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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on August 28, 2013 at 12:20pm

Snarling and curling of the lip are not play, but warnings.  I would never play tug with this dog, it brings out dominance.  I would also forgo interactive play until he has settled more into  your house and has learned that you are the one he respects, loves and listens to.  Teach him interactive behaviors that enhance his doing what you ask and then receiving praise for that and the occasional treat.  He may have been played with in a rough manner by his previous owner.  Often guys love to "roughhouse" with dogs and this makes them indeed rough and encourages dominant behavior.  Make your aim to turn him into a gentleman and eliminate toys he seems ot become over-possessive of.  He may indeed go through some grieving over the loss of his owner.  Dogs, like people, are individuals and you can only surmise what he perceives, thinks and feels.  Love and structure in his new life will help him make the adjustment quicker, as he learn what to expect when and that it's all good.

I'm glad you gave him his new home and family.

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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on August 28, 2013 at 2:12pm

I would add to what Anna said with a suggestion: When he brings the toy and drops it add the sit command and give him a treat when he sits. My previous corgi, Sparty, was one of those very bossy corgis and often needed a reminder that he did not get to pick games. So play only when you initiate and add a command so he becomes clear that you are in charge. He may calm down quite a lot after a few weeks but meanwhile work on making things fun for him but check out "Nothing in Life is Free" for suggestions. Obedience classes would also be a great idea.

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Permalink Reply by Heather & Ellie on August 28, 2013 at 2:25pm

I'm laughing as I read your post because this sounds like an ordinary day at my house.  Beckham might always destroy his toys in minutes.  My Ellie does.  I've learned which material types are sturdiest, and that I can never buy her the same toy twice. Once she knows how to destroy a toy, she remembers. Even antlers, which are supposed to last for months, have a very short life in our house. Corgis love to dismantle everything.

Ellie also does the "bring it back, but not all the way" thing you've described. I think part of the playtime fun for her is seeing me enjoy myself. Since she got to chase the toy, now I get to chase the toy. It's sweet. Corgis aren't retrievers, so don't hold out hope for games of fetch.  Ellie likes the halfway-fetch game, tug-o-war, tag, and wrestling. She snaps at my fingers, growls, and curls her lip at me. But only after she "play bows". (It's the bow where they stretch out with their butts in the air, sometimes tails wagging.)  Does Beckham do that for you?  If he does, then it's just a game to him and he's not being aggressive.

Ellie guards her toys and food, but I've never seen a reason to correct that behavior since she's polite about it.  She'll swap toys and she'll let me take treats away (with complaints) if I need to.  But if Beckham is aggressively guarding, then that's another story. Can I ask a follow-up? What qualities make the bark aggressive?  Is it just loud? Corgis have surprisingly big voices for short dogs. Ellie's aggressive bark is loud, fast, and snarling, plus with aggressive body language.

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Permalink Reply by Beth on August 28, 2013 at 3:01pm

Without seeing, it's hard to say. I'll take your word on the lip-curling, but I will add that my Jack growls so fiercely in play that I've had some dog-owning friends back away from him, thinking he meant it. Both of mine bark LOUDLY when they get excited playing.

I would work on teaching him to cheerfully swap out toys when he's not so charged up and gradually work up to playing more stimulating games.

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Permalink Reply by Alison Prasavath on August 28, 2013 at 3:41pm

I don't have much to add, except Noodles growls and barks loudly when playing. If people want to play tug-o-war with him, I always let them know that he will growl the whole time, but he is having fun. His little nub is shaking the whole entire time. He also really enjoys it when you give a little growl and he will come up, nub shaking & give you kisses. To him, it is just a game. Also, he is definitely not a retriever. When you throw the toy, part of the game is only bringing it back part way and for me to try and take it from him. He is so funny because he will get low with his bunny butt up in the air and wait for you to grab it and then pull it away. If you don't grab it in time, he comes closer to you the next time around and continues doing that until you grab it. He cracks me up! Since this always makes me laugh, he likes to come over to me and starts kissing my face. If he drops a toy and I go to grab it, he will also try for it as well, but I know he doesn't want to get it because he approaches with his mouth closed. I just get his nose in my hand. Silly guy and I can't imagine my life without him.

