sounds like a typical corgi puppy! I'd highly recommend obedience classes, and also NILF (nothing in life is free). I'd also implement some time-outs when she's being overly obnoxious. Simply pick her up and put her in a pen, or a puppy safe room and ignore her for 10 minutes. You may have to repeat it maaaany times, but she'll get it eventually.

I wouldn't tolerate the nipping either, she is too old for that IMO and doggie teeth should not be touching skin. I would immediately give a sharp NO! and move away/ignore her for a while (even if she's being annoying), or do the time-out.

I have experienced this to varying degrees with all 7 of the corgis I have had over the years..' I call it the 'rebellious teenage stage' too, and yes, they DO get through it. Just stick with the training and don't give up or give in! Continue being consistant and get the help of a dog trainer/behaviorist to make sure there are not things that you may be doing to inadvertently be aggravating the problem. I can say that one of the most absolutely 'nightmarish' puppies I had, ended up being one of the most intelligent, well mannered, sweet boys I have ever had. I have learned by trial and error with each pup. I finally knew what I was doing and what to expect by the last two! LOL

Hang in there! I have gone through a phase with each when I could barely tolerate them, but give them a few months. I always feel they have come into their prime around 1.5 yrs to 2 yrs of age. Thats when the destruction and the 'puppy' seems to have moved into happy go lucky adulthood... LOL

Another recommendation - read The Other End Of The Leash, it is great and talks both about typical human responses and how dogs percive them. I realized how much I was confusing my dog by the way I was giving commands (for example, using slightly different words for the same thing - sit, sit down, butt down, etc). Much less backtalk when I am clear in my directions!
Someone mentioned a thread about all the naughty things their corgis have done, but I can't seem to find it. Can anybody help me out with a link?
Also, we haven't hit this stage yet. I've been pretty good about daily training sessions. It usually takes sterling a couple of rocky attempts before he remembers what I want and does it immediately on command. (We use a clicker and intermittent treats) Our only problem is on our walks.. He loves them and is very excited, however he has a hard time walking on the way out. As in, he stops and sits down or lies down. Acts like he doesn't want to go. Then as soon as we turn around to go home, he's like a completely different dog! (Don't worry, we don't turn around when he acts up. We always go to varying points and I make sure he knows I'm in charge) He walks loose leashed at my side and obeys commands. I haven't figured out the problem yet.. We're working on it. It's definitely better than it was initially.

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