Your New Puppy
Your new puppy should be treated like a new baby. At first they will be a little timid of their new surroundings and should be treated with patience and love. Once they become used to their new home they will become very curious and playful. This is where we enter what in children is referred to as the terrible twos.
As a playful, curious puppy becomes used to their surroundings they will begin to exhibit puppy behavior. Chewing, jumping and other bad habits should be discouraged firmly but gently. The puppy should be corrected at the time of the incident, not later. Puppies have a very short attention span and if you discipline them several minutes after the bad behavior they will associate the reprimand with whatever they are doing at the time. It is also good to remember the attention span when trying to obedience train your puppy, short sessions, several times a week, are much more productive than very long sessions.
Most Corgis are not picky eaters. You puppy has been fed a high quality puppy food (Purina Pro Plan Focus Chicken & Rice Puppy). It is recommended that you mix some of the food they are used to with any new food introduced to them. At first a change in food can also cause a mild diarrhea, this should clear up after a few days. There are several good puppy foods out there. Most of these should be available from your veterinarian, local pet retail shop or feed store. It is recommended that you not feed generic or other discount brands and no grain free diet.
Your puppy is used to having feed and water before him at all times. It is not recommended that you restrict his food too drastically at the beginning to try and housebreak. If you are not able to leave free food access to your puppy ease him into regular feeding times (at least 4 feedings daily) and keep an eye on him to make sure that he is not losing weight. Puppies do not have much body fat and when playing or stressed will burn sugar for energy so it is very important to make sure that they are eating as much as they want to keep their body fat up. After 6 months you should be past the time when this occurs.
Your puppy will be very curious at first and may get into things. Please make sure to puppy proof your house before a tragedy occurs. There are several everyday items in your house that you might not even think of poisoning your puppy. Several types of plants are poisonous (if near the holiday season, Poinsettias are poisonous), and of course chemicals. Chocolate is also a danger to dogs. It is not recommended that your new puppy be fed table scraps. Besides obesity, the foods are sometimes not easily digested by the puppy and can irritate their stomachs. Also watch electrical cords for chewing. Small objects can be swallowed or choked on, a puppy can choke to death just like a child. Rawhide bones are discouraged, as pieces of these can break off and cause choking or blockage of the intestine. Stuffed and unstuffed chew toys are preferable, just make sure to remove all strings or hard objects such as plastic eyes. If getting worn, throw away. Especially if they have squeakers or bells inside. Hard rubber toys are preferable over soft, as the soft are easily chewed on and small pieces can come off.
Your new puppy will play hard and then crash for a nap. He is going to be very playful, but he needs LOTS OF SLEEP to re-energize, he will not play all of the time.
Above all, enjoy and love your new puppy!!