behavior at the office
I am a clergy person and before I got ordained, I always planned that I would get a dog and train him to come to work with me. When I got Tucker as a pup 4 years ago, and now he's the church mascot. Having a dog around really perked up people at the church. I keep a jar of suckers in my office and I hardly ever have to refill it anymore because the kids always ask for Tucker instead of suckers
Generally, he does very well. Most of the day he sleeps by my desk in the office. When someone sits in my office, Tucker lays at their feet an chews his bone. On Sundays during coffee hour, children take turns "walking" him. When someone knocks on the outside door, he does alarm barking, but is friendly when he sees the person.. We have toys at the office. One that he likes to shake and growl and whip himself in the head with, and tennis balls to chase. People love to play fetch with him down the long hallway outside of my office.
We are moving to a new church in a new state in April, and I was thinking about changing some of the rules in the new place. He gets really insistent trying to get people to play fetch, and thinks everyone who comes wants to play fetch. The new church we're going to is on 5.5 acres and has a big field out back. I was thinking that maybe we should keep the toys for outside play. If we get there early each day and spend a good amount of time outside playing fetch, he'll be more calm inside, right? I'd keep the bone around so he has something to occupy himself with when we have visitors. .
Our new church has a very large preschool and also houses an adult day care for the elderly. I would prefer Tucker understand that visiting these two groups is about greeting and being petted than playing. I'm not so worried about the older people. He's very good with babies and with kids 4 and over, but preschoolers sometimes make him nervous. Of course they all want to pet him because he's small and cute, but I keep him close around people we don't know well.
I've noticed that he's much more comfortable with children who have dogs at home and the tentative ones make him nervous. So I always tell the kids to let him know that they're the boss (meaning give him commands), and then it's fine. In fact we have 2 three-year-olds who love walking him and giving him commands, but they both have large breed dogs at home that they boss around.
Of course he wants to herd kids so he gets excited when he sees them in groups or if they're running. And like most corgis, he makes lots of gutteral noises. He does that even when I'm holding him for them to pet him. Is that okay? It doesn't bother me, because I know he's not growling, (he's not at all possesive about food with me) but I know it sounds bad to people who don't know what's going on. When I tell children it's okay because that's how he talks, I always make sure to tell them not to approach strange dogs and that if a dog they've never met does that, they should stay away.
Also, I've noticed that children who don't have dogs want to pat them on the back end because they're afraid of getting too close to the mouth. However, Tucker is very sensitive to that because he was attacked on his back end by an Australian Cattle Dog at the dog park about a year ago. So I always redirect them.
Another issue that I'm concerned about is that the people at the new church are excited about Tucker coming and many of them want him to meet their dogs. As he's gotten older, and since he was attacked, he's not so friendly with new dogs, and always wants to heard the big ones. I do know meeting others goes much more smoothly when no toys are involved. Once he's gotten to know new dogs, he's okay with them.
I am going to make sure that he feels secure when we move -- keeping him with me as much as possible at first. But I am hoping that the move will give us an opportunity to make some changes. What do you think?
Generally, he does very well. Most of the day he sleeps by my desk in the office. When someone sits in my office, Tucker lays at their feet an chews his bone. On Sundays during coffee hour, children take turns "walking" him. When someone knocks on the outside door, he does alarm barking, but is friendly when he sees the person.. We have toys at the office. One that he likes to shake and growl and whip himself in the head with, and tennis balls to chase. People love to play fetch with him down the long hallway outside of my office.
We are moving to a new church in a new state in April, and I was thinking about changing some of the rules in the new place. He gets really insistent trying to get people to play fetch, and thinks everyone who comes wants to play fetch. The new church we're going to is on 5.5 acres and has a big field out back. I was thinking that maybe we should keep the toys for outside play. If we get there early each day and spend a good amount of time outside playing fetch, he'll be more calm inside, right? I'd keep the bone around so he has something to occupy himself with when we have visitors. .
Our new church has a very large preschool and also houses an adult day care for the elderly. I would prefer Tucker understand that visiting these two groups is about greeting and being petted than playing. I'm not so worried about the older people. He's very good with babies and with kids 4 and over, but preschoolers sometimes make him nervous. Of course they all want to pet him because he's small and cute, but I keep him close around people we don't know well.
I've noticed that he's much more comfortable with children who have dogs at home and the tentative ones make him nervous. So I always tell the kids to let him know that they're the boss (meaning give him commands), and then it's fine. In fact we have 2 three-year-olds who love walking him and giving him commands, but they both have large breed dogs at home that they boss around.
Of course he wants to herd kids so he gets excited when he sees them in groups or if they're running. And like most corgis, he makes lots of gutteral noises. He does that even when I'm holding him for them to pet him. Is that okay? It doesn't bother me, because I know he's not growling, (he's not at all possesive about food with me) but I know it sounds bad to people who don't know what's going on. When I tell children it's okay because that's how he talks, I always make sure to tell them not to approach strange dogs and that if a dog they've never met does that, they should stay away.
