How to Train your Dragon…Er Corgi
Photo Credit: Bing AI Image Creator
Cute Dragon Corgi in his Jedi Robe, reporting for duty!
Repetition Repetition Repetition! And lots of treats! I’ll admit that Gatsby still jumps a little when someone comes over. So I’m not yet a Master Jedi of Corgis. But for teaching basic commands and tricks, giving constant praise and treats helps them pick it up faster. Just like us humans respond and learn quicker with positive reinforcement, so does your fur kid! Corgis are known for their insatiable appetites, and Gatsby definitely lives up to the hype. He is very food motivated. I started out with high five as his first trick. He learned it very quickly but we went through a ton of treats! All I did was give him a treat every time he got close to doing a high-five. I’m pretty sure he picked it up within 5 minutes or so. Corgis are very intelligent dogs. Teaching your dog tricks is not only fun to do but also helps strengthen the bond you share. Because Corgis tend to get on the hefty side pretty easily I knew I had to find some low cal treats for him. I like to give him healthy food, (he shares a banana with me every morning), so I found some training treats.
I came across Bocce’s Bakery treats several years ago when searching for healthy treats that didn’t smell terrible or use fillers and a ton of preservatives. They started out as a small business in New York and I just love these kinds of brands and their stories. They have cute names for their treats and adorable packaging. But most importantly they use high-quality, fresh ingredients in all their treats and they are made right here in the USA. Bocce’s treats smell so good I almost could eat them. Especially the Pumpk’n Spice! Gatsby takes after his mom and loves all things pumpkin spice too! When researching for this article I noticed they now offer a treat subscription box on their website as well. Gatsby loves getting his BarkBox’s in the mail every month, so this subscription service is sure to be a hit in our home! Anytime we get a package, he immediately has to check it out to and thinks it’s another special delivery for him. If we add this subscription service, I’m sure I’ll end up having to tear all of the packages away from him even more often!
This might sound crazy but I have also found that talking to Gatsby as if he were a human works best. I think he has learned far more words than if I had spoken to him as if he were just a dog or in a high pitched I just saw a cute baby voice. I figured if I speak to him like an intelligent being or just as my closest confidant, he would think and act accordingly. For the most part, I’d say it has worked out perfectly. However, he is still just a crazy Corgi pup, and he still goes a little nuts sometimes. Especially every time he meets a new human. Corgis are very social creatures and they love attention. Gatsby certainly lives up to the hype. He is definitely a ham for attention and takes it personal whenever someone refuses to pet him. He doesn’t trust them either and I most certainly trust his opinions when it comes to the character of other humans! I went on a date at the park awhile back with a guy and Gatsby completely ignored him as if he wasn’t there. Normally he is jumping with joy whenever he meets someone new. Let’s just say that was my first and last date with duct tape couch boy. If my dog doesn’t like you, you don’t stand a chance!
Another fan favorite in our house are Greenies dental treats. A few weeks ago, Gatsby and I went into Petco to get a brushing (Corgis shed and shed and shed some more) and nail grind. I was shocked when he grabbed a back of Greenies while we were in the checkout lane. Sometimes he just likes to help himself to a treat every now and then when something catches his eye in the store lol. I don’t feed him a lot of soft foods and we are all about being healthy around here, so his teeth are in really good shape for a 7 year old. You can purchase them on Amazon from here insert hyper link). They help keep his breath fresh and his teeth cleaner. This saves on dental bills later down the road, so your pup and your wallet will thank you later! I receive commissions from Amazon each time you purchase from my links or my shop above. Every purchase helps feed and fund Gatsby, the insatiable Corgi, and his retail addiction!
