OMG I got HORRIBLE NEWS!

[corgimom]

Pam,

I have to admit that your thread title made my heart sink also. Sophie is still young. Cody was not much of a cuddler at her age, but he is more now. He is not a lap dog, but will lay right up close to us now so he is touching us. He often likes to lay on the back of the sofa and rest his head on our shoulder when we are sitting there.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by gemjunkie

My dog was evaluated by professionals where I'm doing her training (along with the other 9 dogs in the class).

Pam, I think asked before in another of your threads, but am going to ask again. What breeds of dogs do your instructor's have and what kind of activities do they do with them?

The ladies LOVE my girl even though she can be difficult. Just don't see many corgis of any sort here.

She's had how many classes? and been labeled "difficult" by you or the instructors? Might I make a suggestion? Instead of labeling her as difficult and anticipating difficult times to come; think more along the lines of challenges to come.

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

Without doubt some Corgis will not start life as a fervent cuddle-upper, but they can develop the art as they get older and fonder. Taylor enjoys my lap more during the past year than he has done previously. And these days he knows just how to use his face and muzzle on my face and neck when I pick him up - yes he's easy to pick up because he only weighs 26 pounds. Mind you I am the only one in the family who picks up Taylor or has him on my lap - my wife has never picked him up even when he was 13 weeks old. Taylor loves it best when you get down to his level on the floor or on the ground - he loves the part-hard out wrestling, part-cuddly games him and I often have. He loves lying on someones entire foot where his fervent hope is that the person owning the foot will gently tickle a favourite part of his anatomy. Then he shuts his eyes very tight.

[Jespah]

I can just picture Taylor with his eyes squeezed shut, a Corgi smile on his face, as he enjoys a good tickle. Reminds me of a certain large tri-colour who succumbs to the same kind of torture!

[Chip's Mom]

My Chip is not a dominate dog by any means and when we are in obedience class and he approaches another dog or is approached, he goes belly up - so funny. Anyway, Chip likes to have fun at class and when he was that age, many a time Chip and I would stop whatever the whole class was doing to have a little rub my belly and roll around on the floor games then Chip would settle back down to the task at hand. Generally, Corgis just want to have fun and it is really important to make a game of it so they are always enjoying themselves. If it becomes a chore or boring, then they aren't going to be as cooperative. Chip's class instructor never paid any attention to our antics and we didn't disrupt the class, just the opposite if anything because Chip entertains. If someone referred to my Chip as difficult, I would be highly offended and would probably not go back to that class. It is like a young child being labeled a troublemaker or difficult in Kindergarten and it follows him or her all through school.

In Chip's class there is a wide variety of dogs and he is the only corgi they don't see many corgis either. People need to remember or be informed that a corgi is not a status quo dog and they will behave differently but they are oh so smart.

[Dillydoodle]

Deleted my post

[lricch565]

Mazie wasn't much of a cuddler until recently - probably in the last 4 or 5 months. And she still isn't one to jump into my lap, but she will lay with me on the couch and put her head on my legs begging for her ears to get scratched.

Don't give up hope yet!

Lisa

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by gemjunkie

My dog was evaluated by professionals where I'm doing her training (along with the other 9 dogs in the class). So my personal definition has NOTHING to do with anything. The ladies LOVE my girl even though she can be difficult. Just don't see many corgis of any sort here.

Well, IMO, a lot depends on their experience. What breeds do they have? Where did they get their training to be trainers? How many corgis have they worked with? Do they compete? (If they do they might know more corgis or other breeds and not tend to lump all dogs together.) How long have they been dog trainers?

Unless they know corgis and by that I mean have worked with many corgis so they can get to know them they might not know what's typical for a corgi and what isn't. Corgis are a bit bossy by nature and that doesn't mean that they're all dominant. So someone who doesn't know corgis well could very well label one dominant when it isn't.

So for me the jury's still out on if she is a dominant dog or not.

