The Corgi Con Crash: A Reality Check in Decaf’s Training Journey

Today, Decaf and I went to Corgi Con. If you don't know, it's this awesome, once-a-year event, and I was genuinely so excited. Last year, Decaf was a total champ there, so I figured, "He’s doing great, he’ll love the vibe!"

Narrator Voice: He did not love the vibe.

Here’s the big difference: Last year, we went as a whole family unit. This time? It was just the two of us. And you know what? That changed everything.

A Quick Peek at Decaf's Reactivity History

If you're new here, you might be wondering about Decaf's background. He started getting reactive toward other dogs about four years ago, right after a not-so-great visit to a dog park.

We've been working on this "behavior" for years, and my core belief is that the ultimate solution isn't about punishment—it's about changing his mindset and giving him tons of positive, fun experiences. (We'll dive into the nitty-gritty of reactivity in a separate post)

Training Wins: The Days Leading Up to the Event

Since this is the very first entry in our training journal, let me give you a quick update on how awesome Decaf has been lately.

• 9/7 Park | Reactive Times: 0 We went to a dog birthday party (yes, really!) with about seven dogs, all leashed and friendly. Decaf was totally chill. He greeted everyone peacefully, but honestly, he was way more interested in the table full of dog treats.

• 9/13 Farmer's Market | Reactive Times: 0 We passed several dogs and even got up close to a few horses. His body language was relaxed, and he didn't react to any animals. Smooth sailing!

• 9/24 Mountain View DT | Reactive Times: 0 We met another Corgi named George in a parking lot. I gave them some space, but Decaf actually pulled the leash because he wanted to get to know George! George was super neutral, so we started walking right behind them, then parallel. Decaf and George were both totally fine.

• 9/25 SF Zoo | Reactive Times: 3

  It was a blast! Decaf loved watching the wild animals. When a gorilla decided to charge at us, he was ready to take it on until our friend Nori stepped in—which, honestly, is fine! A gorilla being rude is a reasonable thing to react to.

  However, he started reacting to almost every dog that passed us. I checked his mood: big smile, loose body language. It looked like he was reacting out of frustration—he was in high-energy play mode and getting annoyed that he couldn't interact.

  I actually didn't feel too bad about this. Why? Because the reaction wasn't coming from fear. If the cause is excitement or frustration, I can use gentle correction to teach him. It was a learning moment, and I really wish we could go back!

Corgi Con: What Went Wrong?

Now, back to the big event.

Right as we got out of the car, before we even hit the crowds, Decaf just stopped. He refused to move forward about four or five times. The strange thing is, he did not care about the other dogs; he just seemed oddly hesitant. Usually, he gets a little excited around dogs, but not today.

I pushed him a bit, and I convinced him to walk inside. We found a spot that wasn’t too busy, and I positioned him so we could get some photos with the dogs in the background.

While we were posing, a very friendly Corgi came up from behind and sniffed him. That was the moment. Decaf saw it, locked eyes, and then—BOOM!—he lunged, barked, and made a huge scene. I was completely embarrassed and immediately took him out of there.

The Honest Mistake

What did I do wrong today? I ignored his feelings right from the start.

Decaf clearly didn't like the vibe. He showed nervous signs in the parking lot, and instead of respecting his decision to leave, I insisted we go in. That final reaction wasn't from excitement; it was the piled-up negative energy finally exploding when a trigger (that friendly Corgi) got too close. He wasn't trying to be rude to that dog; that dog just happened to be the last straw.

I should never use correction when he already has that negative energy inside him; it's just adding fuel to the fire. (there was a moment, I really wanted to punish him for embarrassing me)

The big takeaway: I should have simply left the moment he showed reluctance in the parking lot.

The New Plan: Boosting Decaf's Confidence

The most effective way to boost Decaf’s confidence is by surrounding him with his familiar "pack," like we did at the zoo (3 humans + 2 other dogs). We need to leverage that social safety net.

Here’s the new strategy:

City Events

1. Safety in Numbers: We’ll go to a city event with at least two people (or one person + a very confident dog friend) to boost his sense of security.

2. The 5-Minute Rule: We will carefully watch his body language for the first five minutes. If he shows signs of being relaxed and in a good mood, we can stay. If he’s hesitant or nervous, we exit immediately.

3. If he is relaxed, we can use a bark collar to teach him not to be rude.

Private Events

1. The Late Arrival Advantage: We’ll show up a little late so he can feel the positive, settled vibe from the other happy dogs. This helps him relax from the start and sets a great tone.

If Decaf is happy and surrounded by happy, familiar dogs, he's going to do great. It's all about setting him up for success and respecting his mood!

My ultimate goal for Decaf? Be confident and open minded. I don't need him to be perfect in obedience, just be a happy and worry free dog. That's the real solution to dog reactivity.