''We never see corgis anymore''

[Michael Romanos]

Taylor and my immediate previous Pem, Hadlee have both left permanent scars on me. But were from me intervening when they had gotten into dog fights. Taylor left a spot on my wrist when the bite he meant for a Lab, bit into me instead. He is otherwise very friendly with this Lab but at the time he was very young and didn't appreciate my attention heaped on the Lab insde his own territiry. Hadlee's bite left a mark on my ankle and I can't recall the circumstances. They are bit like a tattoo - I look at them and think of my beloved Corgis.

If the British Queen got bitten whilst trying to stop a fight among her Corgis etc or in a food related situation - and one of these two instances is probably the case- then that is par for the course with a huge number of dog owners worldwide and nothing out of the ordinary or much to write home about or indeed decry the temperament of Pems.

[glencorgi]

None of my most visible ones are from human error (and hey, I've stuck my hands and body in between fights, even knowing better - it's a natural reactive instinct).

I have a puncture scar from a fear biter - nurture instead of nature factor in her temperament. I actually had her littermate as a rescue as well and he was a super dog. She could not be picked up without trying to bite. Grooming always had to be done muzzle on.

I have chewing scars from a boy that exhibited as close to rage syndrome as I ever want to experience. We were doing one of his favorite things - running through obedience drills and tricks when he snapped and chewed up my hand and wrist. To make matters worse he didn't "bite and release" he came after me as well. No stitches were required, but on that one I did see a doctor and had a tetanus booster.

I have a quarter moon scar on my right index finger where a foul tempered young corgi tried to remove the end of my finger when I tossed a bit of dropped food into his food bowl. He would also snap aggressively during handling and petting.

The last two corgis were definitely dangerous dogs as they would "attack/bite" without provocation and aggressively. The idea that ALL corgis are sweetness and light marshmallow cream puffs needs to be chucked out the door and a reality check done. Inside the wonderful jovial loving corgi breeds is the heart of a working dog. There are people around who will avoid corgis in the same fashion many of you avoid pit bulls and they have this perception of nasty snarky beasties because there are corgis around that have earned the reputation. Corgis are no different than any other breed of dog or even the mutt canine population - there are bad apples among them all. Any dog breed or mutts can and do have dangerous specimens. Lest one believe that a corgi bite can't do serious damage; remember they were bred to move cattle. A strategically placed bite/nip on the back of a cow's leg with force enough to earn the respect that the wee corgi was something to be reckoned with and obeyed, well it wasn't a "love nibble" that's for sure. In the US at least, with high popularity that Pembrokes have, there is so much random breeding done only for production of "those cute little puppies" which bring such a good price - temperament is NOT taken into account. Another issue is that often as puppies corgis are allowed to get away with so much, just 'cause they are cute. On another Pembroke forum a new person was asking about grooming and I finally lost count of stalwart list members confessing they couldn't even brush their corgis without them trying to bite. Sooooo, they are taken to the groomers where they are muzzled in order to have a good brushing and thus perpetuating the reputation. These aren't bad tempered corgis necessarily, nor are the owners really "bad" owners - just not strong enough in their position in the household and never made their corgis do anything they didn't want to.

IF one seriously looks through the archives here as just a random sample of corgi owners, it isn't too long before one will come across a home that is just not suited for the corgi breed. Promotion of the breed for a home very ill-suited or equipped for it is <IMHO> terribly irresponsible and vain and only results in the individual dog and sometimes the corgi breeds reputation suffering because of it.

I annually go to several picnics where there are 30 or more corgis of both breeds cavorting about and having the time of their lives. There are few which we've learned from past experiences that need to have an eye watching the owner to make sure they watch their dog, but those are the exceptions. I KNOW both sides of the coin here. To not be able to imagine that a corgi could need to be muzzled or even be a dangerous dog is as ridiculous as Breed Specific Legislation and Italy's dangerous dog list.

One more time: Punish the DEED, NOT the breed and there a lot of deeds corgis are capable of.

Now back to Cindy's original purpose of this thread - the stories she has related are consistent with reports from those who visit Wales in hopes of corgi sightings and are duly disappointed.

Debbie

[love2corgis]

Originally Posted by glencorgi

Now back to Cindy's original purpose of this thread - the stories she has related are consistent with reports from those who visit Wales in hopes of corgi sightings and are duly disappointed.

Debbie

Now I know Cindy is a very clever corgi but she is not up to posting on here yet. I am trying hard to train her to but I fear that as I only inherited her when she was 5 that being able to write posts here is going to be beyond her.Now if I had had her as a puppy........

By the way reading your post tells me that I am really very fortunate with my two corgis as to their temperament.

Laura

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by love2corgis

Now I know Cindy is a very clever corgi but she is not up to posting on here yet. I am trying hard to train her to but I fear that as I only inherited her when she was 5 that being able to write posts here is going to be beyond her.Now if I had had her as a puppy........

Well my corgis say the biggest hurdle they have with typing is no thumbs, but they manage.

By the way reading your post tells me that I am really very fortunate with my two corgis as to their temperament.

Temperament is oh so important and really I am speaking to the exceptions and a good number of those are the result of human error/mishandling (don't mean abuse either). It does help to keep the breeds in the context of their history as well and look at the temperament called for in the standard (and the standards aren't all that different around the world). For Pembrokes - "Outlook bold, but kindly. For Cardigans - "Even-tempered, loyal, affectionate, and adaptable." Just because neither sould be "shy nor vicious" doesn't mean those specimens don't occur.

Debbie

[ColColt]

Originally Posted by glencorgi

But are all of yours corgi inflicted?

Debbie

Not Corgi inflected but mutt inflicted...an attack totally unprovoked after making a trip to the mailbox one afternoon. I made the mistake of turning my back on an approaching unfamiliar dog and he nailed me in the calf. As I whirled around, he got me again on the forearm. I began swinging at him and he got me again in the side. I finally connected though he seemed unaffected and got me once more in the triceps's area. I still don't know what caused that nor what kind of dog he was. He was about 40 pounds would be my guess. I made sure animal control put him to sleep as I found out from a neighbor this dog had been "known to bite" and just had gotten loose.

Another case of being at the right place but wrong time. I'm glad it was me and not a six year old.

The two Corgis I've seen getting groomed at Pet Smart lately were very cordial about their ordeal. Another may not have been as happy about it.

[Michael Romanos]

In post no 16 in this thread, I mentioned that Taylor bit me instead of the Lab who was encoraching on his territory and getting my affection. That was three years ago or so. Today, the same Lab hamed Ben, jumped down from a bank into the rear of my property and right in front of Taylor. picked up Taylor's huge canon bone ( with not much meat left on it), and ran for the gate which I duly opened to let Ben run off home with i the bone. Taylor didn't bat an eyelid and made no protest. Such is friendship. Hours later I met up with Ben's owner and she said: so that's where Ben got the bone from. He is still at it right now. I had wondered if he had stolen someones dinner.