Peggy

[emma]

Can you teach a dog to cuddle? I am so thankful my Ollie loves cuddles. This is one thing I really wanted. I took him to a large family party recently and he just went up to everyone, strangers or not, and sought out cuddles and belly rubs. When he got tired, he snuggled up by my feet. He just loves hugs and squeezes and nuzzles.

[jprechel]

Ace isn't much of a cuddler either. As a matter of fact our first post on gocorgi was "Our puppy doesn't like us!" We were very upset becuase Ace did not want to lay next to us or sit on our lap or even attempt to cuddle. That was just his personality. About 3 months ago Ace started to lay next to us so that he was touching us somehow. That got us very excited and has to post about it! Of course! Now he will jump up on the chair and lay next to me with his head on my foot or leg. So, he is getting more "cuddly" the older he gets. (He'll be 1 year in Feb.) You just gotta be patient and wait for it!

[milosmom]

Sometimes a dog doesn't want to cuddle, but he still wants to be near you...people are the same way, sometimes it's just the mood their in. Milo's definintion of cuddling is laying on top of me if i'm on the sofa watching a movie. (if I move he will emit a low growl)! If i'm reading, he will rest his head on my lap or lay beside me. At the computer, he is under the desk and makes a great fuzzy bolster to rest my feet! Not always though.

I had a cat that was a real 'touch me not' but even he would seek me out once in a while to sit on my lap or sit beside me. It was on his terms, not mine, so as much as I wanted a cuddly cat, I accepted it as his personality.

[gemjunkie]

I'm really starting to question weather my dog is just one that will take charge IF SHE thinks it's necessary, rather than a dominant dog. She definetly knows when to say 'YOU WIN' with my friends rottie and english mastiff (she would also rather play with those dogs than the pug). She will also take over if another dog lets her right off but doesn't seem to 'beat' any down to gain the upper hand either.

She can be pushy and if allowed will 'take charge'. I've been working with her a LOT since her classes started and she does NOT challenge me at all where I'd think a dominant dog might. She gets all wiggle butted and freaks out trying to play at class, but she's JUST turning 5 months now, what puppy WOULDN'T want to try to play at that age with 11 other young dogs around? Especially since the only time I've had her around other dogs up until now, she got to go play.

One of the trainers has, right now, two cardigan corgis. She said at the end of class, she will evaluate her again tomorrow and spend a bit more time doing so because I voiced my opinion last week in class, that I didn't think she was dominant, just a little pushy (due to age and wanting to play and such). And me being tired after working all day, completely forgot to ask the other lady what dogs she has/had to base her jugement on, I'll be sure to remember tomorrow.

Shortly after this post, I think my girl wasn't feeling too good. She was a cuddle feind for a few days, sitting IN my lap while I was at the puter. Making me eat a little crow for complaining about her not wanting much to do with me. She's right under my feet now.

*PS... I won't do any more 'catchy' titles to my posts. I relize that could be bad and I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry anyone.*

[Chip's Mom]

Is this a normal thing at obedience class to evaluate a dog for dominance? We have never done this at Chip's class?

[Delilah]

If your "class" instructors think your dog is difficult - OMG - what would they think of the dog in the book 'Marley and Me'. Ya'll need to read this book. Cheryl (Checkers) told me to read it. I am the kind of person that reads a couple of chapters at nite to go to sleep. I started the book at 8pm and finished in by 7am the next morning! LAUGHED until my sides ached and tears were flowing down my cheeks. Gotta read this one!

[gemjunkie]

Usually not. Mine just had issue with a classmate at the first class, then I started having questions and asked that it be done again. I pushed the issue because as I've observed my dog interacting with others' dogs, she just didn't seem to fit what I've read about dominant dogs so I pressed the issue. I also went to see my dog several times before choosing her and taking her home and I tried to pick one that wasn't pushy with her siblings but not a push over either, that's why it was a bit of a shock to me.

IMO, I believe it was too early in this girl's life to make that sort of jugement. She is JUST turning 5 months and still learning how to interact with her pals.

Who knows, I might be wrong, not the first time and I'm sure not the last! All I know is, I'd like a dog that doesn't jump on company unless invited and won't go potty in the house. Anything beyond that is just frosting on the cake..