Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on December 27, 2011 at 10:46pm

Sam,  Good for you for rescuing and I am sorry that you are having problems. Jane is right in that it will take quite a while before you will see the "real Tucker" so be patient. If he is food aggressive with humans I have a fool proof way to break that. Bring half his food to him and when he starts to eat bring the other half in your hands...if he growls or stiffens at all turn around and put the food away. Do this at every meal until he welcomes you coming to his food bowl. I received this advice from a dog trainer that specialized in rescuing pit bulls and she said she never had a dog go more than 3 days before they understood that people by your food dish means more food. My Sparty had problems many years ago and using this method gave me a dog that can have the grandchildren sticking their hands in his dish with no problems. Good luck and I hope Tucker turns out great for you.

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Permalink Reply by Paco Bird on December 27, 2011 at 11:11pm

I would also do some dominance training with him, some simple things like putting him on his back and keeping him there until he relaxes can work wonders, letting him know that you're the one in charge not him (and he can get belly rubs). We did this a lot in puppy training, it was a long time ago so you may want to second check what I'm saying but you get the dog to lay on his side and then you roll him onto his back, holding his head in between your hands (a lot of corgi owners have their corgis  on top of their legs, this way they can't roll over). You keep him on his back until his hind legs relax and go limp. You can pet his belly or mess with his legs while you're doing this but do not stop until his legs relax completely. It should also help him trust you more, showing his stomach to someone whos not going to attack him.

Good for you for adopting and taking the chance, I'm sure things will work out. I certainly can attest to the vet bills, Paco recently got mange. Thank goodness we caught it fairly early, but the top part of his ear is bald now from it

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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on December 28, 2011 at 7:50am

Personally I would never roll a corgi. Corgi react well to positive reinforcement and really do want to please you. Ignoring the unwanted behavior and not giving treats goes a long way. When he does what you want a kibble helps him understand he is getting something for being good. When you start with other dogs...do walk bys at a distance and give him treats when he gives you the attention. A quick "no" and keep walking does well for getting his unwanted attention back to you. Watch for any staring as this is a first sign for one of my dogs that things aren't going the way they should and that she's getting out of control. Leashes can also be kept on the dog in the house for a quick grab(or step on it) if needed.

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Permalink Reply by Samantha B. on December 28, 2011 at 9:15am

OK, we'll try more of this. He's a major fan of snausages. :D

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Permalink Reply by Samantha B. on December 28, 2011 at 9:14am

Thank you all for your help. My fiance is better with the food problems than I am. I tend to freak out and jump when he snarls at me (I know it's a bad thing to do) but my fiance stays in Tuckers face until he backs down. We're trying very hard but I know that if Tucker hurts me my fiance wouldn't keep him. 

All of the tips and tricks you've all mentioned sound great, we'll start tonight.

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Permalink Reply by Tracy on December 28, 2011 at 11:00am

I'm sure you will find something.. Especially if you are willing to drive.  If you have any questions regarding the breed, you can ask on here.. there are TONS of helpful advice and opinions.. although talking with a breeder and or some of the "clubs" in the breed help as well.  We only raise Pembroke Welsh Corgis, depending on what you are looking for in temperament and personality and so forth.. The Pems and Cardis are both wonderful dogs, but there is Quite a difference in the two.  Great luck in finding the right puppy and or dog.  Blessings from our Farm!

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Permalink Reply by Jane on December 28, 2011 at 11:57am

I wouldn't roll him either, especially without knowing much of his background. It's really not necessary and in a lot of cases does more harm than good. Food aggression is very manageable if you stick with it. The aspca has a link here: http://aspcabehavior.org/articles/70/Food-Guarding.aspx

I would also recommend NILF (nothing in life is free) and maybe some obedience classes to give you two the time to bond and learn from one another. If he is reactive around other dogs you could try looking for a "reactive rover" class or something similar. Or just ask the training facility what they recommend if they don't have any specific classes for dog aggression. One or two private sessions might help you quite a bit too, and would probably be similar in cost to a 6 or 8 week class. Definitely look for a trainer that uses positive reinforcement.

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Permalink Reply by Roger/Laurie on December 28, 2011 at 3:31pm

Along with all the great information just love him, stroke him, talk to him sweetly.  Our rescue Tenby was a mess. It is a mircle we all survived that first year.  But he is the most loving, caring,  free spirit that anyone could ask for.  Everytime I felt like he was to much I just remembered what he had been through and how happy we were to have saved him. Every day in his eyes we see the love he has for us.

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