My Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dog ~ BERT

Getting plenty of exercise is vital for a happy Corgi. Cesar Millan, well known as the "Dog Whisperer", explains that to keep a good Alpha relationship with our beloved Corgis, that relationship should be about 50% physical exercise 25% discipline, and 25% affection.

f we're going to be consistent exercising our Corgi, we need to really enjoy ourselves, so it's crucial for him not to act up on leash.

Many dogs are fearful of the leash itself, so you see neurotic, scared , submissive and even aggressive behavior whenever the lead is snapped on.

For many Corgis, the leash brings out extreme fear or submissiveness. Maybe the leash was used in a negative way in their past. Someone may have used the lead to drag the dog or even whip the dog as punishment. Maybe it was used to tie the dog up for a long time. Or maybe your dog is just a very nervous type, and develops phobias for no good reason.

Although fear of the leash can have a bad impact on exercising your Corgi, there is a cure and it's relatively easy. You just need lots of patience and some simple tools.

Following are some of the best ways to deal with fear of the leash. After going over these steps, you'll know how to make a mere glimpse of the leash bring on a fit of joy. Your Corgi will know that a leash means walks, fun, and play and react accordingly.

Tools You'll Need for Your Corgi:

(1.) The first thing you'll need is a good, strong leash, made of nylon webbing or leather. About 5 feet is a good length, because you can control the dog without risk of it getting tangled up when you're out walking. Chain leashes aren't really recommended. A whack in the face with a chain isn't good for the little guy that's suffering from fear of the leash already!

(2.) Get a good strong collar made of leather or nylon webbing. If you're using one with a plastic snap lock, make sure that it's safety approved and won't unhook under intense pressure. Choke chain collars should never, be used on an unattended dog. They're only a training tool, not a real collar.

Steps to Leash Train Your Corgi

Get your dog used to the lead slowly, making sure to keep him well within his comfort level. Because he's never been on a leash or may be scared of the leash, some signs of stress in its presence are to be expected. Keep your eye out for signs of extreme fear, like hyperventilating, drooling, submissive urination, rolling eyes, trying to shy away from you.

Step 1:

Remember to take tiny steps! If he's totally freaked out by the leash, go SLOW. Leave the leash in full view at all times. Place it in FUN places - next to his food bowl, in his usual play areas, near his bed, places he like to be. When he's stopped reacting negatively to the sight of it, bring the leash to him in a more direct way. Wrap the leash around your hand as you pet and groom him. Drape it around your neck whenever you hold or play with him. Make sure the lead is always in his view, and nothing to be afraid of.

Keep the leash in your hand as you prepare his food, sit by him and stroke him, with the leash still wrapped around your hand, as he eats. Keep this up until he's stopped displaying any signs of fear. Remember, it may take a while. Any kind of rushing is going to be counter productive.

Step 2.

After he's not showing any type of nerves, you can start clipping the leash to his collar. Have your Corgi sit and stay, using a firm, calm, quite voice, and clip the lead on.

Don't make a big deal out of this. Your Corgi will take his emotional and psychological cues from you. If you act as though it's not a big deal, he'll do the same.

When the leash is clipped to his collar, give him some time to get used to the feeling of something hanging on his neck. He may get a little freaked out at this stage, and start scratching at his neck and trying to rub the leash off any way he can.

If he's just showing small signs of nervousness, distract him with a game or a treat. (Intense nerves mean you should go back to Step 1.) A quick game of tug-o'-war is a good distraction. Playing a short game of fetch will work too. If the two of you are outside in a fenced area, just go for a quick walk with your Corgi.

Don't even try to touch the leash right now, just let him check it out freely. Remove the leash after a few minutes and praise him for being such a brave little guy. A couple of small, tasty treats, and lots of petting will help a lot too.

Repeat these last two steps many times before going on to the next level. You want to give your Corgi plenty of time to get used to the feeling of the leash before you start using it to control him while exercising.

The more positive feeling he forms with the leash (which he will get from the games, walks, and treats he gets from having it on), the better for his future success on leash.

Step 3.

OK, time for a short obedience training class while wearing the leash. Five minutes, about 3 times a day, is perfect.

Have your Corgi sit and stay and then give the recall command (come) while the leash is on. This will remind him that you're the Alpha dog, reinforce your authority and leadership, and let him know that he needs to obey you. Don't forget to give him a treat when he does. Never yank or drag him to you. Just say come and present a treat and praise when he does.

