Why Did You Choose A Corgi?

[Michael Romanos]

I got hooked on Corgis (Pems) when I was 21 and attended a national conformation show with my older brother. Never seen them before this but just loved their strangeness, their furry coats, their hidden energy and their pricked up ears and sometimes soulful and sometimes happy/delighted expressions.

[Corgis'R4me]

*~* Thank you...for creating this thread !!
I think it was a GREAT idea !!

*~* Nikki

[Cardiguy]

When I got married 16 yrs ago, my wife had a 4 yr old cat who would not tolerate dogs so when the cat died 5 yrs ago, I picked up this book called "The Right Dog for You" which discussed the various dimensions of each breed's temperment and thought the Pembroke/Cardigan was the best match (the book grouped both together). I saw a Pembroke in a pet stroe and decided the Pembroke was the one. That is until I did some additional research about the Cardigan and liked the fact it had a tail, larger ears, and was a little larger dog and decided the Cardi was for me.

What I really like about Corgis is that they are at first glance a small dog but when you really look at them you realize that this is a 35 lb muscular animal with a big dog bark. It is not a fragile yappy dog that most people think of when they see a small dog. But when you get to know the Corgi you find that it really is a loyal and loving dog and a very intelligent breed that wants to please.

Great thread!!

[newcorgiowner]

I chose to get a Corgi after a whole lot of research on dog breeds. I live in an apartment so it limited my options some (I really want to get a Newfoundland when I get a house). My parents have a lab and a beagle (the beagle is really my dog but he's getting older and I didn't want to pull him out of the home he's grown up in and away from the aging lab he's so attached to, since it was years after I left home that I was in a place that allowed dogs).

I love labs to death but I wanted to try somthing different. I hate most of the other small dog breeds, especially any of the toys, terriers, etc. At first I was leaning towards a bassett hound but my fiance said they look so sad all the time. So for me it came down to either a Corgi or a Sheltie. They both seemed to do well in apartments, both are great with kids, both are very lovable. I decided on the Corgi mostly based on my gut. I thought a sheltie would be just a little too high strung, plus I am not overly fond of long haired dogs.

I am exceptionally glad I got Gizmo, though I don't know that I would get another Corgi. Mostly because I prefer larger sized dogs and by the time I get another dog I hope to be in a house with a yard.

[sweetlychee]

CorgisR4Me - Yes, this thread is quite popular. I decided to create this thread because I think we all have wonderful stories and beginnings with our corgis be it a Pem or Cardigan. I still prefer the Pem more because he is "tail-less" and so cute with his big and wobbly butt.

Cardiguy - You are definitely right. The corgi is not a small little toy dog where you can lift it around. The dog is strong and can definitely take care of himself and even us! Many times my dog will hear odd noise and think he can handle it. He barks pretty loud and firm. I always smile at hime saying, "You're too short for the job." But I know if anything happens, he will be the first one out there...yet I think his attack move is "I'll lick you to death."

I really believe they aim to please but of course they have a mischievous nature. When I come home and see Milo, he just rushes to me before I can even take my shoes off. Then, my fiance sees a piece of paper/receipt he chewed up. When we point the receipt to him, he lowers his head down and lays down on the floor. When I say, "It's ok, Milo. I won't yell at you." He then jumps right back up to lick me. Smart and quick. Now, only if he'll stop slobbering.

[Shelly]

