New Corgi help!

[glencorgi]

Good idea to let their tummies rest. For bland diets - boiled chicken and rice, boiled hamburger (strain off the grease) and rice, even boiled ground turkey and rice. Rice baby food cereal and the baby food jars of meat - chicken (just be sure onions aren't among the ingredients) are helpful to settle stomachs.

Debbie

[newcorgiowner]

Yeah, I used "park" loosely. I've been trying to find large stretches of grass which I don't think would be frequented by other dogs. I have taken them to the elementary school baseball field and let them run around a little bit. I also took them up to UMass the other day and let them run around the engineering quad, not the big area by the lake where everyone takes their dogs to run.

I'm in an apartment so my options on where to take them are limited. I've been trying to take them places where I think they might be safe and when ever I see another dog I pick them up and go home.

If anyone has any ideas on good places to go in an apartment to take them out I would love teh suggestions.

[darci]

Nope, sounds like your doing a great job and being cautious.

Have a great day.

[newcorgiowner]

I was just wondering people thought a good feeding schedule for 8 week old corgi pups was. I asked the breeder when we picked them up and she said you can either feed them 4 times a day or if you aren't available to do that, you can just keep the bowl full. She said puppies really can't eat too much.

Does this sound right?

[newcorgiowner]

Alright, I have another question for the wise sages of the board. What do you do when a pup gets into a really bitey mood. Every now and then, I notice it most after the two puppies have tussled with each other for a bit, they'll get into a mood where they just keep trying to bite you. I am practicing bite inhabition so I give a loud "ouch" everytime they do it, but that doesn't seem to deter them.

Should I give them a time out when they get into such a mood so that they can calm down a little? It comes across like they are just a little too wound up.

[PocketsMom]

I know I have been told not to just let the corgi's free feed because of theor tendency to be overweight later. I was feeding Pockets 4 times a day when he was 8 weeks but some feed a little more food 3 times a day. I am far from expert here but that is what I have been told. You will get better advice I am sure but well I like to add my two cents worth once in a while!

Glad they are doing good still. Maybe it was just a flu bug even.

[corgimom]

If you can't feed 4X a day, can you do 3? I have never free fed my current
Corgi or my past one because they would put on too much weight. I don't
free feed my cats either(because they love to eat as much as Cody does)

If you leave a bowl out to free feed and y ou are not there, one will probably end up getting more food than the other - I am assuming you are keeping them in some room together. How will you know which dog is eating how much, other than I suppose, one will start to get plumper.

I think I have seen feeding bowls where their food is dispensed at certain times by setting a timer(clock)? Has anyone seen those?

What is your schedule between you and your fiance? Can you do 3X a day with one of you coming home on the lunch hour - they are very young and I
think a full day left alone at this age is a lot to expect for 8 week old puppies.

linda

[corgimom]

Newcorgiowners,

regarding the pups biting at your hands, it is going to take lots of time and
repetition from you by saying a loud "ouch" and then taking your hands away
for a moment - I don't think they will know what a time out is. You have only
had your dogs for about 3 days and they are ony 8 weeks old. Patience is the key - it is not going to happen overnight and it will probably continue to
happen for quite some time, but just keep trying.

linda

[newcorgiowner]

Originally Posted by corgimom

Newcorgiowners,

regarding the pups biting at your hands, it is going to take lots of time and
repetition from you by saying a loud "ouch" and then taking your hands away
for a moment - I don't think they will know what a time out is. You have only
had your dogs for about 3 days and they are ony 8 weeks old. Patience is the key - it is not going to happen overnight and it will probably continue to
happen for quite some time, but just keep trying.

linda

Oh no, i didn't mean the time out as a punishment. I just thought it might be a good idea so that they could calm down a bit and didn't in some way renforce the biting. They seem akin to kids who get themselves worked into a frenzy and are a bit out of control.

I know that the puppies are new and will take more then three days to learn things. I am in this for the long haul and I am definetly not expecting instant returns or for them to suddenly change into well behaved pups. I doubt I would even want that at the moment. It is so much fun to watch them run around and do puppy things.

Another question I had now pertained to raising two puppies at once. I know a couple of people recommended against it when I talked about it a couple of weeks ago, but now that I have them and need to train them I would love some advise on the best way to make the situation work.

I did some reading tonight and found very mixed things about raising two puppies. True most people recommended against two pups at once but the majority of reasons seemed to relate to it being twice the work and expense. This is not an issue for me. I have no problem putting the effort in to raise two well adjusted dogs. The problem is that I am not quite sure what to do in some situations.

For example, I read different things about fighting. Some pages say that we should not let them have their play fighting because in a normal pack this kind of thing would be settled by the pack leader. Other sites said it should be allowed because it is how they establish dominance. One site in particular said that fighting becomes a serious issue as the dogs get older. This got me really worried at first but my fiance pointed out that he bred Rots and Chows, two breeds notorious for this sort of thing. I don't know if Corgis will be better but I can't imagine them being as bad as a Rot or a Chow when it comes to fighting.

I have started seperating them tonight. I figured I would let them get over the initial stress of moving to a new place by allowing them to sleep together and play together to start, but now I have them in seperate roomsm to sleep and take them to the elementary school seperatly as well. They also eat seperatly so that I can see how much each is eating. The tips on not free feeding them were great and I will start with a food schedule tomorrow.

