[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Milo has had basic obedience training at home and as you say, he does and can do all the usual things. So why does he need anymore?

Milo may be able to do all the basics, but obedience classes are as much for the human end of the leash as they are for the 4 legged one. They are a way for owners to learn to communicate more clearly and precisely with their dogs, to learn how to avoid sending mixed signals and to learn how to be a more effective pack leader. I've known someone via the internet for several years now who is as still clueless about her dogs as she was from the minute she brought them home. They'll hold a 10 minute down, but as far as being realistic or knowing her dogs, she has no idea.

If you want to socialise him, it is not at obedience training classes. Socialising is at other club and meeting activities - such as what occurs at breed clubs or at sports such as agility.

At least in the US and with Milo's "issues" that would be exactly the place to begin his socialization in a manner non-threatening to him. Breed clubs and training clubs are not about dog socialization time. They are for conducting the business of the club in order to put on events. They are for educational programs for the membership. With the exception of the more informal meetings such as picnics, dogs are rarely in attendance at club meetings.

If nothing else, agility is a great social accasion for my Taylor. Last Saturday for instance, he met up with dozens of dogs, played with a couple and said hello and spent some time with the rest. People at agility enjoy and encourage their dogs to mix and mingle - even while waiting at the last moments before their dog is about to dash through the course- because it can help to get their dog out of any slumber.

Try that in the US at most AKC trials (and likely some of the others) and someone would call a Bench Committee Hearing so fast heads would be spinning. People in the US don't encourage their dogs to mix and mingle right before a run. Some of the more intense and driven dogs are actually pretty dog aggressive and these are dogs with numerous titles in agility.

That Milo talks to dogs rather than want to grab their necks or pull their ears off, suggests to me that if he is exposed to lots of dogs all at once - all that kind of hip hop talk will go out the door.

Given his body language and expressions in the photos from his last play date, the "talk" might go out the door only to be replaced with fear based dog aggression.

For every Corgi who is very picky, there is someone doggy they will take a real liking to.

Want to tell that to a few of the ones we have in foster care?

At agility training nights, Taylor always has a free reign mix with all the other agility dogs - before the training starts and after its conclusion.

And Taylor is a well-bred dog coming from lines of sound temperament; raised by an experienced corgi owner.

A Corgi on a leash and the same Corgi off a leash are sometimes two totally different dogs.

Very, very true.

Debbie