Developing

[Michael Romanos]

About three weeks ago, I noticed that my 3.75 year old Pem, Taylor has taken upon himself to go where I want him to go on-lead (on-leash in the USA) without my prompting. He'll simply fall behind me and go left or right of me without any signal or action on my part. So when we are approaching the 'gorge' - a narrow roadway and pavement between a hill and a stream, he'll go left or right depending which way we are going - but the furtherst away from the road. Or when we are approaching properties which house growling barking dogs, he goes on the outside of me. or when there is grassy areas on one side of the pavement he'll shift onto that side of me. Or when another dog is approaching that is either not friendly with Taylor or Taylor doesn't know him/her, he'll go on the furtherest side of me to that of the approaching dog. It is very helpful and so effortless that I didn't pick on it at first.

Off-lead, he is very discerning of other dogs. He'll simply walks or runs straight past those he doesn't care to stop and chat with and socialise with and others he puts his best foot forward to say hello. And I don't think he has made a mistake in a very long while. Just yesterday on a long walk off lead, Taylor past three people who held there dogs so tightly they were all but chocking - one person had two German Shepherds straining to get at Taylor, another had an albino German Shepherd and another had a Pit Bull-type dog. Yet Taylor paid none of them any attention and didn't deviate from trotting straight past - though with the two GS I shouted to Taylor to "hold it" which means to come to an abrupt halt - which he does so well - and then told him to sit which he did and the guy with the GS went around Taylor and on their way.

[tandemgal]

it seems with all your time and work together that Taylor is very in tune with you. And all the agility training has worked well for you both on and off the field! Good job Taylor!

[sweetlychee]

Michael: Taylor is so well-behaved and discipline. Indeed, he's also very intune and attentive with you and the surrounding. He deserves a badge! Or, just more treats. =)

Are you going to post an action picture of Taylor on the competition thread even though you are moderating it? I have been taking more pictures of Milo for the competition. He won't win because the shots are always blurry or cut off but it's fun to join the competition.

[Michael Romanos]

Tande - yes, you hit it. Taylor is in 'tune' with me. My other Corgis were very good too at some of the things Taylor does but Taylor is on another level. Now isn't this a great advert for agility training.
Sweetly - Yours is the first post to talk about the Go Corgi photo competition outside of the competition thread. Yes, I will be competing and hope to win. The competition will be well judged by Jo. She's a very independently minded young woman who recently tragically lost one of her Dalmations which was run over by a vehicle, and this followed on from a trip to Fiji in January-February where she contracted a tropical illness which left her pitifully weak and tired and epileptic for about three months. Thankfully she has regained full health.
You need a faster film for action shots - at least 200 ASA but more likely 400 to 800 ASA.