Vent: New, older dogs, no apparant training including housebreaking
I'm frustrated about my 2 new corgis. One is 2.5--the female, the male is 4.5. I got them from an out of state breeder (not a puppy mill). I made the mistake of assuming they'd have basic training and were housebroken given they were show dogs. They don't even have a clue when I tell them not to bark! The one is more housebroken than the other. They don't even know what it means to "lay down" or "sit." I got the female spayed right away. She is trying hard to be the alpha dog with my first dog. I've done much obedieance training in the past and have changed nightmare dogs into sweethearts with much work and patience. That said, I'm ticked off that a person who competes in dog shows, breeds dogs and is a member in a specific club seems to have done nothing with these dogs, but didn't tell me any of these issues, yet I paid for the one (other one was a last minute freebie). I do mean they don't even know sit, don't bark, to pee outside. I asked many questions of the corgis I tried to adopt through rescue organizations as a responsible person should. That just seemed to get me past over--reasonable questions and not too many. So given I paid much more to adopt older dogs that needed to be fixed as well as completely trained, I feel the seller was decidedly less than forth coming. I was only looking for one dog to be a buddy for my first dog. So I have 2 new dogs needing a ton of work. Strays or rescue dogs, you rather expect much work, but not from someone who shows and breeds dogs.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Karen Dadisman on
-
Show dogs are not always house dogs. They go live with a handler and might be confined to a kennel or run at the handler's or in the handler's truck at shows. The owner is only interested in putting titles on dogs so they can sell pups at a high price. Granted not all show people are this way but I would guess that's the way the person who sold/gave you these. Be kind to the poor babies. Your's might be the first house and family they have had. They will repay you.
-
Permalink Reply by Mother Earth on
-
Your take is pretty accurate. I was told the one dog was an inside dog, that she loved the couch and sleeping on the bed. I asked for additional picture(s) which showed the dog laying inside. I asked about their health\ issues, so I'm ticked off. I realize the dogs are a product of their environment, just venting. I was pretty much told they were house dogs
-
Permalink Reply by Shippo, Gidget & Sheldon on
-
Also, even if they were housebroken (and even obedience trained) at his/her house, that doesn't mean they automatically be housebroken in your house. It depends on the dog. I watched my friend's dog for two weeks because she had surgery and was not able to handle him (he is a Chow/Husky). He is strong-willed and she had gotten him at the age of 4 months and was a little over a year by the time he came to stay at my house so he was housebroken (never had an accident in her house actually) and was as obedience trained as he was going to get. Once he stepped into my house he seemed to forget absolutely everything because it was basically "new house, new person to take care of me, let's see what I can get away with." He marked in my house (pee and poop by the way) and didn't listen to me much at all. It got to the point where my friend ended up having to board him for the remainder of the time she couldn't take care of him because I was unable to work with him at the time.
Now it really could be that these dogs were actually mostly kennel dogs but there is that chance that they were in fact house dogs but everything went out the window once they figured out they were going to live in another person's house.
-
Permalink Reply by Theresa + Caitlyn on
-
If you are really lucky, you buy from someone who: shows only one or two Corgis at a time; breeds once or twice a decade; and sells you the Corgi only because that someone can't keep six or more dogs!
I am sorry that you are having a poor experience.
-
Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on
-
I had this same experience at the beginning of this year. Several LOOOOOOOONG conversations with the breeder and a detailed description of what I was looking for. What I ended up with was a dog aggressive dog who clearly had never been in a house before. He was terrified of the TV and marked the house, was NOT crate trained even though they said he was (would bark and whine in the crate), was terrified of car rides. He did have obedience training however because he did complete his championship and was titled in obedience and rally. I originally took him on trial so was able to test him out in my home and normal life for a month before deciding if he was right for me, didi the breeder you get him from offer anything like that?
-
Permalink Reply by Beth on
-
First, while some people show and also do other training, MANY show dogs don't know how to sit. Why? Because handlers work forever to teach them to STAND. Yes, I know people who show and also do rally, agility, obedience, etc. But it is not uncommon for show dogs to NOT know how to sit. They are trained to stand for treats, stand for handling, stand for attention.
As for house breaking, it is very common for adult dogs to not translate their housebreaking skills to new homes. You should have been told this, but it is honestly very unlikely that a show dog is not at all house-broken, or at least crate-trained. When we got Maddie, she knew her name and to come for treats and to stand. She WAS housebroken, but we were told to treat her like a puppy for the first two weeks until she got used to it, which meant no unsupervised time inside. Adult dogs are frequently reluctant to potty outside in new locations because they are insecure and don't want to advertise their presence.
