Advice needed!

[Peggy]

I'm moving this since IMO, it's not an article but a post asking for advice. I hope Amber doesn't mind.

I am totally new to this website and I'm really excited about it! I have a 1 year old male Welsh Corgi named Toby. I've had him since he was 8 weeks old and I feel like I still have a lot to learn. He is great when someone is with him. It seems like all he really wants is just to be near me at all times. I use to think he must just adore me, but now I think he's just trying to dominate me. After reading some articles on here I've realized some things that I do that definitely contribute to him thinking he is the dominate one (such as letting him in/out of the house before myself) If anyone has any suggestions on how I can gain control of the household, any little or big things I can do that would be great.

Another question: For behavioral issues such as nipping or chewing I use a squirt bottle and say "NO" or "OFF" is he's jumping up on someone/something. He responds right away to the squirt of water but without the bottle I feel hopeless. He also rarely responds to my commands such as sit, come, etc if I do not have food. Any suggestions?

Have you tried an obedience class? I think that would be a great place to start. That will teach you how to teach him and get him under control. And mention to the instructor that you need to teach him to listen without food as a motivator. Meantime keep some *small* treats in your pocket.

You might also keep a leash on him in the house. That way you can use it to help guide him to do what you want him to do.

And lastly but certainly the most important: I can not leave the house. Once the door opens or even if he hears me pick up my keys he freaks out and chases me. (On a few occassions I have even been biten) His occurs even if there are still other people in the house. I've tried working on his sit and stay to leave but that hasn't worked. He is usually alone in the kitchen all day when people are at work, but he has plenty of room to play and toys with him if he'd like to. Is he afraid of being left alone? I read on a similar post to crate him. He also does the same thing when someone tries to go upstairs where he can not follow (we have the area gated off with a baby door) Should I crate him even if I'm going upstairs and there is still somone downstairs with him?

Put the leash on him and grab that when he does this. Tell him NO very firmly and then to sit.

Is he gated in the kitchen when you're gone? Do you leave from a kitchen door? If not gate him in before you leave. If so leave through a different door.

I don't think he's afraid of being left alone. He just doesn't want you to leave. He's not the one who gets to make those choices though.

Again, I highly suggest and obedience class.

Peggy

[Pawsies]

First off I personally don't believe dogs dominate owners. Dogs recognaize owners aren't dogs, it's like a giraffe dominating a hippo- not going to happen! lol

Secondly, when he nips, yelp really loud, and just ignore him. If he keeps nipping, keep yelping and ignore him for longer. He will learn that actually nipping = no attention given. Never look at him when you yelp, turn your back away from him.
Chewing, redirect him to something appropriate to chew and reward him for using it when he does.
As for leaving the house, I think this is a seperation anxiety issue. He doesn't want to be left alone. In his eyes, he should come too.
Put him in a seperate room and go out the door. Then come back in again, do this several times at several different points.
He'll learn that actually Mom doesn't always go out and leave me, I don't always need to worry.
Reward him if he's been good whilst you were out for a few secs.

As for cutting back food, personally I think it is a bit unfair. Imagine, you get paid $50 for the first day at work. The next day your boss says actually you can be paid $45 today. The next day, $35. Are you still going to go to work?
An alternative is to cut back, but then every so often give him a big reward which is random so there is some benefit in listening to you. (This is equivalent to your boss saying okay today you can have $100)

[Michael Romanos]

A Corgi should feel and act confidently - perhaps that is your interpretation of Toby's "dominance."
Most Corgis do not like being left alone day after day for many hours. Careful management is needed and careful appreciatuion of your Corgi's feelings and anxieties and ways to soften the impact including alternative arrangements.

I do not agree with the squirt water bottle methods. Corgis will respond very very well to the treat and praise methodology. Treats are a means to an end where they become unnecessary unless they are being used to reinforce and revise. Praise -verbal and physical - needs always to be used as applicable.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Pawsies

First off I personally don't believe dogs dominate owners. Dogs recognaize owners aren't dogs, it's like a giraffe dominating a hippo- not going to happen! lol

Yes, it does happen, some dogs do dominate their owners. It happens when an owner won't take charge and be the top dog. The postion is open so the dog takes it.

Yes, dogs do know people aren't dogs but they can also tell when they have an owner who won't be the top dog. Dogs like order and if you won't do the job they will.

Secondly, when he nips, yelp really loud, and just ignore him. If he keeps nipping, keep yelping and ignore him for longer. He will learn that actually nipping = no attention given. Never look at him when you yelp, turn your back away from him.

This is not a puppy this is a year old dog. He is not nipping like a puppy is and he could hurt someone. You need to tell him NO and if he doesn't stop remove him from the situation.

Chewing, redirect him to something appropriate to chew and reward him for using it when he does.

This I agree with.

As for leaving the house, I think this is a seperation anxiety issue. He doesn't want to be left alone.

If it were seperation anxiety he would have a hard time being alone when they were gone and they'd find things destroyed when they got back. Doors scratched, possibly with holes in them, things chewed or destroyed, (possibly even walls or baseboards), etc. That sort of thing wasn't mentioned. Which is why I assume this is just an out of control dog. The rest of your advice about desensitizing him to her leaving is good though.

As for cutting back food, personally I think it is a bit unfair. Imagine, you get paid $50 for the first day at work. The next day your boss says actually you can be paid $45 today. The next day, $35. Are you still going to go to work?

This isn't his job and he needs to learn to behave just because he's told to. He does not need to be bribed every time. So yes, she does need to cut back on the treats as rewards for good behavior.

Again, I suggest obedience classes. If it is seperation anxiety this will not be resoved by training. That is a medical issue and will need medication.

Peggy

[MyPemCharlie]

There is confusion over the word "dominance" for good reason. Most experienced dog folks are aware that there are very few truly "dominant alpha" dogs in personality and temperament. Most dogs have a submissive personality with regard to humans and are happy to be shaped and instructed on how to behave. In fact, they are much happier not to be in charge.

On the other hand, when that cute loving submissive puppy enters adolesence and seems to "forget" everything he learned, many owners are not prepared for the sudden change in behavior and attitude of a teen pup (oft times "devil-dog" LOL). Without enforcement of the human rules, the dog certainly can take over the house. While the dog did not turn into a true dominant-alpha dog, the submissive dog can been elevated to the role of leader. Not a comfortable situation for the dog or the owner.

In this case, I would highly recommend starting a basic obedience class or hiring a private trainer who makes house calls if driving to class is inconvenient. At one year old, your dog can be easily retrained if you learn good basic positive training methods to teach him.

In the meantime, read up on NILIF training. (Type NILIF in Yahoo/Google to find several good, short articles.) "Nothing in Life is Free" is great for any dog and should help you survive the rest of the dog's teenage months and turn out a fine adult.

If you know the dog won't Sit or Come when given the command, then don't give him the command unless he is on a leash and you can enforce what you ask of him. I would work a minimum of 2-3 short on-leash training sessions a day. When you say "Sit" only give the command one time and wait for him to sit. If he is not sitting, very gently touch his butt to remind him what the command means, or put light pressure behind his back legs to put him in Sit position. Don't punish for bad behavior, but give lots of rewards for good behavior.

When you leave the house, put him in the kitchen or other room. If someone else is home, have them hold him on leash while you leave. Your dog should not be biting you for leaving, and it's a fairly quick-fix to keep him away from the door when you go. Once you've mastered other basic training commands, you will be able to teach him to sit and wait when you leave without having to move him out of sight.

[amberj]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've been working on his basic commands and already seeing a lot of improvement!

Thanks again, I REALLY appreciate it.