"How sad.
"
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John Wolff
- 60
- Seattle, WA
- United States
- Blog Posts (28)
- Discussions (1899)
- Events
- Groups (7)
- Photos (415)
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- Videos (21)
John Wolff's Groups
John Wolff's Discussions
fatality report: phenobarbitol overdose ATTN: owners with dogs on meds
Started this discussion. Last reply by rae 2 hours ago. 3 Replies 1 Like
Pem mix for adoption, San Bernardino CA
Started this discussion. Last reply by rebecca marie eschenburg on Sunday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
corgi sighting: Prairie Home Companion -- anti-corgi slur
Started this discussion. Last reply by Julia May 27. 6 Replies 1 Like
Gifts Received (7)
Snoutbook page for Gwynnie et Al. Corgis with altitude.
Latest Activity
Anne replied to John Wolff's discussion fatality report: phenobarbitol overdose ATTN: owners with dogs on meds"This is a very sad lesson to all of us. "
Meghan Bland left a comment for John Wolff"Hi John,Thanks so much for your comment. I shot a message over to Mary Day at your recommendation. I hope that Mattie finds an awesome home. She looks like a great dog. I am so tickled that you decided to post on my page. I found mycorgi.com…"
John Wolff posted a discussionPem mix for adoption, San Bernardino CA
Sent by a friend who does rescue for white German shepherds. I've met two of these white GSDs, very nice animals. The white coat might be more comfortable in hot sun. Age unknown, at the shelter since 6/8/13.In moments of dark weakness, I have fantasized about a corgi with slightly longer legs, and this physique is what comes to mind.…See More
Mt. Snoqualmie, N summit, east face
"I don't think of making a wise decision to not risk your lives as retreat! I am glad you are being safe, as if mountain climbing can ever be safe?!"
Steep snow chute
"This is so amazing! I know you probably just shrug it off, but I can't believe people can do this, and corgis, too!"
Mt. Snoqualmie, N summit, east face
"We are very, very impressed! All we did today was play frisbee in the yard. You guys are our heros (and heronie, Gwynnie!). Corgi high fives: Bear, Tasha and Linus"
Overwhelmed by Life's splendor.
"Just wondering, when you are at that elevation, do you see any sign of other wildlife. Bears, for example? or do they stay below the tree line."
Stuart, schmuart.
"5 summits in 3 days is cautiously optimistic? I would say more like throwing caution to the wind. You, Al and Gwynnie are so out of our league.
We are living out our dreams in your photos, however, Thanks. "
Transfixed by alpine scenery.
"Maybe to a dog it does stink and may be tasty. I often wonder if dogs enjoy the view along with all the smells along the trail. Certainly looks like it. Although, mine know the summit means the sandwich bearing backpacks come off…"
Profile Information
- Hometown:
- Duluth, MN. Seattle since 1976.
- About Me:
- I'm an over-the-hill mountain climber. I take the dogs on long hard hikes and backpacking trips in Washington's Cascade mountains (West Pembrokeshire), including peaks above 8000', but mostly we maraud about the neighborhood, striking terror into the hearts of evildoers, amusing children, and playing soccer. Mostly, they're couch potatoes.
We lost Sirius, our first corgi, after 7 years, a choking accident.
Check out our song! See below.
Trying to be the person my dogs think I am.
- Welsh Corgi Breeder?
- No
- About My Corgi(s):
- Gwynnie is the best dog in the world. Al is even better.
Al is Gwynnie's nephew, from Haley pwc of Bellevue WA (Carrie Hale). Wonderful temperaments, quiet, playful, strong, great with kids, no health problems so far. Their poop don't even stink (YMMV), although Al is, technically, an SOB.
Al would be a good obedience dog; he's always watching you to see if he's doing OK. Independent-minded Gwynnie would flunk (our fault, not hers). Al is an unabashed love-sponge extrovert who'll fall asleep in your arms.
They greet me at the door like I'm some kind of god. It's bad for my ego problem.
Vacuuming is a contact sport, akin to hockey but more violent. They LOVE herding their soccer ball on the paved playfield. Al kicks it hard with the tip of his snout (OUCH?), has poked the ball airborne 8 times in a row, and can aim it unerringly back to me. Their ball-control is done by the committee method, so they seldom score. They never tire of this. Al is an incorrigible ball-hog: I feed Gwynnie softball passes, but Al gets them anyway. This is a great way to exercise a corgi.
A soccer ball turns Al into an ANIMAL.
Pneumatic Sphere Consultants' Technical Report:
Best: 7-8" dia. Nike Jr. child's basketball, toothproof.
Excellent: soccer ball, fastest, carry farthest, durable. Padded balls invite teeth, but is soon removed.
Very good: a volleyball (light, lively, toothproof).
Good alternate: a water polo ball.
Yard sales or secondhand stores, $1-2.
When children fawn excessively over them ("Ew! They're so KEWT! Are they FRIENDLY? Can I PET them?") I introduce them as "Killer" and "Fang".
Hiking:
You can't outwalk a fit corgi*. The Pembroke Welsh marmots can hike all day, 20+ miles with much elevation gain, and the only terrain they can't handle is coarse boulder fields and deep snow. The only time I have to wait for them is above timberline in hot sun; when they start seeking shade, I feed them scraped snow or make a pupsicle out of them (see photos, and the Chillybuddy cooling vest). They're amazingly sure-footed and can handle steep, rugged and brushy terrain; I no longer worry about them falling on rock. I do worry about dog-induced rockfall. They don't bother wildlife, and are so quiet they scare me -- hiking in my blind spot, I often look about and call for my missing dog in growing panic, only to find it at my heels. We've spent nights as high as 9,000' in good weather.
