The expectations of owning a Corgi

[bubxjade]

Last fall, we got a corgi. After knowing a couple, we thought this smart, happy small/medium sized breed would be perfect for us. I am just curious, what can you really expect from a corgi? Is it ever going to stay in the yard, or is it always going to wait until you’re not looking and go stand in the middle of the road and lick the pavement? Is it ever going to understand that eating cat turds out of the litter box is not okay? How many times do I have to catch him in the act and growl and yell my meanest “No!” to make him understand, it’s not okay to do that? Same thing with the bathroom garbage. I have had to eliminate having a bathroom wastebasket because everyday, I would be picking up shredded used tissues, dental floss and my hair that he would haul out of the garbage. He will constantly try to sneak into the bathroom, and I know he’s knows I don’t want him in there. Do they just not ever care? He knows where is not supposed to leave the boundaries of the yard, yet when he is outside with us (off the tether), we cannot take our eyes off of him for a second, he is always watching to see if we are looking so he can sneak off. He knows he is not allowed in the horse pasture, yet I turn my back and there he is, in with my young horses who are probably going to end up stomping him to pieces. Is having a fenced area for him the only way? It is not that I haven’t been consistent or practiced establishing boundaries. He knows what they are. I feel at this point we should be able to trust him for more than a few seconds and be allowed to give our attention to something other than him, and not have him goof off. I get the whole “praise them when they are behaving thing” and I do this also, but I feel it is worthless.

I can’t believe we were able to potty train this dog, I thought it was hopeless for a while. He would poop 8 times a day.

The dog makes me feel like an idiot. I regret every day I have to spend with this dog. My farrier told me “Corgi’s are so loyal!” Really? To what? My old dog set foot in my horse pasture one time and took a bite of horse poop. I told him no one time. He never went in my pastures again. Never touched horse poop again. I could have left a Christmas ham on the floor for a week, and he never would have touched it. He never left the yard. He never barked. He never chased the cat. But that was a golden retriever.

I can’t feed the birds anymore because he will just sit under the bird feeder and eat all the bird seed.

He eats his own poop.

I’m afraid he is going to get sick because he is going to eat something that he shouldn’t.

Do I just give up? Is there any point in trying to make this dog listen and behave? Or can I just expect that I have rotten dog that is going to do rotten things and I have to deal with it for the next 20 years?

[Pep_n_Ann]

I think your dog needs a job. He sounds bored to death.

Last fall, so he’s not even a year old yet. I would also leash or crate at all times so these habits don’t get any more established. He will figure it out, eventually.

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=bubxjade;8589457]
Last fall, we got a corgi. After knowing a couple, we thought this smart, happy small/medium sized breed would be perfect for us. I am just curious, what can you really expect from a corgi? Is it ever going to stay in the yard, or is it always going to wait until you’re not looking and go stand in the middle of the road and lick the pavement? Is it ever going to understand that eating cat turds out of the litter box is not okay? How many times do I have to catch him in the act and growl and yell my meanest “No!” to make him understand, it’s not okay to do that? Same thing with the bathroom garbage. I have had to eliminate having a bathroom wastebasket because everyday, I would be picking up shredded used tissues, dental floss and my hair that he would haul out of the garbage. He will constantly try to sneak into the bathroom, and I know he’s knows I don’t want him in there. Do they just not ever care? He knows where is not supposed to leave the boundaries of the yard, yet when he is outside with us (off the tether), we cannot take our eyes off of him for a second, he is always watching to see if we are looking so he can sneak off. He knows he is not allowed in the horse pasture, yet I turn my back and there he is, in with my young horses who are probably going to end up stomping him to pieces. Is having a fenced area for him the only way? It is not that I haven’t been consistent or practiced establishing boundaries. He knows what they are. I feel at this point we should be able to trust him for more than a few seconds and be allowed to give our attention to something other than him, and not have him goof off. I get the whole “praise them when they are behaving thing” and I do this also, but I feel it is worthless.

I can’t believe we were able to potty train this dog, I thought it was hopeless for a while. He would poop 8 times a day.

The dog makes me feel like an idiot. I regret every day I have to spend with this dog. My farrier told me “Corgi’s are so loyal!” Really? To what? My old dog set foot in my horse pasture one time and took a bite of horse poop. I told him no one time. He never went in my pastures again. Never touched horse poop again. I could have left a Christmas ham on the floor for a week, and he never would have touched it. He never left the yard. He never barked. He never chased the cat. But that was a golden retriever.

I can’t feed the birds anymore because he will just sit under the bird feeder and eat all the bird seed.

He eats his own poop.

I’m afraid he is going to get sick because he is going to eat something that he shouldn’t.

Do I just give up? Is there any point in trying to make this dog listen and behave? Or can I just expect that I have rotten dog that is going to do rotten things and I have to deal with it for the next 20 years?[/QUOTE]

I am sorry to say that your post made me laugh and then wonder if maybe you should not have a dog or something.

