Agressive Corgis?

[Chip's Mom]

I have been reading some threads lately on aggressive corgis and I just wondered if this is typical of the breed or is it something that isn't run into very often. I just can't imagine an agressive corgi. Everything I have read up on them doesn't mention this type of behavior and thankfully, I don't see it in Chip or my other corgi mix that I had.

[corgimom]

Bonnie,

I am surely not an expert in this area, but I would think that is why it is important to buy from reputable breeders who make sure that the dogs they are breeding have good sound tempermants; as this would most likely be passed on to their offspring.

Also, I would think that when one aquires a Corgi pup and doesn't manage the pup well, by letting it know that we are the boss, it could often create problem/aggressive dogs, that think they are in charge, and a behavior that may be hard to correct later on.

Maybe GlenCorgi(Deb) will give us her thoughts on this, as she has mentioned(I think) that she has "battle wounds" on her hands/arms from some of the dogs she has gotten into rescue.

Maybe it is a combination of poorly matched up corgis that are bred, which then produces puppies who are maybe high strung/with a potential for aggressive behavior. Then those pups are placed into homes where the owners don't manage it right,which has the makings to produce and aggressive dog??

[tandemgal]

One of the things that attracted us to the corgi breed was their friendly outlook. I am very lucky to also have two well adjusted girls...

Emma doesn’t have an aggressive bone in her body and Chloe is also loving but still has that excitable puppy in her... I swear if she didn’t have that nub of her’s as a wiggle outlet I think her hips would just shake off from shear excitement sometimes LOL

[Checkers]

I think it is a combination of factors. Obviously, breeding plays a role in tempermant... but often an even larger factor is home environment. When I had Checkers in his first puppy class there was another tri-colored male corgi, about a month older than Checkers. It was SO obvious to anyone there that this puppy ran over his owner on a regular basis and she was quite shy and reserved with him. It was sad for me to watch because I think if he had had an owner who was firmer with him and meant what they said he would have been much better. He was only about 5 months old and already aggressively snapping at his owner during grooming! Honestly, if I thought I could have gotten away with it I would have asked her if she wanted to be rid of him then! He just seemed to be crying out for structure and discipline in his life. I think that is often a major factor in aggressive dogs... (but definitely not always the case!).

-Cheryl

[Corgis'R4me]

Originally Posted by tandemgal

One of the things that attracted us to the corgi breed was their friendly outlook. I am very lucky to also have two well adjusted girls...

Emma doesn’t have an aggressive bone in her body and Chloe is also loving but still has that excitable puppy in her... I swear if she didn’t have that nub of her’s as a wiggle outlet I think her hips would just shake off from shear excitement sometimes LOL

************************************************** *************
*~* I love the line ya used, "I swear if she didn't have that nub of her's as a wiggle outlet I think her hips would shake off from shear excitement sometimes".

TOO FUNNY !!

*~* Nikki

[brynlea]

I agree, aggression is not a simple thing to find the root of. First of all, there are all kinds of aggression - dog aggression, people aggression, food aggression. They are not all the same. No, you wont' find much written on Corgis where aggressive is used in their description. I guess they didn't want to scare anyone off but it does irritate me because let's face it - they are generally NOT passive little beasts. They are small dogs bred to do BIG jobs and for that, they had to be tough. And sometimes "tough" goes hand in hand (or should I say paw in paw) with being aggressive. The dogs I see many times deemed as aggressive mainly had the WRONG owners. I am not saying BAD owners, just not good alphas and that is what a Corgi must have. Corgis are opportunistic, and if they see weakness, even if they are not inately aggressive, they find a way to capitalize on it. Yes, genetics definitely plays a role as well. There are certain bloodlines well documented for being dog aggressive, or just plain nasty! Breeders who have their eye on the prize will often ignore these tendencies or simply be in denial about them - and I am not simply talking about a dog show prize, I am talking about money. Irresponsible breeders who are only trying to make a buck generally prize an aggressive dog because the puppies will be tougher and more outgoing, therefore easy to sell. Easy to live with ? NO - but why would they care, once they have your money, that's YOUR problem.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by brynlea

No, you wont' find much written on Corgis where aggressive is used in their description. I guess they didn't want to scare anyone off but it does irritate me because let's face it - they are generally NOT passive little beasts. They are small dogs bred to do BIG jobs and for that, they had to be tough. And sometimes "tough" goes hand in hand (or should I say paw in paw) with being aggressive.

Worth repeating in BOLD letters.

Debbie

[Jespah]

I agree with GlenCorgi, they have to be able to intimidate large animals in order to move them. Rupert can be "agressive" with other dogs he doesn't know. It's all noise, but if he were a pit bull or another breed known for it's potential danger, it would be very scary. I am very wary and have done everything I can to control this behavior.

