Too Protective???

[woogiebear]

Hello everyone. It's been awhile since my last post. We almost lost my mother-in-law and have been very busy with her. She is doing fine now however and now I can turn my attention back to my loveable pups!

Although the crates have helped tremendously with the potty training, we are still struggling. They never potty in the crates (except once when they were sick). When we let them out of the crates they immediatly go outside and usually will do business there. However, when we come back inside and it is time for play and running of the house, they will still sneak off somewhere and Doo the Deed so to speak. So I am still seemingly constantly picking up messes! Oh how I wish they would stop this!

More importantly I have discovered that although Rotten is no where near as bad as Spoilt, I have having protection problems from the little boys.

While walking Rotten, he will occassionally bark at people or other dogs and will always try to chase a kitty. But maybe because he is so much smaller than Spoilt I do not have that much trouble controlling him.

Spoilt on the other hand just wracks my entire body. He is so much bigger and at last weigh in hit 27 lbs. I had massive spinal surgery about 9 years ago on top of the fact that I am extremely overweight and very short so combining all these dynamics together makes for a very VERY painful walk when I take Spoilt and he starts going hogwild!

The very second he sees anyone (even a block away) or hears another dog or sees a cat, ANYTHING....he starts jerking the leash, pulling at it, whips it around my back, when he can not get to whatever it is he is interested in he attacks Rotten, barks loudly and incesstantly. He is absolutly uncontrollable. I even go down on the ground and grab his collar and tell him NO! and yet he continues to act like the Dog Terminator.

They are both scared of every little sound inside the house. They bark at shadows. If we stomp our feet (I have very old hardwood floors) when we walk or something they bark and growl. Even though Spoilt is my husbands dog (I usually do most of the caretaking due to his schedule) he will growl and bark at him when he comes into the room too loudly. If he is taking thier pictures they will bark and growl at him. Sometimes they act like they are protecting me and this makes me feel bad for my husband.

This morning there was a little old man that regularly walks down the road each morning and afternoon coming and going to work. Normally I do not see him but I was running late this morning. Scott will see him in the afternoons however and he used to love MilkDud before he passed so he always stops and talks with my husband and the dogs. This morning he is coming down the street and Spoilt is going hogwild at the site of him. He says "I'm sorry....I don't know why they are doing that. They don't do that when your husband walks them. I talk to them just about every afternoon." I just apologized to the man (so embarrassed) and told him I guess it is just me they do that with.

If they are close enough (and I say they because once Spoilt starts Rotten thinks he should follow) they act like they want to attack!!!

I don't know what to do about this. I think they really need to be around other people and animals, but don't really have many friends that would volunteer for the job. If people come over, they bark a little but don't do the attack scene. It's like once the realize that we have let them in they must be ok.


I don't know what to do by this point and I am the one available for most of the walking sessions. My husband will take them whenever he can but it is usually me. And this is becoming not only embarrassing but also very painful physically for me.

Here is a Christmas picture we took of the little demons last night.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

[glencorgi]

The best advice I can give is go back to square one, just as IF the boys had just arrived in your home. What you are experiencing is why so many of us advise waiting until one puppy grows up before adding a second puppy to the home.

Search through the archives and find Nothing In Life Is Free training program and begin that with both the boys. They are not reliable in the house, so they should not have free run of it - tether them to you so you do know where they are at all times - will cut down on the "gifts" you find.

I'm not so sure there is protectiveness going or just testing boundaries of exertiveness whenever you are out with them. They can get away with it with you, evidently they can't with your husband. For you, it would be best to walk them one at a time, not both at the same time. You need to establish your position of leadership and authority.

The fear issues they are displaying highly concern me, not normal behavior for Pembrokes at all.

The best thing I believe you can do is bring in some outside help either a trainer or behaviorist to work with you and the boys. They are out of control and a handle needs to get on it ASAP or you are going to have corgis you aren't happy living with.

Debbie

[tandemgal]

Woogiebear,

You have had a time of it this year haven't you! Glad your mother-in-law is better...

It does sound like the boys and you need a fresh start now that you can devote time to them again. Debbie has dealt with rescue corgis and their behavior problems for a long time so I would do as she suggests.

If you can't bring in a trainer then perhaps you can enroll in a training/behavior class in your area - I would start with Spoilt - he seems to be the ring leader. Although with your back problems perhaps your Hubby could come too and do the handling till Spoilt is doing better....

Good Luck with your Boys...

[darci]

What kind of leash are you using ???

I was using a flexi-retractable leash and was having the same problem. I thought Egan was going to rip my shoulder off.

I changed to a regular nylon leash and that has helped so much. I also have a martingale collar on order.

Glad your MIL is getting better.

[Chip's Mom]

I second the motion for obedience classes. Chip loves everyone and since he has been in his obedience class for awhile, I can take him in stores, flea markets, etc and he is very well mannered. I have learned alot just handling my little boy.

[woogiebear]

I will look around and see what I can find. The only obedience class I have found so far is like $300 and I just can not afford that. But I will keep looking and see if I can find something a little more affordable. Thanks for your input! Oh, and I have them on nylon collars and leashes.

[Chip's Mom]

I had a hard time locating a class so I asked my vet and called a few other vet's office and got some names. There are a couple of classes that are closer to home for us that I have recently located but I really like the instructor where we are going. We drive 45 minutes one way each week but she is really good with Chip and thoughtful about his height and little short legs so it is worth it.