Puppies are finally here!!! (pics)

[darci]

Interesting to know I thought they docked them at 2 to 3 days.
They sure are cutie's.

[glencorgi]

Okay, from someone who has been in a whelping box and involved in breedings done with a purpose in mind ...

Cindy, you are right about docking being done at 2-3 days. That is the usually the time frame when breeders who band tails do their tails and dew claws. Around a week is the norm for those who have their vet's surgically dock the tails and do dew claws.

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos
Why would you want to keep the smallest - and maybe the most delicate - of the litter in preference to The Pick of the Litter.

The puppies are not EVEN a week old yet. It is FAR too early to determine which one will be "pick" and that the smallest one (aka the runt) may not turn out to actually be the "pick" puppy or eclispe her littermates in size. Then there is the matter of the subjectiveness of the meaning of "pick" puppy and much of that determination also has to do with the reasons for the breeding. While I might be looking for the most conformationally correct and sound, a performance oriented person might be looking for good structure, but also lighter bone and a wee bit more leg under the puppy. An obedience afficianado might lean towards the one most responsive to humans. A breeding done for pets, then as long as every one is healthy and have good temperaments - "pick" puppy will be the one that a new home chooses.

My guess on color - they'll all be red and white. The dark one, IF there is any BHT's in the background might turn out to be a sable - too early to predict on that.

Debbie

[bubblegumbarbe79]

Originally Posted by horsehauler

Yea we are wanting to keep one. It will probably be the little girl, the 4th one to the right. She is deffinately the runt of the litter, only one that had to be bottle fed a couple days. Now shes doing a lot better.

Sometimes the runts makes the best one. I find nothing wrong with runts. There just as cute as the others only that they are just a bit smaller.

[darci]

Debbie thanks so much for clarifying the tail conversation.

Great info on picking a pup, hopefully some of our new members looking for a pup will benefit from that knowledge.

I have to say the people of the board really helped me pick the right pup for our family, and just knowing what questions to ask of a breeder....

Wow I have gone way off course..... LOL not that I will let that bother me.

[darci]

Everyone loves the runts...... We always root for the underdog... he he he he he he.

In Egans litter the runt was a female very fiesty, vocal, demanding, a real drama queen.... She was a real cutie, but her and Darci wouldnt have been a good match.

[glencorgi]

I'm not real fond of the term "runt." Just because one might have the lowest birth weight, doesn't mean it won't catch up or even overtake the rest of the litter in size. I've seen the smallest puppy in a litter turn out to be the largest one over time. But those who do have kind of a rough time getting started, yes the sentimental factor does come into play, because those do capture a bit more of our hearts.

Debbie

[tandemgal]

When we found Chloe one of the males was the runt - the breeder wasnt letting it go at that time because he wasn't moving one back leg as well as he should - I couldn't see anything wrong with the way he moved myself. When they came to visit Chloe a month later I ask about the boy. Turns out time and physical therapy got him up to speed and the vet declared him OK and a home was found.

[Michael Romanos]

What moved me to ask Horsehauler why he was going to keep the smallest and perhaps weakest of the litter because that is basically what he intimated.
When you have choices, one would assume that you might choose at least a 'middle of the road' pup rather than specifically the smallest. So there could be other factors such as pre-birth selling arrangements or as one member pointed out, it could be the Corgis markings. A great many people simply go for the markings and coat colours when choosing a Corgi. Or of course it could be the Corgi's sex.

[bubblegumbarbe79]

when i choose an animal, i go for the gender and the markings of them. But like I said the little runts sometimes makes the best ones an I think that lil guy (or girl?) isnt too bad looking

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

What moved me to ask Horsehauler why he was going to keep the smallest and perhaps weakest of the litter because that is basically what he intimated.

Yes I realize he said she was having problems getting started and he had supplemented her with bottle feeding. But again, I'm coming from the background of someone who has actually been through this and bottle fed wee pups, and I know at this age and stage of puppies that doesn't necessarily mean that it will remain the smallest, weakest or even anything close to "delicate" by the time the litter is eight weeks old even. It might, but that is not a given.

When you have choices, one would assume that you might choose at least a 'middle of the road' pup rather than specifically the smallest. So there could be other factors such as pre-birth selling arrangements or as one member pointed out, it could be the Corgis markings. A great many people simply go for the markings and coat colours when choosing a Corgi. Or of course it could be the Corgi's sex.

That would be assuming into facts that are not a part of the equation and taking a leap <imho>. Horsehauler had a female, got a male, bred the litter to sell at horse shows and around the barns he visits. There is no waiting list or pre-birth selling arrangements in play here. From that context, he can keep whichever one he wishes for whatever reason, including sentimentality. That the "runt" happens to be female offers him the opportunity to breed again. I am all too aware of how sex, color, markings are deciding factors on impulse puppy buys and sometimes even thought out puppy buys. Doesn't matter that the puppy's temperament and personality are not well matched for the particular home.

Debbie

[corgimom]

I had chosen Cody based on his personality and something just "stood out about him in regards to that" He had a brother that was actually more handsome, but in the end, I went for personality(and fit) and what felt right in that regard,

[horsehauler]

I in no means meant that our little girl is deffinately the runt of the litter for the entire time, She as of right now is. I really like her markings, deffinately a nice red/white coat, doesn't have at all near as much black on her back, and from my expierience the "runt" of the litter tends to be the best. They have had the most handling and help. But like mentioned, they arent even a week old yet.... we still have some time to go to make that decision...

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by horsehauler

... and from my expierience the "runt" of the litter tends to be the best. They have had the most handling and help. But like mentioned, they arent even a week old yet.... we still have some time to go to make that decision...

Point well made - the near hand rearing does tend to make puppies more in tune to people! I know a couple of hand reared ones who believe they are human.

Debbie

[horsehauler]

Well the puppies got their tails docked and their dew claws done today. So far they seem to be doing good. We are keeping them nice and warm and keeping a close eye on them. Now they look a lot more like a pembroke

[corgimom]

You will have to post new pictures without the tails