Worried if Corgis are the right breed for us!
Hi all - new to the board!
After living in a no-pets apartment for 5 years, we've finally moved...and are in the market for a dog. We have a friend (several states away) who has a Corgi. While visiting, we became enamored of "Blueberry" and are seriously considering Corgis as our breed of choice.
We've done research, and unfortunately there are several things that are giving me pause. So I'd love to get some input from experienced Corgi owners before taking the plunge...
Details about us: both experienced, dedicated dog owners - we've had both large and small. Our last one died of old age 5 years ago...and our landlord implemented a building wide no-pets policy. We live in NYC, in a 2 bedroom coop (1100 square feet.) We both work. I tend to have long hours, but my husband's work is flexible. Back when we had our older dogs, we always made a point of 3 walks a day. There's also a park, right near our home. (My husband is interested in the possibility of training our Corgi for agility, though it would be a new experience for us.) We can live with fur. That's not a problem.
We also have a 6 year old cat (he has his claws, and didn't seem bothered the one time had some pups over for a few hours, as part of a rescue transport.)
In researching, I've read that Corgis are intelligent, energetic - and can be really destructive when left alone. Our dogs are always members of our family - but I don't want to make the mistake of getting a dog that ends up destroying the house from boredom...or barking incessantly and bothering the neighbors. Is a Corgi a reasonable breed for our situation? Or do we need to rethink this, and consider other breeds?
**As a side item - my husband is insisting on a puppy, since he's afraid that an older dog might be a danger to the cat. But if that's not the case, we'd love to do rescue (older, though still young enough that we'll have several years with him/her and don't have to go through the heartbreak again, too soon.) Welcome anyone's thoughts on this!!
Thanks,
--Janet
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chris, Kadi & Brodie on
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If there were a 'like' button for Anna's response, I'd hit it! She has touched on what I was picking up on, which is the fact that you are experienced with dogs and still have some concerns. If you don't have a strong gut feeling that corgis are THE right breed, then don't do it. More specifically, if you don't find a corgi that feels like THE right dog, don't do it. That really apples to any dog you find down the road. If you start out with reservations, then it's probably not going to be the best fit. Look at it like marriage--of you're having some strong doubts about your partner, you probably aren't going to make it.
I once had a Dalmatian, who was 9 months old when I got him. EVERYONE told me not to get one because they were biters and crazy dogs. But I did my research and answered an ad and when I met Sam, I knew he was THE one. He turned out to be the best friend I've ever had in my whole life. He was not a typical Dalmatian by any means. Sometimes after we do all the research (the head thing), then we have to leave it up to our gut and let it be a heart thing when we meet the dog.
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Permalink Reply by Claire Mak on
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I have 2 Corgis. Like people they come with different personalities, likes, dislikes, everything. Mine are adaptable to small places. THey really need their exercise. Crate training is definately the way to go. My little boy still sleeps in his crate & is still confined to the kitchen when I'm out - he's 2. Mine bark ALOT, but, I never worked much on correcting it. I did try one of the devices on the market that emits a sound only they can hear. That was a horrible idea. My girl (age 5 ) ran away! The only time she ever did that. She went to the neighbors -3 doors down and sat on their doorstop! Both of mine are cuddlers & lap dogs. The boy more than the girl. He is my "melting" dog. When you pet him, he melts into you - falls right against you - he was a rescue from a puppy mill breeder who was shut down. The vet said that it was unusual to see such a mellow, lover boy dog coming from a puppy mill. My feeling is that there are so many factors in how they turn out - just like with kids. But I could tell he had certain characteristics from the get go. Spend some to me with the dog you are considering,follow your gut. It is difficult to walk away from a possible adoption, but you need to go into it with the conviction that if it's not right, you are going to walk away and keep looking. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Janet Goodman-Clarke on
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All -
Thanks for the information - I'm telling my husband he needs to read all of this, too!
Chris - point well taken; we're going to be *very* careful before we take the leap. Check out the breeder - maybe also see if they have any dogs that are *slightly* older...ie: won't need the attention that a new puppy would require, and one that we could also get a better feel for it's personality before we adopt... I'm also insisting that we visit a few shelters too - I'm not against mixes, and if we happen to meet the perfect dog, then it'll just be fate.
It's funny - when a teenager, my husband had a German Shepherd that he loved. So when we first started talking about getting a dog, he wanted a German Shepherd (though we were of course worried about the prevalence of hip dysplasia). Me, I've had both mutts and a wonderful Doberman that I inherited from my mother. Scarlett made it to the ripe old age of 12, which is amazing for a Dobe. But then we met "Blueberry", my husband's friend's Corgi. Such a smart breed - one which might be easier to travel with if we go on vacation. A somewhat smaller dog, but with a large dog personality...
