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Comment by Gina Mac/Fergie & Minnie on April 22, 2010 at 8:44pm

You've got a great attitude, that well definitely help in your recovery! Yes Miscarriages are common, but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck to go through one. Our breeder recommended the following short list - crate, slicker brush, comb & brush, toe nail clippers(they get used to it much faster if you start all grooming right away), shampoo(my breeder uses Panteen), various chew toys with different textures(this is fun!), washable bedding for the crate & food & water bowl. According to her(breeder) & our vet, unbasted rawhide in chip form only, bully sticks, lamb ears & cow ears are okay to give with supervision. I know people have different opinions on rawhide so check with your vet and do what feels best.
Once your puppy gets settled, check out all of the blogs and forums on this site. I stumbled acrossed it when I was searching for good puppy names. It has been more then helpful and I love being able to show my non-dog loving friends and family that I''m not the only one who thinks corgis rock!

I am so excited for you! Can't wait to see your furry pride & joy!

Comment by Bev Levy on April 20, 2010 at 8:55am

I am so sorry for your loss! Fortunately the anticipation of your puppy will give you something to focus on that is positive. Best of luck to you.

Comment by Kristin & Archie on April 20, 2010 at 8:47am

Hey everyone, Kristin again. Well unfortunatley in one aspect, god made my decision for me without having to put too much thought into whether to wait till after the baby or to go through bringing a corgi into my life now. I had a miscarriage. Don't worry, everything happens for a reason, and I have plenty of time and opportunity to have a human baby, god just obviously thought it wasn't the exact right time, we'll be trying again shortly. The good news is it's full steam ahead to get my corgi baby!!!!! I guess because of the loss of the other I'm more excited that ever. I can hardly contain my excitement. The worst part is the momma isn't due for 3 more weeks, so I don't even have anything to pour all of this love into. I guess I could get started preparing, like buying supplies, a crate etc. Does anyone have a simple short list of the things I will need to start off with?

Comment by Cindy P on March 30, 2010 at 6:32pm

Go on, you're pregnant not sick!! Yes sometimes you're energy levels are low in the first trimester. But, your puppy will nap alot during that time in his life. I had puppies during my pregnancy and was fine. Corgis are one of the smartest dogs out there. Mine were potty trained in a matter of weeks. Raising kids and dogs together is a great thing. You should be fine. And you'll still love your corgi just as much when the baby comes.

Comment by Beth on March 30, 2010 at 5:45pm

By the way, I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but I have seen so, so many well-meaning well-intended caring people get a young dog and then have a child and find they can't keep up and the dog ends up in rescue. Most people think they would never be the sort of person to do that, and then life gets to be too much and it happens. I've personally known several kind, caring people who had to surrender pets after the little two-legged ones came along.

Comment by Beth on March 30, 2010 at 5:39pm

Congratulations on your upcoming baby! I'm going to echo Wendt Worth Corgis and urge caution. Ask yourself some questions:

What if you are confined to bed rest for much or your pregnancy? Is there someone who can take care of the puppy?

For the first several months, your puppy schedule will be: Wake up, take puppy out to potty. Puppy feed time, puppy play time, puppy potty again. Puppy confined while you shower, puppy potty time, puppy play time, puppy potty time. Puppy put away while you get some work done. Puppy potty time, puppy lunch, puppy play, puppy potty, puppy put away while you work. Puppy potty, puppy supper, puppy potty, puppy play, puppy put away while you eat. Puppy potty, puppy play, puppy potty, puppy play, puppy potty, puppy bed. It can be exhausting.

Puppy will NOT be fully house-broken once baby arrives, and the new addition could very well put the puppy a few steps back in training. Puppy will also still be at "eat the drywall stage" when baby arrives. Can someone still provide constant supervision to the puppy, while someone else is caring for the baby?

Adolescent puppies need continued socialization (new places, new faces) right through til they are over a year old in order to insure good dispositions as adults. Will someone be able to be putting the puppy in the car and taking it places in November if your baby is at an age when the doctor recommends the baby not leave the house? I have experienced several bad-virus winters where everyone who had newborns was advised not to take them anywhere til they were 3 months old. Could someone manage keeping the adolescent Corgi active while someone else was keeping the baby happy at home?

And not to be a Debbie Downer, but what if you need a C-section, or have post-partum depression, or the baby is a little early or something else happens that the human baby needs special care? Of of those things are very real possibilities. What if you can't do anything around the house for 4 months pre-birth and a couple months post-birth? Do you have a support system who could take care of the house, and you, and the dog, and the baby?

