Observations about Duke

[DynaBMan]

Well, Duke has been at our house for a week now and I thought I would share a few observations that I have made.

For one, I think Duke was taken care of pretty well, he seems to be in good health. However, I think he was let go and got away with murder. I know from the reading I have done that Corgis can be pretty stubborn, but I don't think he was ever corrected and was able to do just what he wanted to do. He has really taken over our yard and thinks it is his yard. That is what I wanted, but he has been trying his best to catch my pigeons if they happen to land in the yard instead of on the loft or house. I am not talking about trying to herd them around, he is actually trying to catch them. I finally had to take him by the collar and hold him while I tried to talk to him and make him understand he didn't need to be bothering the birds. He didn't take to that very well and actually tried to bite me. He found out pretty quick that wasn't the thing to be doing. I wasn't mean to him, but I think I got the message across to not be snapping at me. I think he also got the message to leave the birds alone, but that still has to be proven. I don't care if he pays attention to them, he wouldn't be normal if he didn't, but he simply has to leave them alone.

All in all, he seems to be a pretty good dog and he seems to have really taken a liking to me and my family. I think he is just going to have to be corrected, when needed, and made to understand what he can and can not do. Time will tell.

[Jespah]

Bird chasing - not herding seems to be the norm - mine do it too, but I don't have to worry about them killing my birds - as I don't have any.

Can I suggest, that when you are in the yard with him, if he reacts in any way to the birds - barking, lunging, etc., spray him with the garden hose. Don't say anything to him, just a good burst of spray. That way he won't associate you with the spray and eventually figure that any action towards the birds = a spray. In the next week go out with him in the yard as much as you can and try and catch him at it and spray him. It hopefully will deter him when you are not there too.

He will benefit from a firm and fair hand - sounds like you already know that!

[milles2]

I remember your other post saying you kept birds and wondering how that would go. Not surprised Duke is inetrested in the birds.

Good suggestion Deb! Looking forward to hearing more and learning how Duke progresses.

[red headed stranger]

Hi,

My corgis love chasing sparrows. It would be nice if this kept the birds out of the yard and away from the feeders. Alas, this is not the case.

Rusty and Redhead consider "playing in the water" one of the best games. Filling water buckets, watering flowers and the lawn with the hose or sprinklers, bring them running. They are not deterred by freezing temperatures when the stock tanks are being filled. In the summer, getting soaked to the skin means they won first prize.

Susie might consider getting squirted a deterrent if she were alone. When the other two are playing she is dashing in and out taking care to avoid the water.

It seems you have a treasure with Duke and that you are aware of what he needs to fit into your routine. Keep up the good work.

[Bayoucorgi]

Well, I won't tell you the story about the time the roof blew off the top of my coop of scaled quail and when they came home after a flight in the neighborhood, my 4 Goldens were waiting for them in the yard. It was very sad. Only feather circles where each met it's demise.

My uncle used to keep racing pigeons and he told stories about having to shoot the ones that didn't come directly to the loft because he didn't want those breeding. So maybe Duke is your selective criteria for only having birds that go directly to the loft.

Doesn't surprise me that an adolescent or adult corgi coming to a new home would automatically assume that he was king (or Duke) of the new digs. Glad to hear you are keeping him in hand. Liam certainly felt he was instant king for a day or so. Now he's relegated to simple dog status, and I think he actually likes it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[DynaBMan]

I just came back inside from feeding and playing with Duke. I also turned my pigeons out for a flight and fed them, as well as checking on my three babies and two eggs hatching, hopefully tomorrow. Duke actually did pretty good. For the most part, he ignored them except for once or twice, when they were coming in for a landing. I think he is doing better and will do even better, as I enforce what I want him to do. Tammy (my wife) is at Wal-Mart now and she is planning on buying a new spray nozzle for my garden hose. I need another one anyway and I will use it on Duke, if I have to. From what I was told from his former owner, he doesn't like water, unless he is drinking it.

[LittlePonzo]

Sounds like you are completely prepared...Good for you! With your determination, Duke will be happier and more well adjusted in no time. Keep up the good work

[DynaBMan]

One thing I forgot to mention. I need to change his name to Houdini. He is quite the escape artist. I have a pretty solid fence, but he has found a place or two that he can get under. He doesn't go far and always comes back home, but he needs to stay inside the fence where he can't get hurt. I have those places fixed already, but I suspect that may have been why the original owners wanted to let someone else have him. They may not have been able to keep him inside the fence. I am going to have my work cut out for me, but I think he will be worth it.

[ZdogZ]

deleted by zdogz

[Michael Romanos]

Taylor only chases flying birds when they are flying in his property excluding the budgies who live indoors. If a baby bird was running around the property he would not chase it.