As for knowing not to bark, that is honestly expecting a lot.
So I'm sorry it didn't work out like you thought, but just take a deep breath and don't assume the worst. Focus on what they are good at (I'll bet they are a dream to walk on leashes) and move on from there. ANY adult dog generally needs a lot of work to get them where you want; puppies are easier to shape.
-
Permalink Reply by Jane on
-
It's very unfortunate that the breeder wasn't completely honest with you. Have you talked to him or her about it? And how long have you had them? As others have said, housebreaking does not always travel over to a new home. I would be patient and give them some time to adjust to the new lifestyle and housing arrangements.
As Beth said, many show dogs are not taught to sit. They want the dog to stand in the show ring, not have a default sit after a heel. And expecting corgis not to bark in a new environment is a little unrealistic too I think...even if they were trained to stop barking - do you know what command the original owner was using? Heck I wish my two would stop barking on command but we haven't mastered that one yet.
-
-
I wanted to add that Maddie definitely did not know how to sit and it took ages to teach her because she kept thinking she was meant to stand; her default "at attention" position is still a stand and I've had her for 3 years and taken her through CGC.
On the plus side, she is a breeze to bathe, I can groom her for ages, she's wonderful on the vet's table, and I can do nails ears and teeth without any fuss at all. She was well-socialized, is a joy to walk on a leash, and will stay quietly in her crate as long as I need her to.
The dog you see in your house is not the same dog that the breeder saw in hers, because when you move an adult dog into a different location with different people and a different group of dogs (and throw a painful spay surgery in the mix) they behave differently. Maddie is not at all afraid of large dogs, but in the few weeks when we brought her home she seemed terrifed of them.
If the breeder said the dog loved beds and couches, then she was most likely in the house with the breeder. Most Cardi breeders are not in it for the money or prestige; people who want that gravitate towards other flashier dogs. However, show people frequently find themselves "over-dogged" as the numbers build up quickly. A show dog who is a house dog that is one of 5 or one of 9 does not live the same life as a pet that is one of one or one of two.
Some owners handle their own dogs, and some send them off to professional handlers or to co-breeders to show, so some of these dogs have been bounced around. I have heard of many house-trained dogs going off to a new place and pottying inside.
I guess I'm saying don't be so quick to blame the breeder for what you are seeing. Most of them genuinely want their adults to go to good homes and be happy. They tell you what they see in THEIR house but that is not what you will see in yours. They also expect their dogs usually to be well-mannered and manageable, but not to know a long list of obedience commands. And they are also frequently viewing their dogs as they live in a pack-type situation, where older dogs help keep everyone else in line.
Best of luck with your new ones.
-
-
Thank you so much for the feedback. I am thrown about the needs of these new guys as you can tell. I should have talked to my vet more about what to expect and asked the breeder more questions. As I said last night, I lost on on many rescue dogs for apparently asking questions like "what is the corgi mix?" They replied that "oh, you're looking for a purebreed. I only wanted to know for possible aggression/temperment reasons. So, I didn't ask too much of the breeder and she did comment the day I got the dog "you haven't asked enough questions." I suppose that was to mean, I would have told you had you asked.Again, I assumed these dogs had training that they don't other than she said to use the word "easy" if they're barking or not listening. I am showing my ignorance in conformation showing, versus say obedience/agility. Guess I thought all non-puppy mill breeders invested more time on the basics than some do. I think I'll have to put the one dog on her leash inside the house for now as she goes off and pees lots even though I take them outside lots, every hour if possible. The suggestions/realistic expectations you folks mentioned will be most helpful.
-
-
Good luck with your training. I have a client who adopted three puppy mill, part-Corgi mixes. Even those which had been confined pretty much their entire lives, eventually trained to be perfect little housepets. They now, like rescue dogs, are overwhelmed with devotion and love for the lady who saved them from terrible lives. I'd bet your two newcomers, after they get used to your house, housetraining, etc., are going to pay you back BIG TIME in love and appreciation for showing them a new, comfortable life.
-
Permalink Reply by Marcie on
-
Becca had been a show prospect before I got her at eight months. I visited her a week before I went to get her 3 hours each way. I knew what I was getting into. She was crate trained and housebroken. I walked with her and played with her while there. I was a little shocked at how little she knew. She had house manners, but not much else. It took a few weeks at my house before I saw the same Becca I met when I visited. It is a major life change.
Now we are on our fifth class. She is way smart and enjoys working. Are there classes you can join? It is a wonderful way to bond.
Did you get a trial period in your contract?
Rescue Store
Stay Connected
FDA Recall
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Recall
Groups
We support...
Badge
© 2024 Created by Sam Tsang.
Powered by