Keep these sessions short and always end on a positive note. When he does good, that's a good time to end the session. When he is not responding or gets scared, go back to Step 2. again.

When he's eagerly obeying your commands with the leash on, take him for a short walk. If he's jittery at all, do not reinforce his fear by giving him attention. Just ignore him and keep walking. He will cue off you, so keep calm and wait for it to pass. If, at any point, you feel that he's too scared to continue, go back to the step where he was last 100% comfortable for a while.

Things to Remember When Leash Training Your Corgi

Remember to be Patient! Don't rush your Corgi, because using force is negative to your end goal. Teach him to relax and be calm around the leash at all times. If you get stressed out or frustrated with him, he'll be able to tell, and his anxiety levels will soar.

Do no indulge your Corgis fears or cuddle him if he acts up or gets scared. If you react to his insecurity with hugs and kisses, you are saying that it's OK to feel scared of the leash and that he doesn't have to mind. If he's fearful, ignore it and keep calm, or distract him again with a little game or short walk.

If he's still terrified after a few minutes, revert to the previous step he was comfortable at and give it more time. One last thing you should never do is correct or punish your Corgi for fearful behavior. It's never productive. Train with love!



Article source: Leash Training Your Corgi Dog in 3 Easy Steps



About: Carol Hansen is a writer, blogger and dog lover. Her passion for dogs and all animals comes from her mid-western farm background. Her blog about Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs is at My Dog Bert . The site has a wealth of info on Corgi dogs, Bert's storys, and Corgi products and Corgi videos. .

What pooch does not love getting a treat or two now and then. Corgi owners also love giving their Corgis treats. If you have a Corgi, then you have a good idea of what your they like to nibble on. There are so many treats available these days and they all come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and consistencies.

For every great treat, there are those on the market that are not so good. These treats can harm your Corgi by being lodged in it's throat or intestines. This can cause choking or worse.

If you love treating your Corgi friend, then you will want to be aware of those treats that can be potentially harmful. Even with treats that are not usually dangerous, you need to supervise your Corgi when they eat.
Some Corgi treats to watch out for

Greenies: Most Corgis really enjoy these treats. They are advertised as a treat that helps clean teeth. However, you need to be aware that "greenies" can cause choking. This is because Corgis can eat these very quickly causing large chunks to lodge in the throat.

Young Corgi puppies should not eat this treat and Corgis that are prone to "scarfing" food. If your Corgi eats these treats, be aware of potential vomiting, bloody stools, and difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms after your Corgi has eaten this treat, seek medical attention.

Rawhide Chews: What Corgi does not love snacking on these chewy treats? Rawhides are good because it cleans your Corgi's teeth and keeps them occupied. However, rawhides are dangerous, as well. Some rawhides that originate outside of the United States may actually be preserved with arsenic-based chemicals that will be ingested by your Corgi when he or she chews.

For this reason, make certain that any rawhide treat you purchase is processed in the United States where this preservative is forbidden. If you cannot tell where a treat originated do not buy it! In addition, you still need to watch your Corgi when he or she is munching on rawhides to help prevent choking. Make sure you buy rawhides that are the right size for your dog, too. A small dog needs the smaller sized rawhide treats.

Chocolate: Chocolate is a terrible thing to allow Corgis to eat. Of course, sometimes dogs get into candy and cake without your knowledge. Chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, so you need to be aware of your dog sneaking chocolate nibbles, especially around the holidays.

Chocolate contains an ingredient called theobromine. This acts in the canine about the same way caffeine acts in the human. A little will make the doggie hyperactive, but a huge dose may be fatal. If your Corgi has gotten into chocolate, you need to look for vomiting, shallow breathing, and irregular heartbeat. A visit to the emergency vet unusually results.

Bones: It seems that it is the right of every Corgi to be able to crunch on a real bone from time to time. Corgis love bones of all types. However, some bones can be dangerous. Both chicken and turkey bones are especially dangerous because they are brittle.

When your Corgi chews on it, they can easily splinter and cause choking. Some pork and beef bones can also cause the same problem. Veterinarians agree that the one of the safest bones you can give your Corgi is a shinbone. If you must give your Corgi a bone, make sure you supervise them and if he or she shows signs of bleeding, then you should call your vet immediately for some advice.

This is not to say that you cannot give your Corgi an occasional treat. That is one of the fun parts of owning a Corgi. You do need to watch and make sure that your Corgi is safe when snacking. Always pay attention to what kind of treat you give your Corgi in case of a recall.