I've always had larger dogs, german shepherds, a husky, a larger mix, and after I got divorced (had to downscale to an apartment for awhile) and could finally afford a house again, it had a doggie door and fenced off kennel with grass and trees. This house yearned for a dog, and I always felt when you have a house with a yard you just HAVE to have a dog (it's part of the package). At that point I didn't want a huge dog dragging me down the street for a walk any more so found a website about different dog breeds. On the website it narrowed down the search by how large, temperament, how much exercise it needed, how much grooming, etc. It narrowed it down to either a springer spaniel or a corgi (but it said a springer spaniel needed far more exercise than I was able to give it). At that point I don't think I'd ever seen a corgi other than on the t.v. show Darma & Greg (though at the time I didn't know what kind of dog that was). So prefering to save a life (and not go through the baby stages) I contacted every corgi rescue I could find. Finally adopted an 8 year old red headed tri colored female who is the sweetest dog I've ever had (though she does give me attitude once in awhile). That was 4 years ago. After we petsat a friend's corgi for 2 weeks while they were on vacation (here at my home) and I saw they got along very well, I decided to get a corgi puppy from a breeder for company. Thus far they get along but the puppy has WAY too much bounce in it for my now 12 year old older one. Maybe the age gap is too much. She'll come around. The puppy loves her to death and she just wants to be left alone and lay there - like a rug. Lately the puppy is herding her everywhere nipping at her back feet. She is not pleased. It'll work out I'm sure (when he settles down a bit). I truly love them both, and luckily I've found 5 other corgi's in our area since then so now have other corgi buddies to take walks with. They have a very sweet nature and are not like other breeds I've had. I would not have picked up a second one if I didn't feel that way. You'll grow to love yours. Best of luck.

[Fluffypants]

Originally Posted by sweetlychee

We also have a neighbor who has a dog name Foxy for the corgi's foxy appearance.

Jackie's "foxiness" is exactly why I named my business FOXY FLAME!!!

[sweetlychee]

Yep, corgis nip. Mine doesn't nip as much but when he runs after us or plays with us, he gets frustrated when we are ahead of us and tries to outrun us! I'm not sure if this is what other corgis do, but ours always wants to be AHEAD - walk ahead, run ahead, just goes ahead of us like he's in a rush or he wants to be the boss.

Corgis love to nip!

[disraeli]

I had heard of Corgis a long time ago, but never actually seen one until August of 2004. I was walking towards the Island Gardens DLR station in London and I ended up walking behind this man and his Pem. I thought - "Wow...Corgis are much bigger than I thought!" The man and his dog seemed to be intently enjoying their walk...so I avoided the urge to ask to pet his cute doggie.

Later, I knew a friend who had a Corgi and, though I never got to meet Millie, I heard stories about her.

Last fall, I decided that I could no longer live without doggy companionship (my Lab, at 10, lives with my Mom because she really needs the house space, a doggy door, and a big backyard). I started researching what breeds would be best. At first, I thought a Corgi might be too big for most apartments' 25 pound limit (I didn't know which apt complex I was moving to at the time).

I started researching mini dacshunds and pugs...but I looked up Corgis out of curiosity. I found that they usually weighed 20-30 pounds! Eureka! I exclaimed, I think I've found my dog. I did more and more research on them - looked at so many pictures of their cute ears, butts, and faces! Learned they were herding dogs (and I like smart, stubborn dogs - I had border collies at my mom's house). Figured a smart, stubborn, friendly, cute dog sounded like a challenge - and just like me.

I decided to attend the Houston pembroke club's December funday and LOOK (I still didn't know when I was going to be able to get out of student housing and into a new apt). I met lots of Corgis - so cute, all - including a litter of pups (Adam, Aaron, Andrea, and Austin).

I talked to several people about puppies and asked lots of questions and made some contacts. About two weeks later, I had my move-out date and a new apt reserved (with no pet weight limit, after all) and I set about calling some folks.

I called the breeder who had the litter at the funday and she said she still had two available. I went up that day and fell in love with little "Adam"...4 days later (on December 26), I picked him up and re-christened him Rhys. His little happy self has been my companion now for almost 9 months.

I love his happy face, his antics, his "who me?" looks when he does something wrong, his fuzzy bunny butt, his "I love everyone!" attitude, his sheer pleasure when he eats....I never quite know what wonderful thing he will do next. I love my short, big-eared, fuzzy butt, swimming Corgi!

One other thing: since I'm biased to "big" dogs, I figured a Corgi was just like a big dog...just short. Definitely have the big dog attitude!

