Home of Pems

[Michael Romanos]

Met a woman last Sunday who came from Pembrokeshire in Wales and who herself owned at least one Corgi when she lived there. This Welsh woman confirmed that when she visited her home region recently she saw very few Corgis and said that she has noticed many more in NZ. So it is sad that the Welsh have rejected/neglected the Corgi which should be a major symbol of their country.

[glencorgi]

Glad you finally got confirmation of what I've been relating for some time now.

Debbie

[love2corgis]

I think I have to disagree with you somewhat. In my small village there are 7 corgis. When I go to the local dog show at the end of August, the Pem corgi has one of the biggest representation of any of the dogs.
And where do we live? - in the next county to Pembrokeshire- just 25 minutes to the border.
And I do resent the comment about Welsh people. Pembrokeshire is only one small part of Wales. And it is known as Little England beyond Wales as the people there, especially in South Pembrokeshire, are more English than Welsh.
Nobody is more proud than me to be Welsh but I don't have corgis because I am Welsh- I just love them.
Sorry- I'll get off my soapbox now

[gemjunkie]

Good point. You can't force people to like dogs, and you can't force them to like a breed....

I suppose you can't base an opinion on one person's observations either without treading on dangerous water.

I have found on the corgi sites that there are AT LEAST a dozen or so corgi owners in my city. There are about 1/2 a dozen reputable breeders listed as well within a small distance AND right in my own county.. Now, do you think I have run into ONE at a pet store, dog training club or state park? NO! Do you think one will email me back from the regional site with information on health testing? NO! I'm getting my information from a person I know that health tests her mastiffs!!! Funny how the largest of all breeds suffers the same ailments isn't it?

I know there MUST be a corgi owner or two that would be willing to talk to a newB around here somewhere, I just haven't found one yet. I'll keep trying!

I guess my whole round about point is, that just because you don't see it doesn't mean they don't exisit.

[Michael Romanos]

Laura -I don't expect Corgis to be over-running Wales in Pembrokeshire but if you take NZ which is scarce of monuments, dogs feature quite strongly in a number of places and ways as monuments and public tributes, and last year we had NZ postage stamps which featured popular types and breeds of dogs found here. So I suppose, I would love to see the Corgi given some due in there ancestoral land. Pehaps they have in ways which you can tell me. And don't feel defensive because you have not created the disappearing Corgi.

[glencorgi]

And what about Welsh Sheepdogs, Welsh Terriers, Welsh Springer Spaniels, Cardigans, etc., etc.?

Debbie

[love2corgis]

That's what came to mind Debbie- what about all the other 'Welsh dogs'.

- just defending my countryfolk- which I am sure you would have done if somebody had said something about NZ -ers.

And I spoke to my friend who breeds corgis and read out your post and she was equally in disagreement with it. And she sees many corgis both in and outside Wales. She is waiting to get her broadband connected so I've told her to join here when she does.I'll ask her if she knows of a statue.

[glencorgi]

Michael,

In this vein of celebrating the native dogs of one's land, are there by chance any statues of New Zealand Huntaways?

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

Debbie - the answer is yes. And also a typical NZ farm Heading Dog -which is part Border Collie - and apart from farming duties, make very good agility competitors.

As you know there are permanent monuments (3) accorded Pembroke Corgis in Christchurch, NZ.

Laura - What is the estimate of the total number of pure bred Corgis in Wales? I am not actually critical of Wales and its Corgis but I actually want to be helpful. Perhaps you can be a vehicle for getting a reasonable recognition of Corgis from the 'powers that be' on behalf of the people of Wales and all the Corgis that have gone before them in that fair land. If Corgis are a really unique breed in comparison to others, and if they evolved from Wales as much as 2000 years ago and if they have achieved great heights as farm workimg dogs and in modern times in several dog sports and got to be adopted by the British Queen, then maybe they deserve some kind of prominence and recognition in the home land of the Corgi.

[love2corgis]

I was in my room yesterday and one of the young teachers came in who I don't really know. I have pics of my corgis on the wall and she came over and said that her mother had just adopted two corgi pups.One fluffy and one tri.So that's 4 just connected with my school and my friend who used to teach here has 5 so that makes 9 and my other friend whose Mum does live in Pembrokeshire has one so that makes 10 just connected to my school without any kids with them.

I shall ask my breeder friend how many there are in Wales- she is on a cruise next week so it will be the week after.

[Michael Romanos]

Good god, Laura, there are Corgis coming out of trees. Same here in the region I live in. There were almost none until I went looking for them. I have now 35 in the WWCWC and only tonight I learnt that a woman in Wainuiomata has a young Corgi from the same breeder as bred Taylor.

Today in Wellington, NZ a book was launched about the life of an Irish Airdale Terrier called Paddy who lived on the harbour wharves in Wellington in the 1920s-1930s. His owner died when he was two years old and for 11 years Paddy lived alone on the wharves. He was fed etc by the wharfies and the taxi drivers who took turns to look after him on a weekly roster. He often went on shipping journeys and was sighted in Australia and the USA on several occasions as well as been given a plane ride in a two seater and his very own flying goggles. There is a monument of Paddy down on the wharf. When he died a fleet of taxis formed a funeral procession and they drove slowly through the streets of Wellington with Paddy's body in the front car.

[love2corgis]

And another teacher today said she had a corgi when she first got married.Died when her daughter was a baby and daughter is now 11.

And a boy in one of my classes said there are two corgis living on top of a hill close to my village.