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Comment by Linda on January 9, 2015 at 8:24am

He is just adorable!  As for your courtyard...check to see if the base requires all animals to have vaccinations.  As for crazy stories from vet offices..they all have them.  I've been with my vet for 35 years.  He is now in his mid 70s and over the last 6-7 years he has brought 2 vets in to help him.  The first one I met I couldn't stand and neither could anyone else...she has no people skills at all.  Now I love her!  Once she gets to know that you really care about your animals she is a totally different person.  When I tell others that use the same clinic they think I'm crazy but she cares so much about animals, people skills are odd to say the least but I completely trust her.

Comment by Kristen Nicole on January 8, 2015 at 10:50pm

John Wolf, yes thank you! I've definitely been skimming through the FAQ as much as possible. Thanks for your advice! Notebook is a great idea.

Vicky, I'm about to get this pup a SARS mask! lol! I ended up posting in a local pet enthusiasts page and got a pretty good idea on where I wanna take the little guy. They even do a military discount which is fantastic! You are always so willing to help, I value your imput so much <3 Thank you. And ohh I am ready for whatever this little guy throws at me!...for now! Until I post again begging for all of your guys' help! lol The x-pen is my next purchase!!!

Becky, thank you so much! I am in love with him. I can't wait to have a little sidekick and companion. :)

Susan, yes!!! I am even afraid to let Nugget out in our courtyard. We live on a military base and who knows what went on in there before we moved in! We are coming up on a year in february in our home and I am still so nervous. 

Jen, i feel like I have talked the breeder's ear off already! lol. Everytime I get the chance to talk to her I just go blank and envision those little paws. lmao! I need to write all of my concerns down. Those are all great things to keep in mind when searching for a vet, thank you! I guess we are sort of in a little desert oasis being in the middle of san diego and phoenix. I just dont feel like I have my bearings here yet, even after living here for a year!

Dennis, Oh how I wish he could stay that size forever...but truly I cant wait until he actually starts looking like a corgi! The ears really get me...they're like gerbil ears they're so small! xD

Comment by John Wolff on January 8, 2015 at 7:22pm

skim through the FAQ list

read puppy training books and stuf

read the plastic bag warning and train your family accordingly

get a notebook, make a training plan, plan your work, and work your plan -- this will be tghe most time-consuming and rewarding part of the whle project

google "really reliable recall"

Comment by Vicky Hay on January 8, 2015 at 3:06pm

Don't worry: Pup can't pick up parvo from the inside of the car. I wouldn't take him into a Petsmart or any other dog-heavy place until after the last round of puppy shots. But once he's had them all, he should be fine.

Try calling the local humane society and asking for a suggestion as to a vet. When I adopted Cassie from the humane society here in Px, part of the package was a referral to a nearby veterinarian. Since I got cents-off the shots and first exam, naturally I went right over there. Actually I liked him quite a bit, and if I hadn't already known a vet for years and years, I would probably have gone with him. Also, the greyhound adoption people REALLY know their vets -- don't know if there's a group in Yuma, but you might call up to the Arizona Adopt-a-Greyhound folks to see if they have a thought: http://arizonaadoptagreyhound.org/  They've slowed down quite a bit since the track on East Washington was closed, but they're still in operation.

Sometimes ranchers know vets who can deal with small animals as well as larger ones. If there's a ranchers' association in Yuma, you might see if anyone there has a thought, especially if any of them are using lion dogs or herd dogs. I think it's mostly irrigated farming down in that area, but one never knows.

First time dog owner, eh? Well, be prepared to fire up your patience genes! :-D  And do be aware that corgis can be amazingly stubborn about housetraining. Eventually they get it (sort of)...but not like a retriever or some other breeds that are more compliant. Get an X-pen: that helps a lot.

Comment by Becky Focht on January 8, 2015 at 11:02am

Nugget is SOOOO cute!  Best of luck to you.  I have had my first corgi for 2 years now and can't imagine life without her.  She's my best friend.  I will admit at first there were times when it was trying between the nipping and potty training.  Just be diligent and know it does get better.  Invest in lots of good chew toys.

Comment by susan on January 8, 2015 at 10:36am

Parvo.  Keep your pup away from other dogs and puppies until it is fully vaccinated.  That means no dog parks and no pet stores that encourage you to bring your pup in with you.  As tempting as it is, its best to stay away.   And no dog walks in areas that are heavily traveled by other dog walkers.   Its kind of isolating, but there are still many opportunities to socialize your dog.   You can take puppy classes starting at about 14 - 16 weeks old, but make sure it is a class that requires proof of vacinations.  Only let the pup socialize with other dogs that you know have responsible owners that make sure their dogs are current on shots.  I personally wouldn't take classes that are offered by a pet store because of the parvo risk, until my dog was fully vaccinated.  Best of luck with your new nugget!

 

Comment by Yuki & Ellie on January 8, 2015 at 8:28am

The best advice I could offer you would be to express your concerns to your breeder.  :)  Breeders have been raising pups for a long time and can give you information and tips on minimizing the chances of exposing your pup to things like Parvo.

A quick google search for Veterinary Clinics in Yuma, AZ shows that you have 7 options within the area.  That's more than where I live!  Ultimately, it'll be up to you to decide which clinic feels right for you and your new pup, but some things to consider are 1) whether or not they offer emergency hospital services, 2) AAHA accreditation, 3) what services are offered. 

Personally, I wanted an office with good reviews (both word of mouth and online), a range of services like boarding, grooming, and holistic medicine/acupuncture, and an accredited emergency hospital service on site.  It took a bit of hunting, but I eventually found what I wanted in the next town over.  It's a 20 minute drive, but I feel it has always been worth it because my pets' veterinarian is great and they all love her!  Just keep in mind that no clinic, whether it's for furry friends or humans, is free of "crazy stories" that people have about it.  Make a list of potential clinics and call around to ask questions about their doctors and services.  :)  Sometimes you can tell a lot about a place based on how they treat you over the phone.

Comment by Denis J. on January 8, 2015 at 7:59am

Those little paws are so small compared to the rest of him.    :)     But he'll grow them very quickly to jump, scurry and experience his environment.   So nice to see you're able to see him grow like this for the first 8-9 weeks.