In today society, every dog needs to be taught manners. All too often dogs are taken to rescue groups and animal shelter because their owners didn't take the time to learn to train or the 10 to 20 minutes a day to teach their corgi how they wanted it to behave. As intelligent as corgis are, they are not mind readers and we have to teach them what we expect of them. (Puppies rarely grow out of nipping or jumping up on people) Everydog even those who will not be going on to become performance dogs (obedience, flyball, herding and so on) need to learn some basic commands to live happily in todays household. Every corgis needs mental stimulation.
There are some simple concepts universally used reguardless of what type of training style you chose to use in training your corgi. They are being consistant, fair, patient, persistant, practice and to praise.
Consistant - If you don't want a corgi to jump up on you when wearing your dress clothes then don't allow it to jump up on you when your in chore or weekend clothing. Reason being the dog cannot tell the differance between what is and isn't dress. Corgis understand yes or no, can or cannot and they don't understand the concept of sometime, later, or maybe.
Fair - Teaching the corgi what I expect and if he/she is still confused or frighten helping him/her through it. If on the other hand, if I eliminate those two possiblities and know for certain that he/she is distracted or just ignoring me then I correct them by either putting him/her back on lead (to remind the dog who is the leader), a leash correction (if we are all ready on lead), or reposition the dog. An example would be if my corgi is busy watching a squirrel when I called her and she choses to ignore me, I would go to her and correct her so she understands the reason for the correction. If I wait until after she has come to me to correct her ,she will connect the correction with coming to me not with ignoring my command. Now I would be acting unfairly plus most likely end up with a corgi that won't come at all when called. Notice: I said correction not punishment. A correction is scooping the butt under for a sit when it refused to do so when commanded. It is done calmly and no emotional baggage attached. Punishment involves harsh emotions and has no place in training. If you've had a bad day then don't train that day. If your having a bad training session cut it short by ending it with something the dog already does well and on end the session on a happy note.
Patient - Working at the dogs pace not the owners and not rushing a dog though learning an exercise. Just because a corgi does an exercise correctly once or twice doesn't mean they "understand" it. It takes weeks of repetion gradually going from no distraction around to a busy place before a dog truely understands a command. Sometimes in training you have to backing up a step before going forward.
Persistance - A hard one for some owners. Corgis are experts at wearing an owners resolve down. If you truely want a behavior to end then you have to more stubborn then your corgi. Everyone when they train their first dog feel like throwing their hands in the air and giving up. Good trainers work through these tough times, perhaps finding a new approach, and know that evenaully they'll get what they want. An example of pesistance is to say a command only once and if the corgi doesn't obey then place him/her into position. In other words expect them to obey the first time everytime and if the don't help them to conform to your wishes. As trainer and author Diane Bauman phases it, Demand sweetly.
Practice - Take 5 to 10 minutes twice a day to train your corgi. Did you learn your multiplication tables without practicing them? Terry Ryan the international know trainer has a great quote "Train don't complain!" If Sweetums is over 7 weeks old then Sweetums can start learning simple commands such as sit and off in frequent but very brief training sessions.
Praise - All too often owners hold back with praise. Its the way a corgi knows he/she has done something right. Its part of a corgis paycheck (along with tiny bits of treats)! Have a range of praise words to show how happy you are and so your not resaying "Good dog" all time. "Atta boy/girl!", "Terrific!", "That's great!" are good examples. Some can be reserved for when your furkid does something fantastic such as when your corgi comes running as fast as those short legs can carry them on a recall.
Keep training session fun for you and the dog. Keep it short and have a definate goal in mind for that session. Maybe you want to work on stays or downs in particular in that session.
Corgis don't at all respond well to heavy handed training methods but, on the other hand, they can easily run rough shod over a submissive owner. The best owner of a corgi is one that is firm but fair, taking the time to understand them and just as determined as they are.
Find a training method you feel comfortable with and use it. There are many excellant training books available and many areas have group or private training classes. Use the training every day not just for once in a while or special occasions. Remember to say the command instead of assuming the dog "knows" what you want. Please start training your corgi because he/she is worth it.
