Training
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Why train?  Corgis are working dogs - it keeps them happy and busy!  Training helps owners bond with their dogs (all types!), and even if you can only fit in a few minutes a day, a little training will make your dog a better pet.  No time?  Put them in a sit-stay while you cook or brush your teeth.  Practice down and sit during commercials on TV.  You don't have to set aside time if you feel you have none - fit training in any time!  Unless you are showing, you don't need training schedules and lots of time.  Just a few minutes will go a long way....

 There are many many ways to train your dog, so here is the way I like to do things. Keep in mind, I am not a professional. This is just what worked for me (Brigadune has gone through puppy kindergarten, obedience I and II, pre-novice, novice and some agility). I'd suggest finding a good trainer in your area - keeping in mind that the best trainers train you to train your dog.  Here are my main rules for training:

1. Always have fun. If it’s not fun, stop!
2. Consistency matters. ALWAYS be consistent.
3. The exercise is never over until you release the dog.
4. Give commands firmly (don't ask as if you don't mind if the dog leaves)
5. Praise them like crazy.  The greater the praise, the happier the dog is to obey.

Some of the exercises below have different levels.  Each level should be practiced one to two times a day for a week.  Remember, dogs go through regression periods (usually about every 5 weeks or so).  If your dog looks clueless but is at the last level, move back a level for a day.  They'll soon remember.  Just remember to be positive and happy during training! (by the way, the training exercises below are based on the training at the Orange County Animal Shelter in Mebane, NC)  Also, if you are mad or sick, your dog will probably have a bad training day.  Just don't worry about it - you'll have a good day tomorrow.

Now, off we go!

Alpha Exercises, Watch Me, Controlled Walking, Sit, Down, Sit-Stay, Down-Stay, Come

This is always a tricky subject, and everyone has a different opinion. Hopefully you’ll enjoy my opinion, whether you use it or not!

First, what is an alpha exercise? Dogs are pack members, and seek to establish an order. I have found that when a dog knows his place in the family, he or she is a much happier pup! Alpha exercises simply reinforce the idea that the human is the head of the family.

Rules for Alpha Exercises

1. Although this is a dominance exercise, keep it fun!
2. Do not scare your dog. If they are tense or upset, go SLOWLY.
3. Make this a happy time, then your dog will love having you as alpha!
4. Some may disagree, but for me, NEVER use alpha exercises as punishment.

One way to show dominance is to assume a position where the dog is on his/her back, with alpha (you), bending over them. To begin:

1. Start slowly. Gently roll your pup on his/her side, sitting beside them, and pet them, telling them what a wonderful dog they are! (if you have a timid, shy or abused dog, go no further than this stage for a few weeks, until the dog is relaxed in this position). You can try giving small treats to them also. However, the dog cannot get up until you release them (try saying something like "OK" as a release).
2. Touch their paws, mouth, ears and body while they are down, telling them how wonderful they are in a happy voice. After all, they are wonderful!
3. Gradually roll dog onto their back, emphasizing how good they are. Again, pet them and do not let them get up until released.
4. We are at the stage where I can flip Dune over, tickle her belly, kiss her muzzle, play with her feet, all the time telling her how wonderful she is. She adores this exercise!

This is just a back exercise to simplify the toenail cutting process. Sit on the floor, and roll dog into a position upside down between your legs. Handle the paws, then turn the dog around and handle the back paws. This is how we cut our dog’s toenails. Again, tell them how good they are, tickle their tummies, give a little treat, etc. (Peanut butter is a great distraction treat). And no getting up until the release!

You can vary the alpha exercise as much as you want, as long as it is still enjoyable for your dog. Sometimes I crawl up to Brigadune, then crawl over her and look down, bumping her in the shoulder with my head. She rolls over immediately for love and tickles (and she’s a very dominant dog).

Watch Me

This teaches your dog to pay attention to you (very very helpful!)

Level one:  Say "Watch me" and each time your dog makes eye contact with you, reward immediately.  (some dogs dislike this or are uneasy making eye contact - just have patience) Sometimes a little food held between your eyes can help the most distracted pups.

Level two:  Hold piece of food at your nose and say "watch me."  When dog makes eye contact, give food immediately.  If dog won't look, hold food in front of nose, move it to yours, and reward when eye contact is made.

Level three:  Say watch me, hold eye contact briefly, reward and praise.  Gradually increase the time of eye contact to at least 30 seconds.

Controlled Walking

Who wants a dog pulling on the leash?  Not me!

