9 Clever Tricks You Can Teach Your Corgi That Will Amaze Everyone

Welcome to the world of Corgi training! These delightful dogs are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and playful nature. Teaching your Corgi some clever tricks can strengthen the bond between you and your pet, keep them mentally stimulated, and provide hours of entertainment for everyone. In this article, we will explore nine amazing tricks that you can teach your Corgi. Each section includes step-by-step instructions, tips for effective training, common challenges and solutions, and real-life examples or stories.

1. Shake Hands (High Five)

The shake hands or high five trick is a classic and one of the first tricks many dog owners teach their pets. It’s a simple yet impressive trick that can be done anywhere, making it perfect for showing off at social gatherings.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Start by having your Corgi sit in front of you.
Hold a treat in your hand and show it to your dog.
Move your hand up so your palm faces your Corgi. This movement should encourage your dog to lift its paw.
The moment your Corgi touches your hand with its paw, say ‘Good boy/girl!’ and give the treat.
Repeat several times a day until your Corgi understands the command without the need for the treat in your hand.

Tips for Effective Training:

Use treats that your Corgi loves.
Keep training sessions short and fun to maintain your Corgi’s interest.
Praise and reward your Corgi immediately after they perform the trick.

Common Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Your Corgi doesn’t understand what you want.
Solution: Use clear and consistent commands. Practice in a quiet environment to avoid distractions.
Challenge: Your Corgi gets too excited.
Solution: Take breaks during training sessions and reward calm behavior.

Real-Life Example:

Emily, a Corgi owner from Seattle, shared her experience teaching her Corgi, Max, the high five trick. “Max was a bit stubborn at first, but once he understood that a high five earned him a treat, he couldn’t wait to do it again!”

2. Roll Over

The roll over trick is a bit more advanced than the shake hands trick, but with patience and persistence, your Corgi can master it. This trick showcases your dog’s agility and flexibility.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Begin by getting your Corgi to lie down beside you.
Hold a treat close to your Corgi’s nose and move it towards the floor, encouraging your Corgi to follow it.
Once your Corgi is lying on its side, move the treat along the ground to the other side of your Corgi’s body, guiding it into a full roll.
Praise your Corgi and give the treat as soon as the roll is complete.
Repeat the process several times a day, gradually reducing the amount of guidance you provide.

Tips for Effective Training:

Choose a quiet, distraction-free area for training.
Be patient and consistent in your commands.
Use a gentle, soothing voice to encourage your Corgi.

Common Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Your Corgi resists moving.
Solution: Start with small movements and gradually increase the distance.
Challenge: Your Corgi gets stuck halfway through the roll.
Solution: Encourage your Corgi to complete the roll by guiding it gently with the treat.

Real-Life Example:

Tom, a Corgi owner from New York, shared his experience teaching his Corgi, Bella, the roll over trick. “Bella loved the attention and treats, so she picked it up quickly. Now she does it every time I ask.”

3. Play Dead

The play dead trick is a crowd-pleaser and a great way to showcase your Corgi’s acting skills. This trick requires your Corgi to lie down and stay still, simulating the appearance of being lifeless.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Get your Corgi to lie down.
Place your hand on your Corgi’s chest and gently push down, saying ‘Play dead.’
Stay still for a few seconds, then praise your Corgi and give a treat.
Gradually increase the time your Corgi stays still, rewarding them for each successful attempt.

Tips for Effective Training:

Start with short intervals and gradually increase the duration.
Ensure your Corgi is comfortable and relaxed before attempting this trick.
Use a calm and reassuring voice to help your Corgi feel at ease.

Common Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Your Corgi gets bored or distracted.
Solution: Keep the training sessions short and engaging, using treats and praise to maintain interest.
Challenge: Your Corgi doesn’t stay still.
Solution: Practice in a quiet environment and gradually increase the duration of the ‘play dead’ command.

Real-Life Example:

Jane, a Corgi owner from Chicago, shared her experience teaching her Corgi, Charlie, the play dead trick. “Charlie loved pretending to be asleep. He would even snore when I asked him to play dead!”

4. Fetch

The fetch game is a great way to bond with your Corgi and provide them with exercise. Teaching your Corgi to fetch can be challenging, but with persistence, your Corgi can learn this fun game.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Throw a toy or ball a short distance away from you.
Encourage your Corgi to go after the toy by saying ‘Fetch.’
When your Corgi retrieves the toy, praise them and give a treat.
Gradually increase the distance of the throw as your Corgi becomes more confident.

Tips for Effective Training:

Choose toys that are easy for your Corgi to carry and bring back.
Practice in a safe, enclosed area to prevent your Corgi from running off.
Be patient and consistent in your commands.

Common Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Your Corgi doesn’t want to retrieve the toy.
Solution: Make sure the toy is interesting and rewarding enough for your Corgi.
Challenge: Your Corgi runs away with the toy instead of bringing it back.
Solution: Practice in a confined space and gradually increase the distance.

Real-Life Example:

Mark, a Corgi owner from Los Angeles, shared his experience teaching his Corgi, Daisy, the fetch game. “Daisy loved chasing the ball, and she quickly learned to bring it back to me for more playtime.”

5. Spin

The spin trick is a fun and entertaining trick that showcases your Corgi’s agility and coordination. This trick involves getting your Corgi to turn around in circles.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Stand facing your Corgi.
Hold a treat near your Corgi’s nose and move it in a circular motion, guiding your Corgi to follow the treat.
As your Corgi follows the treat, say ‘Spin.’
Praise your Corgi and give the treat when the spin is complete.
Repeat the process several times a day, gradually reducing the amount of guidance you provide.

