Snoot boops and bunny hops,

Winston & Bella x

The training method that keeps beating the e-collar 🎯

A 2020 study from the University of Lincoln, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, put e-collar training head-to-head against reward-based training.

Researchers split 63 dogs with off-leash obedience problems into three groups: experienced e-collar trainers, the same trainers using non-shock methods, and separate reward-based specialists. The reward-based group won on every measure — dogs responded to "Come" and "Sit" faster, on the first try, with fewer repeats. The researchers found no evidence e-collars work better, even in experienced hands.

Corgis are smart, independent-minded herders who get bored fast — exactly the kind of dog reward-based training was built for. If you're stuck on recall, that's where to put the effort, not a collar.

Toys and chews that pass the fingernail test 🦴

At the beginning of week I shared an Instagram post about Winston's teeth extraction, and asked followers for their chew toy ideas (that are safe for teeth). I received so many incredible responses. Browse through the comments to see all the ideas for yourself (and some helpful things to avoid).

A few highlights:

• "Don't forget that you can have as many cardboard boxes as you want, put treats inside and close them and let the dog rip them apart."
• "I gave mine dehydrated fish skins as that is bendy/bendable."
• "We love @wagandbright chews ❤️ milo lost 2 of his molars this past year" (a few people vouched for this brand)
• "Sam's Yams, Whimzees, and Kelpy Bones were all vegan chew/enrichment treats my boy adored."
• "He really loves @thefreezbone - they make incredibly durable little freezable toys. I throw fruit, veg, yogurt, treats, etc inside and freeze them. We have had some for over a year of use and have only recently had one tear a little."​

We recommend...

The Freezball is a long-lasting dog bone that withstands the wear and tear of moderate chewers. It's fillable, which provides great stimulation and keeps anxious/energetic dogs entertained and calm for long periods of time. I've just bought one for Winston! They ship internationally. Find out more and buy here.​

Corgi of the day

This is beautiful Carnaby (@carnabythecorgi on Instagram) sent in by his owner, Christian. This lovely boy is based in Nashville and named after London's very own Carnaby Street! Isn't his bandana the cutest?!