ROMMEL: Shy dog or what???

[kalima62]

Well as the titles allready makes you understand what I'm about to
talk about...my pembroke is not what you would call a performance
corgi as in the beggining I had no idea I would try it. So when I
got Rommel at 3 months, the breeder adviced me this calm and sort of
timid puppy that was so cute!! Actually, he wanted to know what I was
looking for in a puppy, and as I allready had a female pinscher which
is too outgoing, non stop bundle of nerve bouncing ball, I was
pleased to have this doggy with a very calm down to earth caracter.
Oh, don't misunderstand me, Rommel is NOT defenetly a STUFFUD toy, he
is playful and full of joy and loves to play fetch and tug of war in
any time of the day....

Well as I was saying before, Rommel And I go to agility classes since
the beggining of may, we both love it.....BUT.......he's very
lunatic, It seems he decides weather to move from the starting
position and when to move!! Yesterday, he did just that. We had an
easy zig zag of 4 obstacles, the tunnel, 2 other obstacles, the A
frame and the last obstacle. He just would not move as he was glued
in the sit position. His look on his face, was as if he had been
scolded with his ears slightly back or as if he was embarassed. No
way, so I was told to put him in the boxes for 5 mins. After, we
tried again,the same thing happened plus looking at the other dogs,
sniffing in the air and IGNORING me!!!
5 more minutes in the box....
Again, the same thing, so I was told to pull him gently over the
first hurdle which he cleared but got stuck on the next, I allways
incouraged him with kind words and gentle tone of voice, but we did
the whole run stopping and starting all the way!!
He knows what I want him to do, when he's all revved up,he goes like
lightning when he wants to, but some lessons, he just gets me down.
It makes me think I'm wasting my time and money for nothing. In
september, there will be my first trial, but if he continues to
behave like so, we'll never be ready!!
My obedience homework goes on beautifully, but in the class he does
everything i tell him to do...sit, stay, lay down....but in SLOW
MOTION!!!
What I would like to know is.... are some dogs just not suitable for
some activities more than others? I've heard of some dogs beeing too
nervouse and shy in the show ring and have to be retired. Should I
retire my dog or go on for a few more months and wait and see???
Thankyou
MARISA ( ITALY)

[glencorgi]

How old is Rommel now? Once that is known, then maybe we can do some sorting out of what is going on.

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

Timid dogs are uselss at agility. So he is not timid as you say.
Here are a couple or so of quick suggestions:
Go back to taking him around the course or over or through the obstacles on-leash ie you control him through the leash so when you say GO, he goes.
Do this many times - even (and especially) if it is only jumping a single hurdle.

Do the pep talk beforehand like I said in another post ie get down on your knees with him at the very start of his entry into an 'event,' get behind him, gently raise him up off his front legs, scratch his chest and tummy and tell him excitedly that he has to run his fastest and perform his bestest, then line him up right alongside you and both race at the command LETS GO.

Go back to the basic come, sit, stay training routines. Over and over.

Agility training should be fun for you and your Corgi - remember to make it fun, fun, fun and show lots of enthusiasm that can rub onto your Corgi, lots of praises and patting and treats and tugs of war(if he likes tugging).

[kalima62]

Debbie, Rommel is just turned 1year old.

[Michael Romanos]

Because of a Corgi's conformation (structure), I would not entertain full blown agility until they are around two years old. In New Zealand, no dog can enter into agility competition until they are over 18 months. Anyway, an older Corgi usually has more confidence than a younger one such as Rommel.

As another thought, I would much prefer Rommel gets to socialise with as many other dogs as possible and with plenty of people before embarking on agility. That way his confidence will grow and when he is off-leash and seemingly all alone at the start of an agility 'event' or training stint, he will not be a little forsaken (lost) soul and lacking in concentration.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by kalima62

Well as I was saying before, Rommel And I go to agility classes since the beggining of may, we both love it.....BUT.......he's very lunatic, It seems he decides weather to move from the starting position and when to move!! Yesterday, he did just that. We had an easy zig zag of 4 obstacles, the tunnel, 2 other obstacles, the A frame and the last obstacle. He just would not move as he was glued
in the sit position. His look on his face, was as if he had been
scolded with his ears slightly back or as if he was embarassed. No way, so I was told to put him in the boxes for 5 mins. After, we tried again,the same thing happened plus looking at the other dogs, sniffing in the air and IGNORING me!!!
5 more minutes in the box.... Again, the same thing, so I was told to pull him gently over the first hurdle which he cleared but got stuck on the next, I allways incouraged him with kind words and gentle tone of voice, but we did the whole run stopping and starting all the way!! He knows what I want him to do, when he's all revved up,he goes like lightning when he wants to, but some lessons, he just gets me down. It makes me think I'm wasting my time and money for nothing. In
september, there will be my first trial, but if he continues to
behave like so, we'll never be ready!! My obedience homework goes on beautifully, but in the class he does everything i tell him to do...sit, stay, lay down....but in SLOW MOTION!!!
What I would like to know is.... are some dogs just not suitable for some activities more than others? I've heard of some dogs beeing too nervouse and shy in the show ring and have to be retired. Should I retire my dog or go on for a few more months and wait and see???

The short answer is yes, some dogs are not suited for some activities. In fact, just like people, they just don't like or enjoy some things.

I've had dogs that I've wanted to show and well, didn't just because the dog didn't enjoy that event. And trust me if they don't like what they're doing it's very hard to get them to do it.

As for your issues with him just staying in place, I had one I was working in obedince who did this. One day she just decided she wasn't going to heel any more. The instructor had me do other things with her when the class was heeling. She'd get to chase toys, ect. Anything to get her in a forward motion but not formal heeling.

So maybe you need to try something a little different for now. Or even take a break from agility for awhile and try something else.

Also, remember that corgis don't like to "drill", repeat the same command several times. You can do that with a sheltie or a Golden but with a corgi if they do it right say three times that is enough and time to move on to something else.

Peggy

[glencorgi]

Marisa,

Saw your post on Performance Corgis and well, not much I can say here that hasn't been said there and better. Take that and Peggy's suggestions/comments and see if you can come up with a plan B. <G>

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

I must say that conformation showing amd obedience competition can be such a bore to some (if not most) Corgis - it is no wonder some of them rebel and won't perform.

[kalima62]

Here , here!!!
Rommel was fantastic yesterday at agility lessons... he absolutely astonished me and every body there. He was all revved up and ready to go, lively and peppery as soon as we arrived. I took up everyones advice getting him bubbly starting from home, praising him and talking to him all the way to the school. "Lets go to AGILITY" i said "And have a good time"!
He was really paying attention to all my words in the car, and as soon as we got there i kept repeating the word AGILITY and he looked at the field with the obstacles...I also took up to the letter Michael's advice and whispered to him down on my knees telling him to give me everything he's got to show me and to get CRACKING!!
IT WORKED!!! I was so happy, he never made a mistake!!!
HURRAY!!!!!!!!
Love to EVERYONE!!! XXXX

[C Mocho]

Hi Marisa,
I’m very glad to ear those last news from you.
Congratulations to you and a kiss to Romel.

[Clogs]

Great, Marisa - glad he has got the idea.