Tips for Effective Training:

Choose a quiet, distraction-free area for training.
Use a treat that your Corgi loves to encourage them to follow the treat.
Be patient and consistent in your commands.

Common Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Your Corgi doesn’t follow the treat.
Solution: Start with small movements and gradually increase the distance.
Challenge: Your Corgi gets stuck halfway through the spin.
Solution: Encourage your Corgi to complete the spin by guiding it gently with the treat.

Real-Life Example:

Lisa, a Corgi owner from San Francisco, shared her experience teaching her Corgi, Lucy, the spin trick. “Lucy loved the attention and treats, so she picked it up quickly. Now she does it every time I ask!”

6. Speak

The speak trick is a fun and interactive way to engage with your Corgi. This trick involves teaching your Corgi to bark on command.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Wait for your Corgi to naturally bark.
Immediately after the bark, say ‘Good boy/girl!’ and give a treat.
Repeat several times a day, gradually adding the ‘Speak’ command before your Corgi barks.
Once your Corgi associates the command with the action, you can start using the ‘Speak’ command before your Corgi barks.

Tips for Effective Training:

Choose a quiet, distraction-free area for training.
Be patient and consistent in your commands.
Use a calm and reassuring voice to encourage your Corgi.

Common Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Your Corgi doesn’t bark.
Solution: Wait for natural barking and reward it immediately.
Challenge: Your Corgi barks excessively.
Solution: Reward only the barking that occurs when you give the ‘Speak’ command.

Real-Life Example:

John, a Corgi owner from Boston, shared his experience teaching his Corgi, Rocky, the speak trick. “Rocky loved the attention and treats, so he picked it up quickly. Now he barks every time I ask!”

7. Sit Pretty

The sit pretty trick is a show-stopping trick that showcases your Corgi’s balance and posture. This trick involves getting your Corgi to sit up on its hind legs and extend its front paws forward.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Start by getting your Corgi to sit.
Hold a treat above your Corgi’s head, encouraging them to raise their front paws to reach the treat.
Once your Corgi is sitting pretty, say ‘Sit pretty’ and give the treat.
Repeat the process several times a day, gradually reducing the amount of guidance you provide.

Tips for Effective Training:

Choose a quiet, distraction-free area for training.
Use a treat that your Corgi loves to encourage them to reach for the treat.
Be patient and consistent in your commands.

Common Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Your Corgi doesn’t raise its front paws.
Solution: Start with small movements and gradually increase the height of the treat.
Challenge: Your Corgi loses balance and falls over.
Solution: Practice in a stable environment and gradually increase the duration of the ‘sit pretty’ command.

Real-Life Example:

Sarah, a Corgi owner from Denver, shared her experience teaching her Corgi, Penny, the sit pretty trick. “Penny loved the attention and treats, so she picked it up quickly. Now she sits pretty every time I ask!”

8. Jump Through Hoops

The jump through hoops trick is a fun and interactive way to engage with your Corgi. This trick involves getting your Corgi to jump through a hoop held horizontally in front of them.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Hold a hoop in front of your Corgi at shoulder height.
Encourage your Corgi to jump through the hoop by saying ‘Jump.’
Praise your Corgi and give a treat when they successfully jump through the hoop.
Repeat the process several times a day, gradually increasing the size of the hoop and the distance between jumps.

Tips for Effective Training:

Choose a quiet, distraction-free area for training.
Use a hoop that is appropriate for your Corgi’s size and strength.
Be patient and consistent in your commands.

Common Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Your Corgi doesn’t jump through the hoop.
Solution: Start with a small hoop and gradually increase the size.
Challenge: Your Corgi gets stuck in the hoop.
Solution: Practice in a stable environment and gradually increase the distance between jumps.

Real-Life Example:

Amy, a Corgi owner from Austin, shared her experience teaching her Corgi, Toby, the jump through hoops trick. “Toby loved the attention and treats, so he picked it up quickly. Now he jumps through hoops every time I ask!”

9. Dance

The dance trick is a fun and interactive way to engage with your Corgi. This trick involves getting your Corgi to move in a rhythmic pattern, similar to dancing.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Stand facing your Corgi.
Hold a treat near your Corgi’s nose and move it in a rhythmic pattern, guiding your Corgi to follow the treat.
As your Corgi follows the treat, say ‘Dance.’
Praise your Corgi and give the treat when the dance is complete.
Repeat the process several times a day, gradually reducing the amount of guidance you provide.

Tips for Effective Training:

Choose a quiet, distraction-free area for training.
Use a treat that your Corgi loves to encourage them to follow the treat.
Be patient and consistent in your commands.

Common Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Your Corgi doesn’t follow the treat.
Solution: Start with small movements and gradually increase the distance.
Challenge: Your Corgi gets stuck halfway through the dance.
Solution: Encourage your Corgi to complete the dance by guiding it gently with the treat.

Real-Life Example:

Chris, a Corgi owner from Miami, shared his experience teaching his Corgi, Buddy, the dance trick. “Buddy loved the attention and treats, so he picked it up quickly. Now he dances every time I ask!”

The Benefits of Training for Corgis’ Mental and Physical Health

Training your Corgi is not only a fun and rewarding activity for both you and your pet, but it also provides numerous benefits for your Corgi’s mental and physical health. Regular training sessions can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve cognitive function, and promote healthy weight management. Additionally, training can help strengthen the bond between you and your Corgi, leading to a happier and healthier relationship.