With their dignified and regal demeanor, it’s no wonder so many people fall in love with Corgis. They are known for their intelligence and are listed by Stanley Coren as the 11th most intelligent breed of dogs in his book, The Intelligence of Dogs.
The good news for Corgi owners is that they are eager to please and, therefore, easy to train. Below, we’ll share some of our favorite tips and tricks on how to train a Corgi!
The 14 Tips to Train a Corgi
1. Socialize Your Corgi
Corgis are naturally friendly and outgoing dogs, but it’s important to start getting them used to meeting new people and animals while they are still young. Take your Corgi to a busy place, like a park, so they can get used to strangers walking by and stopping to say hello. It’s best if there is some interaction with new people each time.
Don’t forget to reward your Corgi with treats to help them associate being social with something positive.
2. Help Your Corgi Get Used to Their Environment
Getting to know people and animals is great, but don’t forget to let your puppy get used to the environment around them. If you want them to get used to car rides, you’ll need to train them to tolerate and enjoy the experience. Try to expose them to car journeys while they’re still young.
3. Get Your Puppy Used to Grooming
Corgis are known for shedding significant amounts of hair, and their thick coats need daily brushing. A blow dryer will help them dry faster with such a thick coat, but before you can use one, you’ll need to get your Corgi used to the noise.
Before using a blow dryer on your Corgi, have them in the same room while you’re running it. Give them plenty of praise and treats so they begin to associate the loud noise of the blow dryer with something positive. Eventually, use the blow dryer on your Corgi, and don’t forget to pet, reassure, and treat them as you do.
4. Establish a Daily Routine
Establishing a consistent daily routine will help your Corgi understand that there are appropriate times for doing different things, including eating, drinking, playing, going outside to potty, grooming, and sleeping.
5. Teach Your Corgi Simple Commands
Start teaching your Corgi simple verbal commands while they are still young. Begin with “sit” and “stay’ and help them associate “good” with praise when they get something right. Then, you can try teaching them “down” and “off.”
Positive reinforcement is the key to success when it comes to training your Corgi to respond to verbal cues. When your Corgi gets something right, make sure you shower them with praise and rewards immediately.
6. Exercise Your Corgi
Corgis are prone to becoming overweight, so they must get an adequate amount of exercise each day. Start training your Corgi to play fetch while they’re still a puppy. Aside from providing plenty of fun bonding time for both of you, playing fetch will keep your Corgi in good shape.
The best toy for a Corgi puppy is lightweight and small enough to fit in their mouth but not so small that they could accidentally swallow it.
7. Start Obedience Training by 6 Months
Obedience training classes can be a great way to keep your Corgi puppy mentally and physically stimulated. Some obedience training classes are available to 8-week-old puppies, but you can start a little later.
Obedience training can be done in large groups or privately with a tutor who comes to work with you and your Corgi in your home. While some people prefer to get their Corgi used to being around other dogs, others prefer to have the trainer’s full attention. Either way, obedience training can lead to other classes, such as agility or flyball.
8. Remain Patient and Consistent
Corgis are smart, and they should be able to pick up new commands after just a few repetitions, but you must remain patient throughout your puppy’s training. Dogs are very attuned to their owner’s voice and moods. They can pick up on negativity and frustration quickly.
Be consistent with your training. If you don’t want your Corgi to do something, tell them “no” every time they do it.
9. Learn to Read Your Dog’s Body Language
Your puppy can’t communicate with you the way another person can. You’ll need to learn to read their body language to understand their needs better. By understanding their needs and limits, you can provide them with what they need at the correct time, strengthening your bond. In turn, a stronger bond should make training much easier.
Watch your dog’s posture closely. If your Corgi is uncomfortable, they may avoid eye contact and turn their head away. Other signs that your dog is unhappy include sitting with their head lowered and ears back and tucking their tail away.
10. Do Not Punish Your Corgi
Training a puppy can be hard work! It’s normal to feel frustrated if you have to clean up your dog’s mess again, but remember not to punish your Corgi or take your frustration out on them in any way.
Punishing or shouting at your dog will only make them fearful of you. This will not help your efforts to train them. For your training to be effective, you must let your puppy know they can trust you and are safe. Instead of punishment, build a strong bond with your puppy, and reward them when they get something right.
11. Reward Your Corgi Promptly
When your Corgi performs a trick or responds to a command, reward them immediately so that they can associate the reward with the action. If you wait too long, you may accidentally reinforce unwanted behavior.
As soon as your Corgi behaves how you want them to, give them plenty of verbal praise and present them with their treat.
12. Do Not Overfeed Your Corgi
Corgis are prone to becoming overweight, and it’s vital to ensure they eat the correct amount of good quality dog food every day. Although rewarding your dog is essential, make sure you’re not giving them too many treats.
As a rule of thumb, the number of treats you give your Corgi each day should not exceed 10% of their daily caloric intake.
13. Avoid Accidental Reinforcement
When your dog behaves in an undesirable way, it’s important not to accidentally reward them by giving them attention. Instead, ignore your dog’s undesirable behavior by saying ‘no’ and then turning and walking away from them.
On the other hand, when your dog responds to a command, make sure you reward them immediately. If you wait before rewarding them, they may associate the positive outcome with something else.
14. Train Your Dog in Short Spurts
Rather than spending hours training your Corgi, train them in short spurts. Dogs have shorter attention spans than we do, and a long training session can cause them to lose interest. Break your Corgi’s daily training up into two or three 10-minute sessions.
Remember that consistency and routine are critical for effective training, so try to hold the sessions around the same time each day.
Summing Up
Corgis are wonderfully curious and intelligent little companions. With a consistent training schedule and patience, they should pick up new commands and instructions relatively quickly. Remember to reward your Corgi immediately when they respond to a command or display behavior that you want to encourage.
Training a dog requires patience and persistence, but ultimately, it can be a great bonding experience for both of you—don’t forget to have fun and enjoy every moment!
See also:
Featured Image Credit: Tanya Consaul Photography, Shutterstock
The 14 Tips to Train a Corgi
