Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Renee on November 26, 2008 at 6:19pm

Max is still working on "come". I think he's hardheaded but thats an opinion. We're having a hard time poddy training too, He knows he's suppose to go out side but he never makes it to the outside, just to the door.

Permalink Reply by Paula Hess on November 26, 2008 at 10:55pm

Did you try bells hanging off the door? Every time the door opens the bells will ring. Dog associates the door opening with the sound. Next thing you know, the dog will have a new excersize plan for you. We had used this method till we got dog doors, and sometimes they still ring the forgotten bells just to see if we come.

Permalink Reply by Paula Hess on November 26, 2008 at 10:49pm

You best bet is to open a can of "patience". How is the food bowl going for you? Does she run right over and jump on you while you are trying to put it down? Start with taking over the food bowl and she will get more patient with the treats. Put her in a sit when getting her food. When her little heiny comes off the floor before you give her the food, pick the bowl back up. She will quickly get the idea that every time her butt gets off the floor, so does the food. You do the same when it comes to the treat. You have to be more patient (as you say, strong willed). Trust me, I understand, I have an Australian Sheperd that will wait for a week for her treat and a 5 month old corgi that thinks that treat is a week late. The training is going better now that I understand my corgi's anxiousness. Compared to a child... you have a five year old hopped up on sugar on your hands. Yelling, screaming and jumping around for his lollipop. Wow, I just remembered why I only had one child. Ha, ha, ha! Good luck and keep me posted on the patience.

Permalink Reply by Allison Musick on November 27, 2008 at 3:19pm

I agree totally! I think patience HAS made a difference lately in her finally starting to do the things we've worked on for months. She could probably tell I was getting frustrated and it made her react to my instability by trying to take over. I was so focused in the beginning on "how to raise her right" that I almost forgot to just enjoy her and remember how young she is...and bond with her! :) I've been working on bonding lately and now I have a LOT more patience, since I've come to realize just how crazy I am about her. I had some very unruly dogs in the past whom I loved dearly but this time I went too far the other direction. Can't always put the cart before the horse.

The five-year-old hopped up on sugar is the perfect description! LOL. Thanks for the comments.

Permalink Reply by Kim & Nellie on December 3, 2008 at 5:16pm

I recently joined the My Corgi website and am I glad to see this group and this discussion! My little Nellie is 5 months old and cute as a button . . . . . . . I believe she is very strong willed also! We have been working on sit, stay, come with mixed results too(depending on the quality of the treat!). But the most difficult issue I have is the biting . . . . . .she is incessant! We go through chewy sticks by the handfuls and she herds me all the time! It's getting to be dangerous because she trips me.
We went to puppy kg and are starting an individual training class tonight . . . . .I am hopeful that we can address the biting and herding issues. I think she's a pretty smart pup (don't we all think ours are the smartest?!). But I do think she will get it . . . . . I just hope I can get the hang of it too!
Love her lots anyway!

Permalink Reply by Allison Musick on December 3, 2008 at 6:53pm

Yeah, I can totally believe you - I've been working very diligently with Heidi ever since she came home to teach her not to bite or mouthe people's hands (or skin, anywhere), and not to go after people's feet or pants legs, which she particularly likes. For the most part she's doing much better, but she's still not 100% consistent. She's starting to trade biting for licking, which is better even though I'd rather she just not put her mouth on anyone for anything! :) She's also very smart...just...stubborn, I think. I have to try hard not to laugh b/c it seems like she "invents" reasons to grab my pant leg on our walks. Her favorite thing to do is slip behind me and so that my leg bumps her as part of my stride, and then she grabs it! Like she's justifying herself. LOL. Don't give up! I've found a really good training treat that works for Heidi is hot dogs cut into slices and then quartered. They're cheap too. $0.98 for eight. Good luck! Keep us posted! :)

Permalink Reply by Kim & Nellie on December 4, 2008 at 3:31pm

Well, we had our first obedience class last night and I got some tips on how to intervene with the herding during the walking. Tried them this morning with mixed results. . . . . which I'm satisfied with for a first try! We will be working on dealing with the herding as we walk out the door. Love the hot dog idea, I'll be stocking up!
Thanks for the feedback!

Permalink Reply by Renee on December 4, 2008 at 1:29pm

Thought I'd update. Since goe going obedience class things have gotten better. He'll sit when told and will look me in the eye when told to look. We're still having potty problems though.

Permalink Reply by Renee on December 4, 2008 at 1:30pm

Remember children and dogs are not perfect.

Permalink Reply by Allison Musick on December 8, 2008 at 2:24pm

Just an update. Heidi is doing pretty good. She's getting better at sit, down, and "up" (sort of a beg/jump thing). She will only do "come" consistently if I have food, though...bummer. I now totally believe in her intelligence b/c I taught her to heel - and sit every time we stop - in walking only 1 block, with use of a choke chain and lots of praise. She's just one of those dogs who has to make sure you mean what you say every single time, or else she won't take you seriously. ;)