I do not know a dog that does not think litter box crunchies are an amazing treat. So what if you do not like them. The litter box is the dog’s friend and it gives treats. Clearly the signal given here is that the litter box is a friend and the human does not like it so one should only take the litter box crunchies when the human is not looking. Same holds true for the trash can.

Smart dogs require you to be smarter than they are. Put the litter box where they can not get it. Put the trash where they can not get it.

Smart dogs also require activity that keeps their brain working, just as much as their body.

Saying that you regret every day you have to spend with the dog, might be part of the reason this dog is not what you would consider loyal.

The Corgis I know are loyal, good dogs that require training and exercise. They are a herding dog so that might explain why the dog wants to herd your horse.

I know plenty of golden retrievers who would do all the things your corgi is doing.

[QUOTE=bubxjade;8589457]
Do I just give up? Is there any point in trying to make this dog listen and behave? Or can I just expect that I have rotten dog that is going to do rotten things and I have to deal with it for the next 20 years?[/QUOTE]
(This statement is based on this post alone.)
I think for the well being of this dog it might be best if you found it a home where it was not hated so much, where someone will give it training and someone will properly dog proof their home.

[hasahorse]

I have to agree with trubandloki. Corgis are wonderful, smart dogs, but you have to be smarter than they are. I have to wonder if this is your first dog? Having done Corgi rescue for a number of years, along with having two of my own for the last 9 years, this is not a breed I would ever recommend to the first time dog owner. They are willful, they will listen on their own terms, and unless you get into their heads from day one that you are their alpha, they will run the show. My Corgis know that I am the alpha in the house, and what mom says goes. I established that early on with positive reinforcement and setting them up for success. It sounds like you have done none of those things.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh, but I have picked up too many Corgis who have come from similar situations to have them blossom because I set ground rules as to how to behave in our family.

I would suggest that you locate a Corgi rescue to allow this dog to have a home where he is loved and understood.

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=bubxjade;8589457]
I am just curious, what can you really expect from a corgi? Is it ever going to stay in the yard, or is it always going to wait until you’re not looking and go stand in the middle of the road and lick the pavement?[/QUOTE]

SNORT :lol:

[sdlbredfan]

The solution to the bathroom trash basket is so elementary, SHUT the door!!!

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=hasahorse;8589520]
I have to wonder if this is your first dog?[/QUOTE]
The OP says they used to have the world’s most perfect golden retriever.

I am thinking that was either much luck or that someone else did the training when it was younger and the OP was dealing with a senior animal.

[hasahorse]

Ah, I missed that part. The OP’s comments are usually ones I see from first time dog owners, not necessarily first time Corgi owners.

I have to say, there have been times over the last 9 years that I have wondered what was I thinking when I brought my girl home. She is obsessive compulsive with playing fetch, she hates thunderstorms and fireworks, she enjoys the occasional deliciousness that comes from the litterbox. But, she is by far the most loyal and, for the most part, obedient dog I could ever ask for.

But I put the time in to train her that way. That is the difference.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Sorry for chuckling, but my two corgis did everything you described, up until the day they died (1 at 15, 1 at 16). :lol: They had a VERY long adolescence, and had to be crated while I was out for eating books, shoes, purses, clothing, etc. until they were four! If I am allowed to generalize about the breed from just two examples, I would classify them as the most hard-headed and determined (in an utterly charming way!) dogs I’ve ever encountered.

Mine ate anything that didn’t eat them first (including a 30-count bottle of Dilaudid from my surgery, a 4.5-pound bag of puppy food—the dog sitter underestimated their will and intelligence, a 4.5-pound bag of cat food, several pairs of underwear, more paper than I could count, horse poop, cat poop, deer poop, assorted garbage, the cat’s fuzzy mice…the list goes on!). My vet offered to name his exam room in my honor, since I spent so much time and money there.

And yes, both these dogs were trained within an inch of their lives—but nothing overrides a corgi’s desire to do what they want. And it’s really hard to get mad at them with that corgi smile!

The late, great devil dogs, Snaffles and Andy!

[fordtraktor]

I don’t think OP was lying about the old dog. I had the DEVIL’S OWN JRT and now I have an angel of a little mutt dog who sounds just like her old golden. I tell him no once and he stops doing stuff. He’s amazing especially since the JRT never did anything I asked him to do in all his 14 years. I used to say the JRT thought he was a cat and I think it was true. he sure listened like one. But I loved that dog, such a character! My current dog is such a relief, though. It isn’t like I train him any better or different, he’s just actually receptive. and no, OP, I won’t trade!

For the litter box, for the old dog I put up a baby gate so the cats can jump over but the dog wouldn’t. For this dog, I just said “NO” once. I get it!

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=chestnutmarebeware;8589574]

The late, great devil dogs, Snaffles and Andy![/QUOTE]
OMFG, so cute!

[MsM]

Your new Corgi will never be your old Golden. Or any kind of Golden! You can train and things will get better, but it sounds like he has a very different personality. If you don’t think you will learn to love it, I would suggest you rehome him before he gets older and less placeable. Someone will love his personality, it doesn’t have to be you.