Also, I've noticed that children who don't have dogs want to pat them on the back end because they're afraid of getting too close to the mouth. However, Tucker is very sensitive to that because he was attacked on his back end by an Australian Cattle Dog at the dog park about a year ago. So I always redirect them.
Another issue that I'm concerned about is that the people at the new church are excited about Tucker coming and many of them want him to meet their dogs. As he's gotten older, and since he was attacked, he's not so friendly with new dogs, and always wants to heard the big ones. I do know meeting others goes much more smoothly when no toys are involved. Once he's gotten to know new dogs, he's okay with them.
I am going to make sure that he feels secure when we move -- keeping him with me as much as possible at first. But I am hoping that the move will give us an opportunity to make some changes. What do you think?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sylvia & Timmy on
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Mary Ann,
I'll try to answer a couple of your questions.
One of the things you might do before your move is to consult with a behaviorist regarding the "grumbles" as I call them, also his behavior with young toddlers. This would be someone to give you an objective eye. I would only select a behaviorist familiar with the breed or perhaps one recommended by Tucker's breeder or the local corgi breed club. I would do this only as a precaution and a sense of relief. I know you're aware that children and dogs should never be left together, unsupervised.
A suggestion might be to start having Tucker stay in his bed or area while in your office. Retired or "career change" guide dogs that have the privilage of coming to work with their owners stay on their beds, until taken out for a walk, allowed free time (recess).
Add an item of clothing or apparel that Tucker will wear when he visits, for example with the elderly or the kids in the preschool. Done on a regular/routine basis they learn to associate the "uniform" with what comes next. Police K-9 units, guide and service dogs similarly recognize the "uniform".
Also, if not yet, Tucker should be trained to only jump up on anyone when asked. This keeps his claws from damaging fragile elderly skin.
No fetching until "doggie recess", "uniform comes off and he's free to run and play.
Timmy works as a therapy dog with the Delta Society and I had to work on a lot of his behaviors before I could feel comfortable with him in an institutional setting with elders or hospital patients. As a herding breed they are acutely aware of suddent movements and that's why they will sometimes back away from small toddlers. It's all that hand and jerky movements and bursts of loud noises. Nothing they can't learn is normal and accepted, just a matter of getting accustomed them and for them to respond appropriately.
That's all the suggestions I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure that many others will also give you some well thought out advice. Good luck in your new position.
if you have any questions feel free to contact me.
Sylvia
Sylvia
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Permalink Reply by Kristen on
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I think the move is an excellent opportunity for changes. Are you going to be in a rural area? If you are in a larger community it might be an opportunity for Tucker and you to get into a Canine Therapy training program. Sounds like that can help make the changes you are hoping for. Tucker sounds like a great dog and so willing to please that I would expect he is going to make the transition well. Having outside space for play will be a bonus. I think the suggestion of using a uniform (vest) as a cue when certain behaviors are expected is an excellent idea. It is nice to know your new congregation is accepting of bringing Ticker to the office to be part of the team.
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Permalink Reply by Sam on
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Sounds like you have some very good plans in place. I would recommend keeping him on lead and tied to you for a time so he knows where he is allowed and where he should not go. I would definitely not have fetch toys available where you do not wish folks to play with him. I also think I would invest in an exercise pen. This opens up into a 4x4 pen area. Very handy and nice to have available for those times that we want to keep dogs confined but not in a crate.
I would always encourage newcomers to pet his chest. Some corgis are just not comfortable about folks reaching down at them to pet their head. Regarding the noises he makes I would stay most aware of them. I have a senior girl that makes lots of growl noises. She has never offered to do anything beyond the noise. You know your dog best but I would stay most aware of that.
I would not allow him in the playground area off lead. Some corgis just get that high excitement level and may not be easy to control under those circumstances.
Regarding meeting other dogs you may wish to reconsider. While it would be great to have an open door policy for members dogs I do think you may be opening yourself up for situations that are not going to be easy to deal with. I have found that many folks have different ideas about what constitutes a well behaved dog. Some seem much more knowledgeable then others. Perhaps having an occasional "dog day" would be a better choice. It would be good that all dogs stayed on lead for the safety of all involved.
I think it is great that a dog is in the church. We have a dog that is at school each day. The kids love him and I think the adults enjoy him too.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Ann & Tucker on
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thanks for the advice. You know, I had a play pen (6 sided) for Tucker when he was a puppy and I lent it to some folks with a golden-doodle and she ate most of it! I won't have him off lead at all with the preschool children, unless they're parishioners children visiting my home or office (which is seperate from the rest of the building). I alway think it's best to keep dogs away from playground areas in case they leave a present that we don't notice!
We do have a woman who brings her dog and doesn't clean up after it, but usually when people bring their dogs to church it's for outside activities like the parish picnic. In the fall they have a pet blessing around St. Francis day that attracts over 100 dogs and some other species. The human society brings out the mobile adoption unit and one of the local pet supply store brings free samples. Can't wait!
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