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Permalink Reply by Hannah on August 28, 2013 at 3:44pm

You will realize soon that corgis have many sounds and voices:) McKenzie can sound really mean when we play, but she would never (intentionally) hurt me or nip at me. And also, kong products are very durable:)

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Permalink Reply by Jen Giammona on August 28, 2013 at 5:12pm

Linus growls when we play tug o war and he's bitten my fingers a few times. It's not intentional, he just takes that game very seriously for some reason. If he wasn't my dog, I'd be concerned by his behavior when he "plays". Maybe limit the tug o war until he's more settled and you can figure out what's "normal" or "aggressive" for him?

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Permalink Reply by Linda on August 28, 2013 at 7:23pm

Katie does the half fetch and then will play tug when I go to take it.  Max loves to fetch and is most willing to give it back but if you don't throw it again fast enough he will bark.  I've had fingers nipped but that simply cause my fingers got in the way. 

If you hear a corgi bark behind a closed door you would have no idea that it is a dog with 6 inch legs.  They may be short but they are full sized dogs with a bark to match.

There are good ideas to help him adjust and to learn that you are at the top of the pecking order.  He will test you..he needs to find out if you are the boss or if he needs to be in charge to make sure things are going correctly.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on August 28, 2013 at 7:28pm

As others  have written, some dogs are quite vocal in play and can even growl, with no intent to harm  My Miniature Dachshund does this, especially when shaking the rope toy, or when playing tug of war with our Corgi (who is not vocal in play).  We taught her "give" and she will immediately drop the rope toy when we tell her that.  She is a dominant dog, but not aggressive.  We do not play tug with her, just throw the toy.  Dominant dogs do have the potential to become dominant aggressive if mishandled.  One needs to be well in tune with what is going on to make sure there is no animosity in it. If you misjudge your dog, you or someone else (like a child)  will pay the price and the blame will go to the dog.  Better to keep things calmer, especially with a newly acquired adult dog who is currently not neutered.  Keep in mind also that it can take a couple of months for the neutering's beneficial behavioral effects to start showing up, another reason to keep things more low key and encourage gentleness in the new home.  You are setting new patterns and he can more easily learn them if you are consistent from the very beginning.

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Permalink Reply by Jane on August 28, 2013 at 8:01pm

Instead of reaching out to grab the toy, I would try walking forward and using your body to block/move him away from it. Once you're standing over it/in front of it and he's a bit of a distance away, then reach down to pick it up. The idea is just to "claim" the toy before you grab it.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on August 28, 2013 at 9:11pm

People think Wynn is growling at them when he is really just "talking". The lip curling varies in warnings at my house. Livvy means it and Sage picked it up from her but never means it. None of mine are aggressive but can be very loud. Livvy knows to drop it or she won't get the attention or the toy. I would just walk away because my belief is that they have trained you to do what they want.

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Permalink Reply by Beth on August 28, 2013 at 9:48pm

I do agree with much of what Anna says and would agree to hold off on playing tug.  I will respectfully disagree about tug games bringing out dominance;  agility trainers everywhere (even novices) tug with their dogs to increase drive, and in my extended family of mostly experienced dog owners we have played tug with dogs of all sort, dominant and submissive, for generations and never had a problem.  You must teach him to control himself in the game.  

My Jack is quite dominant and it's hard to even get him to tug (I used the game to teach "leave it" when he was a pup, for one thing, and for another he would rather me throw the toy than tug it).  My Maddie is super-submissive and holds on to the toy for dear life;  you could pick her up by it if you were so inclined (not that I would).   

When dogs "play" tug with each other, they will self-handicap to keep the game alive.  When dogs tug FOR REAL with other dogs, the more dominant dog gets what he wants.   The definition of dominance in social animals is who has priority access to resources they want.  But playing is not the same as competition, and dogs know it as well as people do.   

Once you get used to him, he relaxes and learns to let things go when you ask, you should be able to resume tugging with him.  I might make an exception with a dog with serious resource guarding issues, but otherwise dogs like tug and it's a nice indoor way to burn off energy without wrecking your house.

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