I have a mischievous, bossy Corgi puppy...please help!
Hi, I have a 7.5 month old Pembroke corgi that we bought from the breeder when she was 3 months. From the start, she has been a handful! This is our first Corgi (I previously had a Maltese...and did not have a single problem with him for his entire 15.5 year lifetime). We recently had her spayed, but she is still extremely rambunctious and energetic. She is super friendly to strangers but is very bossy and demanding with us. Even after taking her out for a 3 mile walk, she will bark incessantly at me. She barks when she wants me to throw her favorite stuffed toy, when she wants my attention, and for no other reason. She loves to nip and bite my fingers (and bark) whenever I walk into the room or sit down to play with her. I can't even sit down on my own sofa without having her jump onto me, biting and barking. Also, despite having already lost her puppy teeth several months ago, she loves to chew on everything. Overnight, while in her playpen, she chew a hole right through the carpet. We go through a new toy at least once a month. On other occasions when we've caught her in the act of doing something bad (like jump onto and standing on our dining room table with all 4 paws, or stealing magazines/gloves etc on our coffee table), we tell her a firm "No" and she starts barking at us like crazy. Like she's always talking back to us. When she gets a hold of an object (like my glove or a paper towl) that she's not supposed to have, I tell her firmly, "No...drop it." She understands both commands. But when I do this, she just dodges and runs away like an escape artist. Even if we tempt her with her treats or ice cubes (which she loves), she'll sneak and run away with lightening speed. She is one bossy and dominant girl, and we would really appreciate it if any of you had any advice on how to address some of her behavior problems!
Also, is this something she'll outgrow as she gets older? All of the other corgis I've interacted with (even females) are calm and obedient!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Seth Tupper on
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I have often heard that dogs in general can kind of hit their "teenage years" around 7 months, where they act like they have never been trained. It's probably worse with Corgis because they are so smart, they are good at pushing things when they think they can get away with it.
The good news is, I have also heard that they grow out of it. I am hoping this is true, my puppy is just over 5 months old now and is already acting like a little wild man every once in a while.
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Permalink Reply by Marcie on
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Have you taken any classes? I am a firm believer in them. Becca has gone through a few rebellious periods. When she does training gets reinforced. I found the problems always crop up when I have been busy with work and am not doing homework with Becca. I would suggest observing a trainer before you sign up.
You might want to google NILF. "Nothing in life is free"
Becca's latest rebellion occurred when she figured out how to get books off the bookcase. I invested in another baby gate, easy fix.
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Permalink Reply by Brooke Busteed on
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I live by NILF, I have done training, I take him to the park DAILY and work on training and my little brat STILL rebels like no other. He knows all kinds of tricks but when I want him to come to me ...NO WAY!! I am STILL hoping he grows out of it and he is 11 months old. Corgi's are tooooo damn smart for MY own good LOL!!!
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Permalink Reply by Karen Mccarty on
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I just got this 1 1/2 year old........talks, barks all the time!!!!! Drives me nuts, doesnt want to have much to do with me except at night then will snuggle with me in bed, but just loves the hell out of my husband. My pit puppy is extremely well behaved as is my old pit, and they tell on Hank all the time. Hasnt destroyed much but all that is left is deer antlers and KONG toys and they all play a lot with them. AM DEFINATELY, signing up for classes, comes when he wants, pretty much does whatever he wants when he wants and always gets the last word!!
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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I am sorry to report that this is typical Corgi behavior! I'm guessing that the calm and obedient Corgis you met had already gotten through puppyhood and were well-trained and well-exercised.
Have you signed up for any puppy classes? I would encourage that if you have not. Not all Corgis are bossy and demanding, but it really is a breed trait. They are thirty-pound dogs bred to herd cows, after all! If you watch this video, you will better understand where she is coming from, especially around 1:20 where the cow turns around and shakes her head at the Corgi and the Corgi gets the cow moving again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFnc3Uklj6I
Obedience classes with a good, positive instructor (preferably one who is used to working dogs) will help you work though it.
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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on
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It's my experience that it is extra hard for people that have had a well behaved dog into really old age, like you say, to transition back to an energetic, normal, happy, healthy puppy of a working breed and particularly of the more independent breeds. The puppy stage is indeed very demanding, not unlike having a two year old human child. She will not outgrow bad habits on her own, she needs to be "civilized" and guided so she can become like the well behaved Corgis you have known.
As others have suggested, training classes with regular practice, exercise and supervision to enforce house rules all take time, but will certainly yield the desired results. How do I know that? Because you had a well behaved dog until the age of 15.5 years, so you must have done things right. You just have to come back up to speed. Enjoy the new journey!
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Permalink Reply by Bogart the Cardigan on
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Lots of exercise and training classes, and maybe even herding lessons? Occupy both body and mind with "work" for her.
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Markley on
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Ahhhhhhh....the dreaded corgi.
Yours is perfectly normal. A normal crazy corgi, doing what it's supposed to, which is bossing big animals around. They don't like it when the cows don't listen to them, and don't like it when the humans don't either. Unfortunately, the bossiness won't go away, or probably the back-talking. I haven't gotten the last word in the whole five years we've had Seanna.
All seriousness aside, it sounds like you need to exercise her body and mind more. A tired dog is a good dog. There's a forum on here that tells everything bad everybody's corgi has ever done. Read it- it makes you realize that maybe your corgi isn't so bad after all. :-)
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Permalink Reply by David DiPaola on
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Sounds like my corgi. With patience, training and treats, your dog will grow out of it.
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Permalink Reply by Ivy on
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Ein was just like that - my trainer calls her sassy. If you can possibly find a herding class, I recommend that. It tires Ein out like nothing else. Her mind needs the workout. No herding? Try agility. Oh and nosework is great for indoor - hide treats for her to find, get her to find stuffed animals. They do slow down a little bit after about 2 years!
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Permalink Reply by Priss, Charlie & Kaylee (PK) on
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I agree with comments already on here. She has reached her teenage years. The only cure is patience and persistence. She will grow out of some of it and corgis ARE known to bark a lot, though the degree does vary. She should not be barking at you when you tell her a command, however.
How much do you exercise and train her? For example, ours is an energetic corgi, which it sounds like yours is too. Kaylee gets a 1 mile walk + fetch in the morning, and one good round or two so-so rounds in the afternoon on weekdays. Fetch continues until she is too tired to chase the ball (usually 30 throws/15 min). This keeps her sane, but not really tired. In lieu of or in addition to exercise, mental stimulation from training can help. Also, she's old enough for daycare if you like that idea. Dogs tiring other dogs can work wonders. After daycare, she wants dinner and needs a rinse, gets both and passes out. No training can happen that night,but is it sure cuts down on bad behavior, especially if my husband and I are busy.
Continue her training and review if she has "forgotten" some. This include bite inhibition training. Sign up for an obedience class and ask the trainer for suggestions. In my case, a class reminds me to do the day-to-day training as well.
I would suggest a crate with a solid bottom, if she chews at the floor at night, especially if extra exercise isn't helping.
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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"Get Thee to obedience classes ASAP" Seriously, some of this is teenage behavior but some really is signs that she doesn't understand that the humans are in charge. That part will get worse if you don't start some training soon. Nothing in Life is Free also helps a lot to point out ways to show you are in charge but I think it sounds like she needs an attitude adjustment (and I mean very consistent and positive training). Some dogs (of all breeds) will require more training than others,it's just their personalities. I know after several very mild mannered dogs my first corgi (happened to be a very strong willed guy) was bossing me around until I went to classes with him. He turned out to be the greatest and definitely my heart dog but it took some work on my part.
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