Weird Corgi Trait?

Whenever Thor sees a small dog that is white or with curly fur, he will crouch low and walk slowly towards the dog, like he's stalking sheep - when he realizes it's another dog, then he goes back to normal - it's kind of funny to watch. He's a rescue (around 10 yrs old), I've only had him for 6 months, and I know nothing about his previous life. Unless he lived on a ranch of some kind - does anyone else's Corgi do this?

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Permalink Reply by steve smith on July 21, 2011 at 5:19pm

Neither one of mine do that. Sure is funny.

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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on July 21, 2011 at 6:15pm

Hi Norma, very normal :)

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Permalink Reply by Jen on July 21, 2011 at 10:52pm

Ginger turns tail and runs when she sees smaller dogs. The "odd" trait reminded me of what happened last nigh at our house while we were watching the Royal's vs White Sox baseball game. Any time they showed a group of White Sox players on the screen, Ginger would growl at the TV and bark like they were coming into HER house. We also found out that she hates the big, old school microphones that look like an electric razor. I have no idea where either of these behaviors came from because she's been with us since she was about 10 and a half weeks old. They are definitely a very silly, entertaining, OCD breed! :)

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Permalink Reply by David on July 21, 2011 at 11:30pm

Yes, Yoda does this to all strange dogs!

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Permalink Reply by Chris West on July 22, 2011 at 12:03am

Frosty does this when he hears somebody pick up the lazer pointer... or when a bird lands in the yard... or when he is sneaking on one of the farm cats...

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Permalink Reply by Geri & Sidney on July 22, 2011 at 3:16am

yes, Sindey does this, but with larger light-furred dogs like labradoodles and goldendoodles. He attempts to steer them by jumping at their heads, which can be quite embarrassing for me! He's been to sheepherding instinct testing twice and he shows he's got the right stuff, so I think he's trying to herd them!

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Permalink Reply by Beth on July 22, 2011 at 10:15am

Corgis are usually upright herders, not stalkers like Border Collies. This sequence is actually part of the hunting sequence (stare, crouch, stalk, pounce). Many dogs have this as part of their play repertoire. He may have had a small white playmate in his former life.

Border Collie breeders have captured the beginning part of the sequence (stare, crouch, stalk) as part of how BC's herd: BC's are considered "Strong-eyed herders". But Corgis and most other herding dogs are loose-eyed, and they don't stalk much when they herd. They run and nip and bark and circle.

So it is normal play activity, but probably not too much to do with sheep. Plus, Corgis herded cows and geese, mostly. Not so much sheep. :-)