Knowing how to manage your Corgi’s reactivity doesn’t have to be a struggle. I promise! First, you need to identify their triggers and then work on desensitization and counter-conditioning to help them get over it. Following this, it’s all about positive reinforcement and maintaining boundaries to help them get through it.
Dealing with reactivity can be pretty challenging. I understand better than anyone how much stress it can cause inside and outside of the home. Some Corgis are reactive to people, some are reactive to dogs. Others put all that focus into food aggression that they can’t seem to let go of. It can leave you feeling drained.
However, you can manage your Corgi’s reactivity to make things easier on them, and management actually takes a lot of stress off your shoulders as well. I’ve got some tips to help you manage how reactive your fluffy friend is so that you can feel more relaxed and help them calm down a little. Trust me when I say it will change things for both of you.
Here’s my quick and easy guide to how to manage your Corgi’s reactivity.
Key Takeaways:
- You need to identify the triggers if you want to get to the root cause
- Desensitization and counter-conditioning are key to success
- Positive reinforcement will help your Corgi see things more positively
- Food lures can actually help a lot with food aggression
Why Is Your Corgi Reactive?
Corgis are very bold and brave little dogs. They have the potential to become reactive just like any other breed. However, there are several types of reactivity, each with its own causes that could be the reason your Corgi is struggling with reactivity. They are:
- Fear Reactivity: Often caused by loud sounds, unfamiliar people, and unfamiliar environments.
- Aggression Reactivity: This is often a form of aggression that is displayed towards other dogs or animals and can sometimes be shown to people.
- Frustration Reactivity: Usually, this is caused by your Corgi being unable to reach something they want, such as food, treats, or even activities like walks and games.
- Overexcitement Reactivity: This is often caused by hyperactive behavior as a result of a lack of stimulation and too much exercise, causing them to become uncontrollably excited.
How To Manage Your Corgi’s Reactivity
If you want some help with managing your Corgi’s reactivity, these are my top tips on how you can make life easier for both of you. Try them out and see how well they worked (they certainly helped with my reactive old man).
Identify The Triggers
You need to identify your Corgi’s triggers before you can start managing their reactivity. Discover what causes them to react, whether it’s fear, boredom, or something else entirely, and then plan how you are going to work on desensitizing them from the trigger. Without identification, you won’t be able to implement anything that sticks or works.
Work On Desensitization
Desensitization is where you slowly expose your Corgi to their trigger in a controlled setting before gradually allowing them to get closer and closer without reacting. It takes a good amount of time, and you’ll need to work on it consistently, but it gets great results. When using treats and praise as a reward, this works as what’s known as counter-conditioning.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Always reward calm and non-reactive behavior from your Corgi and do your best to ignore anything negative. Positive reinforcement is the most effective form of training and management. Using treats or praise will help your Corgi learn self-control in triggering situations until they eventually stop reacting completely.
Pro Tip: Use commands such as let’s go to help steer their attention away from the situation at hand without any negative effects.
Maintain Boundaries As Needed
Throughout the management process, it is important to maintain boundaries for your Corgi. Don’t let people touch them without warning, or let dogs approach them so that they can work through their feelings slowly and get used to the world around them. They might be ready eventually, but you need to give them time and space until they are.
Use Food Lures For Reactivity And Aggression
Food lures can actually help a lot with reinforcing positive behavior and erasing the negative. It should be used in conjunction with desensitization and counter-conditioning, and you need to be careful that you only ever reward positive behavior. You don’t want to accidentally reward them for being bad. It’s all about making that direct connection.
This connection should be between the food and the trigger, as it will help them make a positive association. However, it is also important that you never lure a dog who is nervous or frightened. Wait until they are happy and relaxed. This is because the lure will also have an emotional association, and you want that to be positive as well.
Ask The Professionals When Needed
There are times when things become too intense, and you don’t know what to do anymore. Reactivity can have varying degrees of severity, and when it gets very serious, you might need to look for help from external sources. There is no shame in hiring a dog trainer or a qualified behaviorist to guide you and help your Corgi feel safer and calmer.
We don’t always do things right, and I certainly didn’t when I was new to Corgis. That’s why professionals are important. They show us where we are going wrong and correct our methods so that we give our Corgis a positive experience and try to help them become less reactive. There is no shame in asking for help, we all need it sometimes.
Frequently Asked Question
Can I Stop My Corgi From Being Aggressive?
Aggression in Corgis often comes down to boredom, and taking them out for plenty of exercise and keeping them mentally and physically stimulated can help reduce the risk of aggression. You should also consider seeking the expertise of a behaviorist or dog trainer to help get to the root cause of the issue if it’s something more than boredom.
What Age Do Corgis Calm Down?
Some Corgis start to calm down after they hit two years old. However, their maturity levels aren’t just about their age; they are also about how much training and stimulation they receive and their personalities. I had a Corgi who didn’t slow down until he reached eleven years old – he wanted to keep going no matter what. Other Corgis I’ve owned have calmed down at two.
Do Corgis Have Behavior Problems?
Corgis don’t really have any behavior problems unless they are not exercised or mentally stimulated properly. They can be prone to food aggression if they are not trained, and they are also herding dogs, which means they are more likely to nip at your heels or try to herd other people if you don’t get it under control from early on.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this guide has given you a strong starting point for helping your Corgi get over their reactivity. Management takes a long time and a lot of work, but the second you start seeing progress, it all becomes worth it. You just need to remind yourself that patience and persistence are key and to remain as relaxed as possible throughout.
Enlisting the help of a behaviorist or dog trainer can also ensure that you and your Corgi make excellent progress. If you feel as though you are both struggling with reactivity management, they are there to show you what you’re doing wrong and how to correct it. By working together, you’ll be able to live a more peaceful life with your Corgi.
