Sure, Sid is one year and 9 months old. I really don't know how we would have taught Sidney without the great trainers at Kindred Spirits training. Really, a good class will help so much with the excitement when it come to other dogs and people. At times I would think "wow, they're so tough" but Sidney is a very well behaved young man now.

Hi Kimber!
We are in a group class. There are about seven or eight dogs in class. My daughter (age 17) is Sidney's trainer; I'm just there to watch and support them (and pay for the class, LOL).
The first class was a review of basic obedience. All the dogs have to have sit, down, stand, sit-stay, down-stay, wait, stay and heel down really well.
Next they introduced the dogs to canes, walkers and wheelchairs. Since these things are foreign to most dogs, they want them to be comfortable and not shy away. Sidney was nervous around the walker, so they gave us one to bring home and get him used to it.
Second class we saw if they were better used to the cane, walker and chair, and they started learnign how to approach persons in these situations, and also how to stand still to be petted. The owners learned how to position their dogs so the people don't bang them on the head or scare the dogs. Since Sidney is too short to be petted by a person using a wheelchair or walker, he is learning the command "paws up" so he can get on his hind legs and put his legs up on a chair or the brace of a walker. Corgis are different in that they are too big to be lifted and too short to stand on the ground!
That is what we've done so far, in two classes. Oh, many dogs have to re-learn "leave it" because many people who therapy dogs visit have toys, or have food hidden in pockets, etc. The dogs have to know it's NOT ok to take those things!

Any special book you can reccommend for training? She is still so excitable at 5 mos. that I am having problems training her to sit. I know she is very intelligent, she gets excited when I pull out a treat.l was hoping she would learn something by watching Lexie when I ask her to sit. I try to place the treat in a way that she has to sit to get it and then praise her. I read that a ton of praise is in order. Lucky you (and your hard work) that you were able to train Favorite so easily. I need to get started on it. I want to make it fun for her!
Thanks for the tip on canned green beans. I forgot all about them and it wouldn't hurt me either to lose 5 lbs so I will stock up on them this week.
You're so nice..Thanks!!

I know what you are saying...about the corgi smile. Mine is always so happy, which makes me feel happy too. My cocker spaniel has sad droopy eyes and looks sad, but I know its just the way she looks. Bella is only 5 months old and already "signals" with her eyes what wants. She's very obvious about it. If I don't catch on .. she lets out a bark or corgi-speak...lol.
Favorite is a beautiful girl and very photogenic. Your sister took some really cool pics of her.
I hope to have more time to train Bella. She is still young and so playful. I'm not sure what age to train, but am trying now to teach her little things. She is ornery and still doing the frenetic puppy run....So much fun!

The campground is about 60 miles from me. North. Twisty windy road. Its about 6 miles north of Pine Idaho. Too bad it isn't closer to you. Would be fun for Favorite and Kota to play. Maybe you can find a good spot near you to go camping. Kota and I went camping the weekend I got him... he did well and seemed to enjoy it. Have not taken him back out since then... we will be going up there to check out the campground in a couple weeks I think...

THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL COMPLEMENTS. I TREID TO LIG ONTO THE YOUTUBE SITE YOU GAVE ME, BUT SOME WEIRD STUFF CAME UP. CAN YOU GIVE IT TO ME AGAIN?

Thanks for the tips. I'll keep working on it with him. Do you have a signal for stand that you use? Finnigan is a lazy boy and if he is not moving, he insists on sitting or lying down. I wanted to get some nice pictures of him standing to send to his breeder to show him how Finn is turning out but he just won't stand for me.

Finn barks all the time so I don't know why he won't do speak. He will bark when we are playing and you get him excited about a toy you are holding so I tried teaching it this way and he'd seem to get it but then I would test him later by saying speak and doing the hand signal I connected to it and he wouldn't do it. It seems like he will only speak when he is excited.

Thank you for the compliment on Finn. Favorite has a darling face as well. Good thing she was a little too tall or she may not have made her way to you. :) Finn's breeder said Finn is structurally correct, he just didn't choose to keep him because he already has a great blue merle male (Finn's daddy), so he chose to keep Finn's only surviving brother who was a tri and he ended up passing away at 10 weeks. Finn's a lucky boy and we are lucky to have him. :)

I will let him know. Unfortunately he does not have a Corgi yet. I am hoping maybe for his birthday. When I lived over there I did not see many Corgis so I bet it is hard to find others for play dates. Many of the Corgis in my area are working (herding) so they don't have much time for play. Mine of course is just a little spoiled house pet (ruler, LOL).

Hi. I noticed your post on NW Corgis and my son lives in Salem and is your age. His name is Terry Sours, maybe you know him. I have a group on Gocorgi.com called Cowboy Corgis as I live in Wyoming, I am the only member. Don't know if Wyo folks don't use internet or just don't use the site, but there are lots of Corgis around here.

I am now not as separated from him as I was. I now live about an hour and a half from him. I am planning on being a campground host for 2 months this summer which I can take him on. I am so excited. Things are going well. He is a pretty good boy. He barks at nothing/things/people outside. Trying to get him to not bark as much. The spray bottle is helping a little. I do not spend much time with him. I go see him as much as I can. The last 2 weekends I have gone to stay at my mom's. Am going there today and will be going back from Friday to Monday probably. I will probably work more on tricks during the 2 months I will have him constantly. That way the training will be more constant. Thanks.

Hi Kimber,
We have taken Sidney to obedience classes, beginner, intermediate and then drop-in intermediate. My 17 year old daughter is his trainer and works with him on her own also. The training school ...I'm not sure what to call their method...has really good results. The school offers a CGC class, but we were there one day during a dog faire and they offered the CGC exam for anyone who wanted to try it out. We thought it would be good practice, but were surprised to learn that he passed! I was so proud of our little guy (and barely a year old at the time).

Here is the link to my blog post where I described the test:
http://mycorgi.com/profiles/blogs/1150197:BlogPost:199610

good luck!

.

Just wait til you have your own!

Favorite is a very cute puppy! Nice to see other Corgis in Salem!

Dogs are easier then children but there is nothing better then the feel of their little hands in yours, arms around you and tiny lips kissing you. The sweet sound of I LOVE YOU, MOMMY from their little voices is the best sound you'll ever hear.

Real kids are a whole other topic and I won't even go there. lol

Well you certainly sound dedicated enough and know all the hassle w/it but in the end there are many joys that out weigh the hassles.

Welcome Kimber and Fave! I love your photos!
I have the same corgi figurine..I got it at a Michael's craft store.

I will let you know if I get that accomplished...they'll probably want to eat the darn thing. LOL Thank you for the compliment. I love my dogs but you have to be alittle crazy to have this many in the house. hehe