New to corgi world

[trainurk9]

Hi there!

I am a seasoned dog owner and formal professional, now hobby trainer giving the corgi a look as a possible dog in my future. This past summer I lost my beloved Beauceron, who was 8 years old and suffered with serious seizures in the last year of her life. She was a wonderful, smart and energetic dog who kept us laughing with her antics! If you don't know the breed, they are a large and protective herding breed - look a bit like a cross between a Rottweiler and a German Shepherd. Nyree had a ARBA and IABCA CH and was BOS at a NABC specialty in 1996, she also had CGC and a Schutzhund AD (the first beauceron to obtain that title in the US to my knowledge). Nyree also dabbled in herding and agility. We decided not to breed her due to some serious diseases that cropped up from her mother's side.

We currently enjoy the company of our Beauceron's pet (yes, she had her own dog to keep her busy during the day at home) who is a German Pinscher named Do-z. She is almost 9 years old and is in great health and is good with my girls (8,10, and 12)! So, I am here to learn more about the Corgi and to get to know where I can locate healthy, intellegent corgi for possible work/show/breeding in the future.

I have known some Corgis that I was very impressed with on many levels. They seem a happy and friendly breed with a great work ethic. I looked at a litter years ago when I lived in Tennessee and was impressed with how the dam corrected her pups from chewing on the sofa! At the time, I was into big dogs and decided on a larger breed. Now that I am older (presumably wiser), I think the Corgi may be a better dog for me.

I am currently a full time college student, returning to school for Nursing. I am looking at 2 years minimum before being able to seriously purchase my first corgi. I live in PA now, but plan to relocate to Tennessee or North Carolina.

Anyway - I have a class in 15 minutes. If anyone can point me toward working/show corgi breeders so I can get to know their dogs, please feel free to email me!

Lisa Ritchie
Trainurk9@yahoo.com

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Lisa
What a traumatic time you had with your outstanding Nyree passing away so young. So sorry. Gee, A Welsh Corgi is so different from a Beaceron. It pays to be very sure in your mind that a Corgi is the right breed for you and your ambitions with dogs in sport and recreational events.
I've only owned Pems but they are certainly one of the greater challenges of any breed to handle in the show ring because of the need to prick their ears up and look alive and alert - unlike less expressive breeds - yet not be jumpity or diverted.
My now three year old Taylor is outstanding in agility - he is the only Corgi, Pem or Cardi, in agility in New Zealand, but Corgis, easpecially Pems, are among the leaders in agility in the USA among the mini dog sections. And that's where I got my cue from. Corgis are also outstanding in tracking and of course, herding and can excell in obedience and flyball.

Training a Corgi requires patience and praise and reward. No heavy firmness or screaming - just moderate scolding when a mistake is made and always finish on a positive and a reward. Never hit a Corgi with anything. They are super sensitive dogs and can carry 'burdens" of guilt and grief for ever.

Corgis are busy, active dogs and thrive on lots of attention , diversion, challeges and exercising.

Here are the two major Corgi associations in the USA where you can find lists of breeders - generally they are the leading edge breeders though the Cardigan club has a better system than its Pem cousins for directing you to an established breeder. Their websites are: www.pembrokecorgis.org and www.cardigancorgis.com

There are three major breeders in NZ who export Pems all over the world. Let me know if you want their contact details

[tandemgal]

Hi Lisa,

deleted by T-Gal

[trainurk9]

Thanks for the great welcome! Michael, the sad thing about the large breeds is that they do not live very long... so, Nyree was at the average age most Beauceron pass on. She actually developed bloat in late 2002, which we were able to recognize the signs and get her to the Vet very quickly where she underwent surgery. So many large herding breeds die from bloat, we consider ourselves fortunate we were able to enjoy her a few more years. I couldn't consider getting another Beauceron because they really are tough dogs to raise. One breeder described Beauce pups as land sharks. They are truly very oral and nippy (did I mention big!)- and definately not for a novice owner! They are also very sensitive - and like you said about the corgi - rough handling causes the Beauceron to shut down. If its not fun - they don't want to do it!

It is interesting you are from New Zealand. I am not much for traveling, but I very much want to visit NZ one day!

Thanks,

Lisa

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Lisa
Well, I take that all back. I didn't realise that Beaucerons were so difficult to train. In that case you'll find Corgis "a piece of cake." And I didn't know that they were so large that their life expectancy was that of a Great Dane rather than that of a German Shepherd. There are 332 recognised purebreeds by the international federation But NZ has only 196 different breeds currently registered with the NZ association. So we are missing a few breeds, eh. Corgis are good communicators. I only realised at agility training earlier this week, that often when I'm trying to achieve an agility move that's out of the ordinary, Taylor will tell me while he's performing the exercise, " Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Otherwise he always goes through training or in competition completely in concentrated vocal silence.
I'd love to see you in NZ. I've arranged a Wellington Welsh Corgi Walk for February 26, if that's any help. Taylor's father is American bred and by the time he was three, he was an Australian, Canadian and NZ show champ and the father of Taylor. There are around 7000 Corgis (mostly Pems) and Corgi crosses in NZ from a total of 515,000 dogs.

[trainurk9]

Thank you for all your information. This has been a busy summer for me. I had to decide on what nursing school to attend, planning for a move, My eldest daughter was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and spent 2 weeks with her father, 1 week with her grandparents. Now that Summer is on its last month, we are all gearing up for the return to school.

I am still very much interested in the Corgi. I will be checking back from time to time as I do not currently have a computer at my home. I will do some more research and get back to you folks with questions as I go.

Thanks,

Lisa