When I was looking for a breeder this summer, I was told time and again about the breeder I got Jemma from - that she was known for the lovey temperment of her dogs. As I only wanted a dog for love, not showing or breeding, temperment was the biggest factor in choosing her. She a lovely sweet little dog - but she doesn't take any guff from Rupe anf he knows it.

[adkmehrman]

When it comes to other dogs, I think that sometimes dominant is confused aggresive. My little Koda is only 5 months and has in large taken dominance over every single dog hes has ever met no matter what size dog it is. Sometimes it may look aggressive but a true dog person can tell the difference between the actions of asserting dominace and the actions of being aggressive with the intent to hurt. Koda I don't think would ever intentianlly hurt another dog but he definitly tries to assert himself as the Alpha with every dog he meats. If for some reason the other dog will not conceed dominace to him after while Koda simplies ignores them, or often the other dog ingnores Koda making him loose interest. Koda is an alpha dog and has certainly tried to take dominace over me and my wife, but by doing simple things like not let him walk infront of us, not let him enter doors before us and probably the biggest thing is when I or my wife plays with him we always end it and win by turning him on his back and pinning him down until he is calm and usually licking are faces. But make no mistake these are dominant little dogs, that are not for the passive owner.

[Cardiguy]

I am a first time dog owner and I picked a Cardigan and did not assume the position of alpha. My Cardi is very protective because she doesn't view me as the leader and in her self imposed leadership role she gets very aggressive in her protection mode. Not the dogs fault but mine. Now that I know better, it is very hard to undo this behaviour. So now I have an aggressive dog that I have to watch when she is with strangers.

My research consisted of viewing breeder's websites and unfortunately the ones I viewed did not emphasize the need to be an alpha or say this breed is really for the experienced owner. The other research I did regarding this breed was on websites talking about breed characteristics which again were not prepared by individuals really knowlegable about corgis.

I know qualify as an "experienced" dog owner and will handle my next dog much differently (and that dog will be another Cardigan)

[evilclaw2321]

I think that the aggression can be partly breed related. My corgi seems to only get aggresive around big out of control dogs. Like in our obedience class when we do heeling in the park exercises, where everyone walks around wherever practicing loose leash healing, wicket starts barking and growling. The trainer says its from the herding instinct, he wants to be in control, he wants to make sure all the dogs are where they are suposed to be. They call the herding dogs the fun police. It does have a lot to do with dominance. They were breed to be in control of larger animals, just need to make them aware that thats not their job now.

[sweetlychee]

Bonnie: Did my threads on Milo's fear and aggression scare you? I'm sorry. I don't think he's aggressive. I think most corgis have a great temperament overall. That's why I picked the breed. If you compare the corgi vs. pitbull, the pitbull has a more aggressive nature.

I think it has to do with the training and rearing of the animal. They are dogs - not wolves and foxes which are more aggressive and wild. I also think it depends on how you handle your dogs. Some very loving owners of pitbulls train their dogs well and they come out very nice and warm. It really all depends.

[Cheetah]

I used to live in an apartment before I got Shippo. There was a totally vicious corgi that lived below us. I do not think the lady trained her at all... she pulled on the leash, she had to wrestle her way through her front door while her dog tried to tear it down to get at anyone on the outside... it was really pathetic.

I actually had a conversation with her once, and I told her I was planning on getting a corgi. She told me to go to the pet store down the street because that's where she got hers. Why does that not surprise me? >9.9<

After I got Shippo I actually took him over there and showed him to her, told her where I got him from, and she saw how well behaved he was BEFORE his real training even started (this whole time her dog was on the other side of the door trying to bust it down). I wonder if it'll make any difference on where she decides to get her next one... >O.o< Eh, I tried lol...

[Chip's Mom]

Bonnie: Did my threads on Milo's fear and aggression scare you? I'm sorry. I don't think he's aggressive. I think most corgis have a great temperament overall. That's why I picked the breed. If you compare the corgi vs. pitbull, the pitbull has a more aggressive nature.

Sweetlychee:

No your post didn't scare me. I just cannot imagine an aggressive corgi. I do believe that for the most part it is all in how they are raised and the breeding. I love the corgi breed to much to ever think of them as aggressive. I just wondered what other people's thoughts were. My Chip doesn't have a mean bone in his body.

[corgimom]

I met a woman this past weekend that has two 8 year old Corgis; a female and male, but they were not with her. She said her female was very mean and the male was a very nice boy. She then said her husband will never let her have Corgis again, because he thinks they are nasty dogs