Any suggestions you guys had on raising the two pups to help ensure strong human bonding and self reliance would be greatly appretiated. I can't stress enough how thankful I am to have people like you to ask questions of when I get freaked or just need some help.

Time to put Matti to bed now. She's passed out on the bed at the moment. I hate having to wake her up and move her to the other room. I bought a baby monitor so that I could hear if she wakes up at night or needs help. Gizmo looks like she's dreaming about rabbits or something at the moment, because her paws are moving like she is running and she makes the occasional soft murmur.

Thanks again.

[Corgis'R4me]

*~* My name is: Nikki

I have two 9 month old SISTER Pembroke Corgi puppies !

** I am extremely happy that I chose to raise two...and also from the same litter ! **

My two girls names are: Midnight & Sunshine.
( That is their picture...to the LEFT <---)
They are very affectionate with one another and they have a very tight bond.
Sunshine is a little bit more affectionate...she likes to cuddle up in your lap.
She jumps up on the couch more than Midnight does. She also licks a whole lot more ! ~~~ kisses ~~~
Midnight is more MELLOW...more laid back & calm. Midnight LOVES to (((HUG))) anybody that holds her !
{ I have taught BOTH my girls to, "Give hug". They put their head down on your shoulder when you pick them up & hold them !}

Midnight has a cool little howel that sounds like this: "Ba~Wooooo....Ba~Wooooo" !!

Sunshine has a softer little howel which sounds like this:
"Arr~Rarh...Rarh...Rarh" !!

***The reason why I chose to get two FEMALES and from the same litter...is because they both were clinging to each other in the pack. Origionally I saw Midnight...my tri~colored girl. I knew that I would take her home ! Done deal...!!! But, Midnight kept going near Sunshine & Sunshine kept following her around in their play pen. They wee in~seperatable (spelling ?). They had a tight, strong bond....even then.

My girls..get along GREAT ! I am very proud of their relationship ! I even...HONESTLY...get compliments on how well behaved they are !

My girls LOVE to run around the house and chase eachother ! Before I came to this site...I just called it, "Chase". Now....I know better ! The terminology for that GAME is called: "Frapping" ! FRAPPING IS FUN !!

** You mentioned WRESTLING...&...PLAYING ? My opinion is...as long as there is no aggression and the other...more submissive sibling is still engaging in the GAME...then all should be fine ! They need to learn to fend for themselves and have a BACKBONE (so to speak). Sunshine is a little bit smaller than Midnight...but, she kicks Midnight's butt in wrestling ! They PLAY...that is all there is to it ! I never had to break anything up. They DO NOT have aggression toward eachother !

*** FEEDING...I did have to seperate them while FEEDING ! Midnight is a food hog ! She would go after Sunshine's food even before taking a bite outta her own food dish ! { Food HOG ! } I still feed them in two seperate areas...even now.

{ Enjoy them...they will give you so much happiness !! }


*~* Nikki

[glencorgi]

If they get too wound up and keep coming at you, then yes, remove yourself from the playing field. Two puppies, yes it is twice the work (as in clean up) and expense; but that is the least of mine and others' concerns who often advise against. In far too many cases, adequate training is not provided because the puppies have each other for entertainment. They have each other for company (something I believe you mentioned as a consideration for getting two), and humans take a back seat.

Key is going to be giving them each individual time and training. They can still go and do things together, but make the point of individual trips as well.

As littermates, they already have a bond with each other, but DO NOT take for granted they will continue to live harmoniously. Nikki has been lucky so far and she had her girls spayed before hormones began playing havoc. Did the breeder have other females around besides the dam of the litter? Were they all separated or were they able to run together? Females, even littermates, are more prone to take a dislike to each other and once that happens, keeping them separated will be your only option. To be blunt, they don't call them b*tches for nothing! And I've got a couple of Pem girls here that'd I'd match against any Rottie or Chow when it comes to being ready to rumble. Yes, corgis "can" be very aggressive.

Continue to work with them together and separately. Enroll in puppy classes as soon as they are old enough and vaccinations are finished. Have them spayed between 4 and 6 months and you'll be on a solid road to having the companions you want. And in the mean time - lots of patience.

Debbie

[Corgis'R4me]

*~* I have been very fortunate to have two girls that get along great.

They spend alot of time together...as well as with our family. I got them use to going in the truck for drives around town and I also TRY to walk them twice a day.

I bought a V~Collar which allows me to walk my girls together on ONE LEASH. I do have another leash...but, my girls seem to be used to...and also LIKE to be walked with the V~Collar.

Honestly......I do dot really do too many things individually with my girls.
* I keep them together in my Master Bedroom when I go to work or run my errands. In nice...appropriate wheather....they get to go outside in the backyard where they have a fenced in yard & a HUGE "Corgi Condo" ! My girls like the comfort of the air~conditioned house better than being outside !

{ Can ya blame them ??? }

I have NEVER seen Midnight or Sunshine fight over anything...so far...so far.
Midnight barks at Sunshine when Sunshine steals her Pig Skin Twist Bone...but, there is NEVER a fight or a brawl !

They are very tolerant of eachother !
HONESTLY....there is no way that I could have taught that trait to either one of them ! IMO (In My Opinion....ya either have EMPATHY....or ya don't !)
I think that BOTH of my girls are very respectful, compassionate & empathetic toward eachother !

I am very proud of their relationship toward eachother !

>>> Beautiful bond..they have ! <<<


*~* Nikki