Try to evaluate the personality of any future dog first. They are individuals! If my Boydog picks up something he shouldn’t, I can use a stern word. He will stop, look at me, and let it dribble out of his mouth. His littermate sister? She will chew and swallow quickly, then wag her tail! Hardheaded little girl. :ambivalence:

[RobinL]

He can come live with me! We have no litter box, but there are plenty of pickings in the fenced back yard. Our trash can in the bathroom is on the sink in one and has a step on/lid up in the other.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I thought you were going to be asking about the breed specifically, but these are common puppy issues. Particularly for working dogs. You are not alone!

Long line. Ideally from day one. The dog is always on leash or long line until “come” and being with me is a totally ingrained (because I am interesting and play and reward “come” with treats). I’d like to take credit, but I got that from the Monks of New Skete and it does work.

Almost all dogs think litter/poop is doggie crack. I have a baby gate with a little cat-sized opening on the door to the bathroom where the cat goes.

Get a garbage with a lid, or put it in a cupboard.

Your golden retriever was a golden retriever and probably older. Did you raise it from a pup, or was it the family dog? Puppies are the devil, regardless of the breed, but some are definitely worse than others. I had to stop comparing my most recent Doberman pup (who was the spawn of Satan, unless we were training, for about 2 years) to my previous Doberman pup. It isn’t fair to the new dog. It’s easy to forget about the annoying things a beloved, departed dog did. Your pup sounds sweet, but stubborn and probably bored. I think some obedience classes together with a good trainer might help you form a more productive (for both of you) bond.

Good luck!

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=bubxjade;8589457]

Do I just give up? Is there any point in trying to make this dog listen and behave? Or can I just expect that I have rotten dog that is going to do rotten things and I have to deal with it for the next 20 years?[/QUOTE]

Honestly, I’d say you need to be a better trainer. If you’re not in classes, enroll. I have seven. The only ones without performance titles are the ones who are too young to be shown in AKC and one who was gifted to me as a mature adult. They’re incredibly easy to train if you put the effort in to it. Herding breeds train differently than the Sporting breeds. I agree with the person who suggested he needs a job. Without enough activity to do, a corgi will pick his own activity, and it may not be one you like.

[rockonxox]

Just based on the title… my expectation of anybody owning a corgi is that they must take video and upload it Those dogs are a handful, but absolutely adorable and incredibly intelligent. Your dog doesn’t sound rotten and bad. He is a smart working dog. Stubbornly smart! I agree with those saying find something for him to do. An intelligent and active dog (any breed) who is bored will always find something to do and probably not what you want.

[cnigh]

Ah dogs. They are usually only reliable within eye sight.

Even my best behaved Dyna isn’t above the odd naughty behavior. Subtle table surfing is her favorite. She has perfected the walk by. You don’t usually see her do it.

Amber is only 2 next month. I don’t expect her to be perfect. She’s a 90lb puppy. But she is my first Shepard cross and I do find her to be a little more agressive than my past dogs. I just watch her carefully and correct her accordingly.

[S1969]

My first dog was the most perfect dog ever also, and we thought it was because of us and our amazing dog training skills. Ha!

2nd, 3rd, and 4th dog have demonstrated that eating cat poop, getting in the garbage, eating horse manure, counter surfing, taking off to go hunting (if possible), etc. are all normal puppy/dog behaviors. I have Brittanys and they are high-energy and smart. My first dog was an anomaly - born perfectly well behaved - but the rest are just normal dogs.

Solutions:

1. Metal trash cans with lids. Problem solved. Close doors of other rooms in which you truly value things; move other things up high (books, mail, paychecks, cat food.)
2. Fencing. It will change your life.
3. Leashes. When you aren’t with the fence.
4. Training/obedience/exercise…lifesavers. Tired dogs (mentally & physically) are far more obedient.
5. Sense of humor. You didn’t really need that term paper/photo album/potted plant anyway.

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

My favorite thing that my corgi ate was my kids crayola crayons…we literally had rainbow poop!

I agree with the others…you can send that corgi here, too!

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=S1969;8590147]
My first dog was the most perfect dog ever also, and we thought it was because of us and our amazing dog training skills. Ha!

2nd, 3rd, and 4th dog have demonstrated that eating cat poop, getting in the garbage, eating horse manure, counter surfing, taking off to go hunting (if possible), etc. are all normal puppy/dog behaviors. I have Brittanys and they are high-energy and smart. My first dog was an anomaly - born perfectly well behaved - but the rest are just normal dogs.

Solutions:

1. Metal trash cans with lids. Problem solved. Close doors of other rooms in which you truly value things; move other things up high (books, mail, paychecks, cat food.)
2. Fencing. It will change your life.
3. Leashes. When you aren’t with the fence.
4. Training/obedience/exercise…lifesavers. Tired dogs (mentally & physically) are far more obedient.
5. Sense of humor. You didn’t really need that term paper/photo album/potted plant anyway.[/QUOTE]

Corgis are dogs for people with a finely honed sense of humor, that can laugh at everything, including their dog/s and especially themselves.