I learned how to sleep with Al entirely inside my wet mummy bag. 1 corgi counts for 3 on a Three-Dog Night, like an electric blanket.
I carry a chest harness and stout leash for safety belay mostly on scary river log crossings; be careful [see my post], a corgi can slip neatly out of a chest harness in a vertical hang!
I've tried to post some useful hiking tips. Their coats resist weather, dirt, and insects.
Peace is a corgi snoring softly in your ear at night. Uh, SOFTLY, Gwynnie, softly...
*UPDATE 9/12/12 Al lamed-up on day 6 of a backpacking trip, so I carried him out in an improvised sling. Cause unknown, likely a knee problem, but don't know for sure and don't know if it's totally healed. He seems fine in the city, X-ray inconclusive. Guardedly optimistic 4/10/13, he seems fine.
- I have:
- Pembroke
John Wolff's Photos
John Wolff's Videos
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Joker Mt. summit
Added by John Wolff 0 Comments 0 Likes
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glissade
Added by John Wolff 3 Comments 4 Likes
John Wolff's Blog
Happy Birthday Gwynnie, 10 y.o. 4/8/13
Posted on April 9, 2013 at 12:30am 18 Comments 9 Likes
She has climbed 7 mountains this year, and we failed on an 8th. She gets to go more often lately because Al is recuperating from last September's injury. She's maybe a bit slower than she used to be, but I don't have to wait for her unless it's icy or really steep. She gets the occasional "corgi toss"…
Continue We wrote another song
Posted on January 22, 2013 at 12:30pm 6 Comments 6 Likes
Dear Abby, Dear Abby, please answer my mail,
My ears are too big, and I don't have a tail,
My legs are so short, I'm just 6 inches tall,
The world is so big, and I'm feelin' so small.
(signed) New Puppy
New Puppy, New Puppy, you have…
Merry Christmas everybody
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 6:00pm 4 Comments 7 Likes
Especially at this festive time of year, want is keenly felt, and abundance rejoices. So we wish continued prosperity to our comfortable friends, and patience while the wheel of fortune turns for those in difficulty. Health to all of our smaller friends who reliably remind us to watch the doughnut, not the…
Carrie Hale's advice re. Al.
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 1:30am 8 Comments 2 Likes
Our breeder Carrie Hale (Haley PWC) offered to kennel Al & Gwynn for 5 days, and there's nobody better. She's a font of information and advice about all things corgi, generous with her time.
We got to meet Dante, Gwynnie's sire, Al's gradsire, and Autumn Rain, and Twyla. Superb friendly beautiful adorable dogs. I could've cuddled corgis all night.
We learned that Al is a bit underweight, so his rations get increased, Most important, she said he's favoring his left rear…
Continue Glacier Peak Failure, Aug. 2012
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 2:30pm 7 Comments 6 Likes
Al claims the first failure on Glacier Peak's South Ridge by a Pembroke Welsh corgi without supplemental oxygen. We could have done it easily had we been willing to walk the glacier unroped -- as many do -- but Al doesn't do glaciers unroped. As he points out, "Nobody falls into a crevasse that they can see." So…
Comment Wall (148 comments)
- At 1:08am on June 17, 2013, Meghan Bland said…
Hi John,
Thanks so much for your comment. I shot a message over to Mary Day at your recommendation. I hope that Mattie finds an awesome home. She looks like a great dog.
I am so tickled that you decided to post on my page. I found mycorgi.com originally by searching for "corgis and hiking" and the top result was a thread from this website. Your name was bandied around a lot! I had originally written Corgis off as a possible breed for me, because I had assumed their short legs would prevent them from going hiking and backpacking with me, but my research into the breed showed me how much I had underestimated their athletic ability. In a way, your dogs were one of the deciding factors for me to choose Pembrokes!
I saw Carrie Hale's name on the CPWCC list of reputable breeders when I browsed, but when I saw that Gwynnie and Al were also Haley dogs, I knew I had to contact her. I sent her an email a few days ago, but I haven't heard anything yet. I've got my fingers crossed, though. Hopefully I will hear something back.
Thanks very much for your messages!Meghan
- At 3:02pm on April 6, 2013,
Ingrid & Ein said… Hi John, actually someone posted the link to your food bag page immediately after the post was made about the corgi who died. There are a handful of mycorgi users on Reddit.
- At 9:19pm on March 10, 2013,
Jane Christensen said… Actually John, the drought was so bad around south western MN last summer that we didn't have many mosquitoes either:) Lake Superior was low too. Actually the last 2 winters were dry ...kinda scary! MN does NOT have 10,000 lakes right now!
- At 1:21am on February 6, 2013,
Geri & Sidney said… Thank you John! I had forgotten he was February and got a nice thrill to see him myself.
- At 1:22am on January 26, 2013,
Gromit, Sparkle, and Doug said… Thanks, John, glad you enjoy the pictures. Believe me, the feeling is mutual. Like most I envy your corgi adventures and the spectacular scenery in which Al & Gwynnie take you hiking.
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