[tandemgal]

Hubby is the one responsable for our first corgi... he had been researching them for several years - (I didn't know - he says this keeps the mystery alive in our marrage because I never know all that he's doing LOL) anyway a few months after our Golden passed away he found a breeder who had two little girls left.

We went to visit and fell in love with Emma. She was 4 mths old at the time and has been our little puppy-girl for 5 years. Emma is the first dog we've ever had that like me best - always in the past the pecking order has been Hubby, our Sons, the dog, me.... LOL

[mochamix79]

I've always thought the world of the Corgi breed, and was first introduced to them when I worked in the veterinary field about 10 years ago. Due to living in apartments and being single, having a dog wasn't in the books. I always swore that when I had more room I'd get a dog. For a year now, I've been trying to talk my boyfriend into getting a dog, and he wasn't really ready for the committment, until he met two adorable corgis at a horse ranch he was doing some handyman work at. He loved how they were sociable and the kind of "go anywhere" dog. He came home that night and asked me to research the breed so he had a little more info. After some serious discussion about house rules and training, we both found that we were in agreement in a lot of areas, and I was willing to compromise on others (namely sleeping on the bed). I researched a lot of breeders, and finally found one that was hoping for pups in late July, which would have been perfect timing for us. We met with her and her dogs and decided that if she had a red and white male, we'd want to take him. Our little Huw was born July 27, 2006 and will be coming home in early October. I can't wait!!!

[Checkers]

Well... I've had dogs my whole life and love studying and learning about the different types of breeds. Previously I have had three dalmatians, several shepard mixes, several lab mixes, a hound dog, a red doberman, cocker spaniels (this was all growing up between my mom and dad's separate houses and on the farm and most were shelter dogs or ones that had been thrown out along the highway by our house). Anyhow... I was researching some dog stuff online and found one of those silly websites that proclaims to tell you what kind of dog would be good for you. Now... I have done several of these and normally just laugh at the results because they end up recommending breeds I really don't care for much at all. The favorite breed that always gets recommended to me is the Burnese Mountain Dog. Cool dogs.. and I did go check a few out but just not for me personality wise... no spunk. This time I did the little quiz thingy and it said Corgi's would be a good match for me. That got the wheels clanking and I did some more research and started to fall for them. Then I found a breeder just a few hours away that had a liter of puppies available. I asked if I could swing by one evening to see the parents and puppies just to find out more about the breed. When I got there I was telling her about my current dog and my experience with dogs and I fell in love with the puppy they had named after the daddy dog (Jango Jr). Of all the puppies he was the most willing to play with me.. the others were more interested in playing with each other. Well.... despite my poor husband knowing nothing of my venture I ended up coming home with a puppy that night. Given it's markings it was an easy pick to name him Checkers... and he started responding to that name immediately. Hubby took one look at him and melted faster than I did even... the rest is history. So.. now we are two more humans sucked into the Corgi world by a cute face and adorable bunny butt. I wouldn't change a thing!

-Cheryl

[corgimom]

Cody actually plays with a Bernese mountain dog at the dog day care when I
occasionally take him there. It is the owners dog, and only 6 months old, but
they get along quite well - but I think as the dog grows and grows, it will be moved into the larger dog area.

linda

[sweetlychee]

Checkers - What a cute story! Hahahah. Amazing how guys seem to melt for corgis faster than us girls! That is a wonderful name. It fits him perfectly.

[milles2]

It's all about the butt! I love the bunny butt! Neighbors had 2 red and white Pems and they just cracked me up. They were so playful and so friendly. I truly believe besides their owners, their favorite person in the world was the mailman. They greeted him every day rain or shine, jumped all over him like he was their long lost best friend, forgot they had just seen him the day before.

I love their size, I love their temperament, I love their intelligence, and I love their sense of humor.

As for my tailed little princess Lulu, I love the way I can tell her mood my her tail! I learn something new everyday from her.