I've searched for NYC meet-up groups for Corgis - so far, no luck. The group I found seems to be inactive. Anyone know people in the area for some Corgi playdates, to get to know the breed even better? :) And - if we do go in that direction - does anyone recommend any breeders in the northeast....?
Thanks!!
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Hi Janet, there are several groups, NY, NYC, Upstate, Long island...etc. I would ask if anyone is interested in meet up, sometimes that's all it takes to get a group restarted.
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You can actually peruse through the members list here on the board and most show where they live. You might find some close by looking through there. I would also suggest you check to see when there might be dog shows in your area--it's a great way to meet reputable breeders and people who really love the breed. If you already have a vet you trust, from previous pets and your cat, you might ask them if they know of any corgi owners/groups/breeders. Often vets and their employees are a wealth of information about such things, and they won't send you to a puppy miller.
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Permalink Reply by Pam on
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Oh and regarding meet-ups—we meet up via this page! we had one about a month ago over at hillside park in brooklyn. We will have to organize another one so you can meet loads of corgis!
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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How far are you from NY,NY? I just had a pup move there and maybe she would be willing to meet with you.
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Permalink Reply by Denise on
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I think any puppy/dog can be destructive if they become bored and left alone too much. It sounds like you have experienced large and small breeds - what breeds have you had? Corgis are very energetic and need to be part of the family. If you have a park right by and can exercise your Corgi, that is very important. I have four cats and believe me - Arthur loves them all although sometimes he gets it in his Corgi head that it is funny to watch them all scatter if he sneaks up on them. Of course being a Corgi, he then herds them all back into "formation". Corgis are wonderful companions and I can't really tell if they would be right for you or not based on your info. I have a yellow lab too and believe me, Strider would be much, much more destructive if he got bored and lonely. It is GREAT that you are seeking advice and researching before you get a puppy!
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Hi Denise -
Between my husband and myself, we've had quite a few different breeds. Mind you, several of these were family pets when we were children - so please don't think we're serial dog owners.... All the dogs that we've had, were loved by the family and lived to a ripe old age.
My husband had a GSD growing up. When we met, he had adopted a Shepherd Chow mix (Gypsy.)
I grew up with two miniature poodles and a "long-haired" German Shepherd. In college, my parents had a lab mix and (temporarily) a Siberian Husky. ("Stubby" turned out to be an escape artist, skilled at jumping the backyard fence, and was eventually rehomed to a family where he had more room to run and wouldn't end up playing in traffic.) When my mother was older, she had a terrier mix (Max) and a rescue Dobie (Scarlett)- who both were inherited by us when she was no longer able to care for them. So we actually ended up at one point with a full pack of three dogs (the Dobie, the Chow-Mix and the Terrier Mix.) Fortunately we had a four bedroom apartment at the time.... All three served as therapy dogs at a local nursing home for a few years, as well...
When Max - our last one - passed away, we were ready to be a one-dog home...but the landlord was enforcing a no-pets rule. (Though he didn't put up a fight with our getting a cat.) But we've been dogless for five years now, and just moved to a pet-friendly coop. We never want to have *that* many dogs again...but really want to provide a loving home for one special dog...
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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I am not sure you can find a more special dog breed than a corgi, but they do have their challenges. They shed and shed and shed but probably not more than a GSD, they sometimes have a little "Napoleon complex" but probably not more than terriers, and some like to talk (bark) to you. Find a good breeder that belongs to a breed club and talk to them about your needs. We feel into our first two corgis without knowing much and love (and loved) them both but our corgi we got from a real breeder is incredibly easy to live with, not barky, loving and easy to train. They have all been fun, quirky, and such a blast to live with! Good luck in your search and I am glad you haven't ruled out a shelter dog too.
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I also wanted to comment on the barking issue. I read that Corgi's can be barkers and a noisy breed. Honestly though Arthur knows (I think because they are such an intelligent breed) that it is an absolute NO WAY behavior. We do not allow the barking BUT I will say that the one time I can't get him to shut up (my lab is busy barking too) is when the mail carrier is coming. Thank goodness that happens during the day. Other visitors or happenings don't get a bark because I am very stern with both my dogs. My son's dog, a Shiba Inu, is over alot and they are supposed to be quiet. Well, Unmei barks much more than Arthur or my lab. I think it really depends. There is always someone in our house at all times, I have another dog and we have four cats so maybe Arthur just doesn't feel the need to be a pesky barker. I just hate to stereotype a breed.
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