The point to this is to have the dog pay attention to where you are going - he/she should stay with you without the leash tightening.  Put dog on a 6' lead, and hold the end against your waist (your body should correct the dog - don't pull the leash with your hand).  Walk in one direction until the dog is distracted, then change directions.  The correction from your body movement will initially suprise the dog, but very quickly they get the hang of watching.  Turn every time the dog stops watching.  Don't talk to your dog until the end (about 5-10 minutes). Then praise the heck out of that great pup!

Sit

Level one:  say "sit" to your dog and immediately help them into position.  Don't expect your dog to remember everything on day two.  Just say sit, help them into position, and release with "ok!" and lots of praise.  To get them into position, you can put them on your side, hold the collar, and press down gently on the dog's stifles.  Or, you can hold the food above the dog's head just out of reach and move it back over the dog.  Most will sit as they follow the food.  Again, say sit, immediately help them, then PRAISE.

Level two:  give command only one time, then help dog into position.  There should be no time between the end of the word and the time when you help him/her sit.  If you say the command over and over or wait for the dog to slowly sit, then you are reinforcing slow reactions and teaching them that they don't have to respond the first time you say the command.  Again, release with lots of praise.

Level three:  Give sit command once, negative reinforcement if he doesn't sit immediately.  Negative reinforcement is a pop to the leash (quick jerk and release).  Now - this is important!  Negative reinforcement is not to hurt the dog.  It is simply to get his/her attention back on you.  Do not attempt to pop the poor pup's head off - just get their attention.  Think of it as a tap on the shoulder, and use it as such.  Do not irritate the dog by tugging on the leash.  Do not say sit twice.  Say it once, release and praise if dogs sits immediately.  If not, get their attention with the leash, put them into position, release and praise.

Level one: say "down" and immediately help dog into the position.  Often holding food in front of them on the floor, then moving the food back between the front legs (of the dog) will cause the dog to lie down.  Otherwise, hold food between front legs of the dog with one hand and exert gentle pressure on the haunches to obtain the position. (never press on the center of the back -don't want to hurt your dog!)

Level two:  Just like Sit level two. Give command once, immediately help them into position with no lag time between the end of the command and the beginning of movement.

Level three:  Just like Sit level three

Sit-Stay

Level one:  place dog in sit position on your side (usually the left).  Give stay signal (right palm open in front of dog's face) and say "stay" at the same time.  Pivot in front of dog and pivot back immediately. Release, praise like crazy.  Do not press this command.  You don't want mistakes, so don't walk away yet.  If necessary, pivot in front with your hand on the collar.

Level two:  Give dog one command to stay with hand signal.  Pivot in front of dog.  Pivot back, release and praise.  If dog moves, simply put them back into position.

Level three:  Give dog command to stay, go out in front 2 feet. If the dog breaks, put him/her back into position and only go away half as far. Go back, release and praise.  Slowly increase distance and time.  Always go back halfway if the dog breaks (after putting the dog back into position).  Remember:  slow and steady wins the race!

Level four:  work with dog on a long lightline.  Again, go back a level if the dog breaks.  When you leave to walk away from the dog, don't look back.  Looking back lets the dog know you expect it to break.  Believe me, you'll know if he/she breaks without having to look back.

Down-Stay

Level one:  Same as sit stay level one.  Put dog in down, say stay with hand signal.  Watch for movement.  If dog stays down, pivot in front, pivot right back, release and praise.

Basically, the down-stay levels follow that of the sit-stays.  Just remember to go slowly.  You should work on this command for several weeks if not months before trying it off-lead.

Fast response down:  Down signal:  move right hand over head (open palm), and move it forward towards the ground.  Moving backwards, give down command, release, down, release, down, release, down release.  Use the command and hand signal the first 3 times, hand signal only the last time.  This lets the dog read your body language and begin to learn hand signals.

Come

Level one:  Start walking with dog at your side.  Start backing up, repeating "come" in a happy voice, clapping your hands and encouraging your dog to follow.  Stay in a straight line, and hold food between your knees to encourage the dog to come straight in to you.

Level two:  Put dog on a lightline (long leash).  Have someone hold dog.  Leave dog (go about 25 feet) and say "come" once in a bright cheery voice.  Clap, bend over and encourage dog with praise as he comes to you.  Encourage him to come straight in with food held between your knees (by the way, hold the food in your hand, between your knees - don't try to actually hold the food between your knees!)

Level three:  Dog must be sound on sit-stay for this.  Place dog in sit-stay and go to end of leash.  Say command, clap hands while running backwards (running helps dog come faster).  Praise and pet as dog approaches.  Give food.

Recall with sit:  Put dog in sit-stay.  Call dog once.  When he/she comes, hold food up to our chest and say "sit."  You want the dog to sit quickly and straight in front of you.  Don't move your feet - it is the dog's responsibility to sit straight.

REMEMBER TO HUG YOUR DOG!