Comment

Comment by Taylor Greve on April 8, 2013 at 2:27pm

Thank you guys! You have all been so so helpful in ridding me of pre-puppy anxiety! Like I said, I know a lot about corgis in general, but it was rather alarming when I realized I had no idea what to actually do with one! I can't thank you enough, google just isn't the same as a first-hand corgi owner :)

Comment by Heather & Ellie on April 8, 2013 at 2:10pm

The single most important lesson I learned when I got Ellie home (in January) was that all your plans can change.  My advice is to have your plan ready, but be flexible with it.  

Food: Blue is a good brand.  If you're lucky, you won't have a "messy situation" and have to switch like I did.  If you want a backup, I recommend Wellness Just For Puppy.  Ellie did great on it.

Crating: Ellie was in the crate every minute I couldn't keep an eye on her.  It really helps with the potty-training, which Ellie picked up in about a week (two accidents after, both my fault because I made her wait too long to go out again), and we're to the point now where she can stay out when I'm gone for up to an hour.  She HATED her crate for the first two months and I felt bad about putting her in there.  Persist, though.  Ellie likes her crate now and goes in there all the time without being prompted.  Don't carry her to the crate when you say "go to bed" or whatever command you're using.  Grab her collar and run her over there.  I wish someone had told me that.  Ellie thought "go to bed" meant "sit still and get carried" for a long, long time.

Teething: Ice cubes.  Wet, frozen rags.  Nothing else worked for Ellie.  At least the solution was cheap.

I don't know about the taping.  Her ears had already popped when I got her.

Comment by Jane on April 6, 2013 at 9:58pm

I would go with an all life stages food or a large breed puppy formula. Blue is a pretty good brand, but I haven't tried it myself. I would definitely recommend feeding on a schedule.

I would either keep her crated or at least in an xpen when no one is home. I wouldn't let her loose in a room, she's going to have accidents and that just makes housebreaking even harder. The more they get used to pottying inside the harder it is to break that habit. Definitely crate at night until she's housebroken.

Comment by Taylor Greve on April 6, 2013 at 5:06pm

Thank you so so much!! That helps me a lot!

Comment by Priss, Charlie & Kaylee (PK) on April 6, 2013 at 5:00pm

First off, look at the FAQ (Between "Shop" and "About" a the top) and it should answer MANY of your questions.

Food: Start off with adult food. Puppy food is just high calorie version of adult food. Give your puppy more of it if they are having issues with gaining enough weight, otherwise slow growth is the best, especially for dwarf breeds like Corgis. If you start with adult food you won't have to switch at 6-9 months and you won't have any wasted dog food left over. Figure out how many calories per day your puppy needs and split it between 3 to 4 meals. Feed at the same time every day and your dog will know what to expect, you will know when she needs to go out to poop and if she's not eating/pooping on time, you know that you need to monitor her for illness/obstructions

Crating: Crate anytime you can not monitor her, even if you are home. Introduce the crate as a good place. I suggest until she is potty trained to keep her in her crate. She should be able to hold it for 3 hours. At night, I recommend putting her sleeping crate in the room with you, it helps build a strong bond and you will be more easily alerted to nighttime bathroom needs.

For anxiety, leave her alone for short intervals, maybe with a treat, and make no fuss about it. Something like tell her to go to her crate, treat, close crate or lock the door, grab keys and leave. When you come back in, do not make a fuss or really pay attention to her until you are settled a bit. Open the crate and take her out. This prevents her from getting too anxious about your leaving and returning home. It should be a normal and accepted fact of life for her.

Toys/Teething: I recommend classic Kongs, antlers, Nylabones and bully sticks for general chew toys.  A wet frozen towel and ice cubes help with teething pain to numb her gums.

Kaylee's ears were up by 14 weeks without help, so I can't give any advice for taping. I've heard increasing calcium like with yogurt in her diet can help and support the ears.