If the answer to all these questions is yes, then go for it! I must say that until my Jack was about 20 months old, if he was awake he wanted to play and he wanted attention and I could not have done justice by him if I had other commitments. However, some puppies are easier than others, so I would suggest if you feel you have the support system to deal with both to make sure to ask the breeder to pick you a nice, low-key, easy-going puppy who won't be in perpetual motion.

Good luck with your decision! Remember, though, that this won't be your only chance to have a puppy if the timing isn't right now. The other option is to consider getting an older dog for your first and add a puppy later on.

Comment by Jennifer Markley on March 30, 2010 at 5:36pm

I'm going to be the bad guy too, but I'd wait. It's really not fair to the dog to not be able to give it the attention it needs during that critical period of development and training. I'd wait until the baby is around 6 months or so, and then do it. That way you can devote your time between the two. AND, they can grow up together and be best buds. As long as you teach the child how to behave around dogs, and the dog how to behave around children, everything should be fine. I'd just wait until things aren't as crazy being pregnant, and until things are settled down with the new baby. Good luck!

Comment by Terri F. on March 30, 2010 at 5:35pm

What does your instincts tell you????? If it says go for it, then do it. Puppies are such a wonderful, positive addition to our family. An eight month old puppy is young enough to adjust to anything yet old enough to be housebroken and have some obedience training. You are young and full of energy and able to multitask, as long as your health is good I do not forsee a problem. We can always say wait, then the next child comes along and wait again. I have a four year old corgi and an eight month old corgi and have not had any problem with them herding, people or animals. Trust your heart, it will tell you what is right for you.

Comment by Samwise Roxy and Mom on March 30, 2010 at 4:29pm

Agreed. Roxy is 8 months now and she knows the drill; when to eat, when her walks are, how to ask to be let outside etc. The first three months were a bear. She's very strong willed and it took a lot to win her respect.

As Mary mentioned, the vet bills can pile up. Aside from getting spayed/neutered, they will have to come in for a series of boosters, like a human child. In one visit prior to her spay, I paid $212, which included the exam fee, DA2PPCL (which is a part of a series of vaccines designed to help prevent parvo, distemper, adenovirus and parainfluenza), rabies vaccine, her bordetella 6 month booster, deworming, pre-op blood work, and a year's supply of heart worm meds (they refused to spay her unless I bought those directly from them). That was one visit, which did not include the cost of the spay. She's also micro chipped, which is worth every cent in my opinion... but that's a lot of cents. I wouldn't let your vet talk you into stuff that's unnecessary. Make sure to ask what everything means. I highly recommend dissolvable sutures and deciduous tooth removal. The former saves you the hassle of going back to the vet and the later prevents the cost of having to have the dog put under anesthesia to have the teeth pulled.

I've actually heard it said that Corgi's aren't a good choice for families with young children. Now that I own one, I can see why. Like all herding dogs, independent thought is inherit to their temperament. That sounds really cool but it means that you need to be persistent in training them. They have a tendency to herd people (I mean that literally) if you don't teach them not to. If a kid turns their back on a corgi and runs, it will absolutely trigger the dog to try and herd the child. With that being said, there's no reason they can't be good for families with young kids with proper training. I would make sure that the dog understands that the new comer (your baby) is higher than it in rank and should be treated that way. If this is your first experience owning a pastoral/herding dog (or owning a dog in general) I would enlist the help of a decent trainer. Fortunately, I had the experience of owning a spirited Shetland sheep dog named Watson for the duration of my childhood, so I knew a little of what to expect as far as herding dog temperament.

I think you will find that your puppy will grow into a great companion for you while you're pregnant. What I love most about pemz is their love of people. They always want to be with their master, whether that means being parked in front of the TV or chasing down a frisbee. And, they're such clowns. If you want a dog who has the ability to always make you smile, a pembroke is for you.

I say if money is no object, go for it. Just remember that the first three months or so are crucial to molding the dog's behavior for the rest of its life. Be firm but kind.

Comment by Shelia on March 30, 2010 at 4:20pm

I was stuck at home due to premature labor and my corgi was the best company ever. All my human friends and family had to go to work so I had long days. You'll manage. Part of being a mom is the whole multitasking thing. My daughter and our corgi grew up together and were very close. Good luck!

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