I've always wanted a Corgi. I really don't know where the desire came from but, over the years the thought that I wanted a Corgi rolled around in my brain. Off & on I would do some research into the breed-who had them, what did they act like, problems with the breed etc,  but for all my 'want to', I never actually met a Corgi. That is until a series of events transpired in 2006.

Devery, my youngest son, was 11 at the time & going through some pretty rough puberty stuff. He is a wonderful kid, but at the time  was chubby, had no friends, depressed & his dynamic character had become weepy & sullen. A friend suggested that we get him a puppy and that she had a Pembroke in Montana. It was living  with her ex-husband, was soon going to have a litter of pups, if I would agree to it, she would give Dev her 'pick of the litter'. I ran it by the spousal unit.

There were some things to consider. We live in a motel. I was also homeschooling four children at the time. A Corgi thinks it's a big dog, but it doesn't take up that kind of space. Our current dog was a huge RottnLab named Waldo who was the most benign creature on earth. Waldo took up some serious space. There was adequate area nearby to run the new pup. Corgis were advertised as a healthy breed, so hopefully wouldn't cost us a ton in vet bills. Hubby agreed and we told Dev. He was excited beyond words.

 The wait was on. Soon the puppies were born. We recieved occasional words about the pups but nothing definitive. The spousal unit & I began to have some severe reservations about the likelyhood of this deal going through & we knew Dev would be crushed. Sure enough, mid November--it became official: No puppy. Devery was hugely disappointed.

I began my search online. Who had Corgi pups within one days drive from Central Wyoming? Hmmm....nice folks in Colorado, Utah & Montana didn't have any. There were no breeders in Wyoming that I could find. Then, a hit! Nebraska! A beautiful website popped up from Berwyn, Nebraska-MKM Corgi's. They had a litter and it was ready to go. There were three puppies left: 2 females & 1 male. The male was something I'd never seen or heard of before. He was a 'fluffy'. His online baby picture was adorable. I called the kennel immediately. Michelle was delightful. She told us about her family, the dogs and the facility. She said if we wanted to, we could come visit & make our pick straight from the farm.

It was decided that we would drive over. Me, Devery & his sister, Annmarie. It was a 10 hour drive. 'The Year 3000' played on Sirius radio probably 25 times. It became the theme song for the trip. Even today, when we hear it, we call it Winny's song.  We arrived late in the evening. Michele was still at work but said we could go over to the house and gave us directions. We waited only a few minutes before she arrived. While we waited we made acquaintence with a sweet female Corgi, Isabelle, sitting on the front step of her house.  Devery was beside himself. Would he like this dog. He'd chosen that fluffy male online. He had printed its picture & the pictures of its sire and dam: Pudge & Sassy. He'd carried the pictures around in his pocket since he got news that it was his. He tacked the pictures up in the Expedition for the trip.  It was 'his' dog. He wanted it NOW!

Michelle escorted us out to the dogs. Beautiful clean runs...nice shelters. I'm a farm kid so seeing a shed filled with straw with big running area for these guys made me a lot more comfortable with both  buying a dog from a kennel and from a stranger. All of her dogs ran to greet her. It was madness!! Joyful madness. She called them by name: each running up for 'mommy's' attention. We reached the area where Sassy was with the 3 pups. I was watching from behind as Devery took the lead in getting 'his' dog. The pups were dynamic, delighted to see people, no reservations about being handled & sure enough, Winston & Devery hit it off. It was a true 'love at first sight'. 

While I signed paperwork, Michele told me different things about Corgi's--they talk? (she demonstrated with the Corgi from the front step) she warned us that Corgi's sneeze--have 'issues' & are generally very expressive in their relationships. (boy was she ever right on that!). Devery was busy installing Winston into the new collar & attempting to put on his blaze orange doggie coat. The collar was a success...the coat? Not so much. We headed out with our new baby, driving into North Platte for the night. That's where the relationship between boy & dog really began.

to be continued....