Corky the Shihtzu

This is Corky, a lovely shihtzu boy who has had a very rough life so far so he is looking for a very special home. I do not know exactly what Corky’s history is but somewhere along the way he learnt to bite in response to real or perceived threats, so unfortunately for this gorgeous boy, he comes with a negative history.

For the last few months Corky has been in foster with me, two resident dogs and various other foster dogs. I have been determined to break his destructive cycle by enforcing and encouraging positive behaviour using various techniques. Despite some set-backs along the way Corky has come such a long way in terms of his behaviour modification. I (and the other humans in the household) have endeavoured to establish ourselves as his “pack leaders” and give him boundaries…. for example, we walk him regularly to ensure he has no pent-up energy (when he came first he was very over weight and could hardly walk), he’s now a great walker and even loves to run!, he sits and waits for his food before being allowed to eat it, he can respond to many commands including “sit”, “give the paw”, “hi-five”, “wait”, “go” and “lie”. When Corky first arrived he would not leave anyone near him, but now he will ask to be cuddled (his two fluffy paws will suddenly appear on your knees when you’re watching tv!) and he is extremely affectionate and a real little character when he gets going…..he never showed interest in any toys but has shown a recent interest in a discarded pink flower-pot ! (it must be the colour!!). He allows me to brush him, wash him, keep his hair clipped over his eyes and even touch and dry his paws after his walks (they were a no-go area for weeks!)…..he is still on the precious side over his tail though…although we all might be if we had such a gorgeous mane! He has a beautiful coat but it will require some maintenance.

I notice that for some reason Corky responds well especially to men (that being said the humans in the household are female!). He needs someone to give him some time and effort and especially to always follow-through on his current training and keep re-enforcing his positive behaviours instead of focusing on the negative.

Corky can not be allowed near children or elderly people for the forseeable future for the reasons above. He does not like sudden movements but if approached slowly and non-confrontationally he is very well behaved and affectionate…..he absolutely adores having his back scratched and takes food and treats from my hand extremely gently. He responds excellently to positive reinforcement and will sell his soul for a treat! He gets on well with other dogs but prefers calm dogs.

We will never know his full story or why he sometimes feels so threatened but if you are prepared to give him love, time, boundaries, direction and be his “pack-leader”, he in turn will reward you with his unique character & his affection, and you will find yourself laughing at his antics, from the way he bunny-hops along with his back legs whilst “paddling” madly with his front ones!, to his liking for pink, to his teeth chattering when he gets something tasty to eat, to his gorgeous expression on his cute little face…..the best of all though is the great welcome he has started to give me each morning….he bounds out of his crate and refuses to go outside until he has got his quota of cuddles and rubs!

Corky is vaccinated, neutered and fully housetrained. He is crate-trained and is very quiet around the house….the perfect little dog in many ways.

If you are looking for a little lap-dog then Corky is not for you, but if you are looking to give a very deserving little dog a second chance, have an interest in, or are willing to learn about animal behaviour, and are willing to put the time into keeping his training moving forward at all times and giving him the security he needs, then consider this little dog. There’s nothing quite like watching tv with a lovely fluffy Corky sleeping on your feet (his favourite place to sleep!) …….

• Breed: Shihtzu