Hi everybody, Just got finished reading this book of a thread. I would say I have learned a lot in here and appreciate EVERY single bit of advice.....the good, the bad and the ugly. Inkognito-I did enjoy the sing-a-long, it was just soooo beautiful!!!! ( and yes saypoint, I heard you singing too). I'd have to agree with everyone who said your advice was perfect. I need to close my eyes and invision what I would like there, it's hard to do but my brain sure could use the exercise. Nippersdad, you nailed my thought process perfectly, especially with the " I think it is rather unfair to paint the solicitation of ADVICE (particularly when accompanied with a smiley face) as a demand for free services." comment. First I LMAO at the smiley face remark :) but I really did think that this would just be a fun discussion for those of us who like to give our 2 cents worth on these forums. Somebody mentioned to do your homework first. For a lot of us out here, THIS is our homework. I have learned more in these forums than I have ever learned in a magazine or book. The ideas I've gotten from these types of discussions are priceless. Oh, I almost forgot - Nipper, you have me really wanting a screened in area under the deck, it's only money right? I would like to clarify that I never complained about posters and their responses. I got the impression that some of you think I did. I don't get my panties in a wad over internet remarks.

Cooper and Bailey have slacked off the eating non- edibles. We now have a metal trashcan for the back yard with a chain and lock on it. racoons had been knocking over the cans and dragging stuff out and the guys would find a smorgasbord for breakfast. We got the can in September- after both had eaten lobster shells(yep the one time we cooked lobster. ever.) Back when Bailey was 1 and 1/2 and Cooper was 6 months- one or both got into a bottle of advil- in the middle of the night- we were lucky- DS came home and woke us up when he came home and found the chewed up bottle on the floor in his room. They both spent the weekend on IVs in the emergency vets. very lucky pups.and expensive too. and then there was the time when one or both ate two corn cobs- which can be deadly- and we were outside until 3 am waiting for them to through up the emetic the vet said to give. that resulted in a kitchen trashcan they cant open. soon after one or both of them ate a pumice stone.Sensing a theme here? Partners in Crime! The vet did xrays and came out and said it was Bailey- but brought me a bag of little rocks she had eaten. So we never did find out who ate the pumice stone- it had crumbled into tiny pieces.( and the vet sent an assistant to buy one to see if it would show up on xray.) so we not only just about qualified for a diners club card at the vet- Cooper and Bailey had done their bit to advance veterinary research. so we keep them out of the really bad stuff by dog proofing - but heck they are golden retrievers- so we have piles of sticks in the yard in various stages of chewiness, and they try to bring them in. Bailey steals bits of sandpaper out of the workshop while I am working.And she loves to eat paper- napkins, envelopes, money,as well as pens. Cooper prefers my socks. oh and as puppies, add anything they could get in their mouths and chew!

The monk books are fabulous. There is a puppy version -- I think it's called The Art of Raising a Puppy. Look on Amazon for the Monk's of New Skete and you'll find the puppy book. Also, one of the top trainers there left the monastery and became a very famous dog trainer -- Job Michael Evans. I have all his books. He is sound, humane and loves dogs. I was very priviliged to attend a seminar with him -- he was truly amazing. He took the leash in his hands and made eye contact and the dogs instantly respected him. He's passed on now but I re-read all his books whenever I get a new puppy. For anyone with a dog with behavioral issues, he has a great book on that too. I can't remember the name of it (again, look up his name) but he has a very funny and completely workable section on set ups to get a sneaky dog to misbehave so you can correct him when you're prepared. Other well respected trainers are the Volhards and Carol Lee Benjamin. I find that correcting young puppies varies tremendously from puppy to puppy. Some are very sensitive and a little goes a long way. Too much can crush them. Others are stubborn and even very young need to be shown who is boss. Corgis tend to nip (that's how they herd) and young ones will eventually nip the owners heels to herd somewhere they want to go (food, leashes). It's terribly important that any corgi owner is ready for this moment and makes it crystal clear that nipping a human is never allowed. On mine, I round on them, lower my voice to a threatening growl and give them a very loud lecture on how terrible it is. On the tough puppies I also tap their muzzle with one finger at the same time. On the sensitive ones I don't do this. I lower my eyebrows and stare them down at the same time. They get it. Bad, bad mistake. They'll try a few more times and get the same treatment. They stop. They soon know they cannot use their teeth on a human. One other method that can work on really young puppies who are playing too rough (it won't work if the puppy is trying to be aggressive) is to squawk loudly in pain. The higher pitched and louder the OUCH squeal the better. When littermates play too rough they yelp in pain. This shows the littermate that they were too rough and they learn to moderate it. Mom would enforce this rule so by the time we get the puppies most have learned this from mom. However, if the puppy was removed from mom to early he would not have learned this and it wouldn't work. Good luck.

Hey sorry I haven't gotten back sooner I was having computer issues. We considered the possibility that she would be better in another home but decided, together, to keep her. We put her on her old food and she's not been throwing up since. We're mixing it with new food, IAMS (vet said to go with Hills but I educated my mom on who trains vets in nutrition). I was giving her the milk we drink but not to sustain her, just a small bit to keep hydrated when throwing up. Now she drinks water. Having three 8 week old puppies was too much at the time but now that Peanut and Punkin are almost two years old they are not as dependent and are house trained (well Peanut still goes inside if you don't see her heading to the back door) and have taken more to the puppy now. They play together a lot especially outside and there is harmony in the kitchen at meal times. I've read up on the breeds and know that early socializing and discipline are needed to have this dog's respect. I believe that she will need a long walk in the morning and evening (45 mins each time at least) and I can challenge her more if I get her a backpack when she's older. She had her first shots two weeks ago and I really want to get her walking but beegood mentioned about sidewalks and Parvo so I was wondering if anyone knows how long before I can take her outside and when she can meet other dogs? Also she has really short soft fur and seems to get cold very easily. I bought a small jacket but its light and goes over her back mostly. Should I wait until the weather gets warmer?