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Comment by Shepdog on July 27, 2009 at 2:59pm

Whoops -- sorry, didn't cut and paste correctly here!

I can sort of see how someone who hasn't been around a whole bunch of different Pembrokes with a lot of different bone and body structure might make the mistake, especially with the fact he's undocked, since that's such a telling feature between the two breeds in the States. I'm even guilty of saying that's usually an easy way for the casual eye to tell the breed apart here, because you just don't see a whole lot of tailed Pems, unlike in Europe.

I can sort of see how someone who hasn't been around a whole bunch of different Pembrokes with a lot of different bone and body structure might make the mistake, especially with the fact he's undocked, since that's such a telling feature between the two breeds in the States.

Of course it's not the only one, but heck, several of my customers with Pems had no idea WHAT my Cardis were, dead serious. Heck, I'm just happy when they don't call my dogs Yorkies! *laughs* I've been asked over the years why Riley's tail looks so funny - they have dogs with nice tail docks or simply born without tails. Not my boy, who has an odd little stubby bum. *grin*

I've had a lot of Shepherds over the years and I will say that my big Czech male got more comments on "What is he mixed with?" simply because he had a huge head, straight back, and shorter coat. Even my vet commented that him and my show line girl were about as far opposite for dogs of the same breed could ever possibly be. If he hadn't known them both and known me, he would have assumed Gabe was a different breed entirely. The working and show lines are simply that far apart sometimes. That's not the same, of course, but it's just interesting. People who owned German Shepherds for years often asked me too.

Honestly, I have no doubt that having a Pem with a tail means you get a lot of questions like that, but heck, I'll trade you for the arguments over the fact that my Cardi HAS to be a cross between a Basset and an Aussie! ;)

Comment by Shepdog on July 27, 2009 at 2:57pm

Honestly -- and don't take this the wrong way, Matt? Some of the pictures you have of Optimus (love his name, btw, big TF fan here) seem to give him with a pretty heavy head and ears right now, if those are his newest pictures. Not all, but some, depending on the angle of the shot. (Cameras and eyes do some funny things sometimes with perspective.) The baby picture you have up of him on this entry is really telling, as is the one where he's making a funny face (hahah, cute!) Oh yep, he's a Pem, but some of the others with a casual glance might throw a Corgi owner who's never actually seen a Cardi in real life, only in pictures.

Comment by Matt & Hilliary on July 27, 2009 at 2:52pm

A red cardigan is just about as uncommon as a pembroke with a full tail. That doesn't mean if I saw a red cardigan I'd immediately ask if it was a pembroke. I'd probably say something along the lines of "I didn't know cardigans could have red fur" or ask if it was a mix. I'm glad you know all about all sorts of dog breeds, good for you, I still feel my point remains valid that he didn't recognize his own breed of dog just because of the tail. If he would have asked if it was a mix, I wouldn't have made this blog post cause I could have understood that mistake, but I still feel there's enough differences between Pembrokes and Cardigans that a corgi could be able to tell the difference.

Comment by Cassie and Jaunty on July 27, 2009 at 2:34pm

He is just a pet owner. Loves his dog, doesn't know much about the breed. Probably feeds Science Diet. Be patient with these people. My point is you didn't even know that Cardis came in red! Are you a dog lover? Or a Pembroke lover? I can only assume that you are the latter. I hope you never run into an owner with a Harrier and comment that its a big beagle! And I would hope that the Harrier owner would be understanding in your mistake. I'm sorry, I know I'm right on this and I'm trying to be patient.

Comment by Matt & Hilliary on July 27, 2009 at 2:15pm

No, I don't know the differences, but I don't own either. If I did, I probably would have read up on the breed and learned some of the differences. Like I said, the employee mentioned he owned a Pembroke, so I would like to think he'd be able to discern the difference in corgi breeds.

Comment by Cassie and Jaunty on July 27, 2009 at 2:11pm

Thank God there are lots of differences! But a lot of people aren't going to read the standards and recognize those differences. Do you know the difference in an American Foxhound and an English Foxhound? There are lots!

Comment by Roger/Laurie on July 27, 2009 at 1:57pm

We have a natural "nub" and "docked". I love to see that little nub wag it makes his whole back end wiggle. Our community here in Seven Lakes, NC has a lot of Pembrokes and Cardigans. We all get together and march the dogs in the St Patricks Day parade.

Comment by Matt & Hilliary on July 27, 2009 at 1:19pm

Cassie, I understand him possibly thinking it's a mix, but like I said, there's more differences than just a tail when it comes to pems and cardigans. The face and ears being the biggest difference.

Comment by Shepdog on July 27, 2009 at 1:10pm

Aw, now --- I've got both breeds, and can say even I'd do a double take on seeing a Pem with a tail for a few seconds.

I've seen some pretty heavy structured Pems that don't look all Pem at all in the shop, and some pretty light structured ones that almost appear mixed at first glance. Not that saying Op looks that way, but there's such a wide range of structure and build on the Pems that sometimes it throws me a little too! Heck, my rescued puppy mill Pem actually doesn't look at all typical Pembroke Corgi to me. *grin*

(And yep, Cardis come in Red and White, you bet! One of the big show dogs out there is, and I'd LOVE to have a good red and white myself, I think it's beautiful in the Cardis. Heck, Butter on the site here is a handsome red and white.)

Like Cassie says, give the guy a little credit, at least he knew there were two breeds of Corgi. :D Most of the time I get the "I had no idea that there were anything other than Pembrokes!"

Comment by Cassie and Jaunty on July 27, 2009 at 12:41pm

Ok, first of all, I was a manger at a Petsmart in Colorado about 20 years ago, and I was amazed at the people they hired! Some had never owned a pet before! I imagine Petco is the same way. I have found that most employees at those stores don't know there own products much less breeds of dogs. Heck, I called Petco one day to see what time the store closed, and the girl that answered the phone didn't even know that! I have learned to go in, get what I want and get out. If someone asks a stupid question, I answer them and move on! Now let's talk about WHO is illinformed. Acceptable coat colors in Cardigans are as follows: ALL SHADES OF RED, sable, brindle (red and black),black with or without tan or brindle points,and blue merle. Seems like Cardigan people know more about Pembrokes than the other way around. They are both called Corgis, come on people, read a little about the one you don't have. If you are a dog lover, its not a bad idea to pick up a breed book and read a little about the other breeds too. Its nice to be able to recognize an unusual breed and maybe know what they were bred for. How many of you would know the difference in a Tibetan Mastiff, a Tibetan Spaniel and a Tibetan Terrier, (all AKC breeds). So actually, I think that the employee at Petco who saw a Corgi with a tail did pretty good at assuming it was a Cardigan. I have had wire coat Ibizans for 13 years, people have thought they were everything from Airedales to Wolfhounds and of course mixed breeds. The first week I had Jaunty (a Cardigan) a woman asked me what he was, when I told her she said "I knew he was a Corgi mix". What?! I have learned to be patient with breed questions. And in answering them, hopefully educate a few people about some of the wonderful breeds out there that they knew nothing about. Having shown dogs for longer than I like to admit, I have met A LOT of snotty 'dog people', and I vow never to be one! Thank God there are people out there that love the breeds that I don't, it would be a boring dog world without them. Back to my point, if you own a Corgi, learn a little about the other one. And if you own a Pembroke with a tail, be prepared to run into people that think its a Cardigan.

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