Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alison Prasavath on June 17, 2011 at 3:48pm

I knew about the shedding and the barking (yet Noodles doesn't really bark too much), so I was prepared for that, but the stubborness. Wow! I know he knows exactly what I'm talking about, yet he will give me a clueless look and do whatever he feels like. I always tell him "use those huge ears God gave you" when he opts to not listen to me. Some times I just have to laugh, so I'll give an example. Last night, he was helping me take out the trash because today is trash day. He decided to go visit our neighbors yard, so I called him to come back. He took two steps in my direction, looked away and then turned and went the opposite direction. As soon as I said "would you like a treat?" (in a normal voice), his head flies up and he comes running over to me, tongue hanging out and nub shaking. Ugh! I had to laugh, but still. I know he understood me, he just didn't want to come at that time, so I ended up bribing him (I know, that is wrong, but it worked).

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Permalink Reply by Carolyn and Gracie on June 18, 2011 at 11:22am

I love doing that. :)  just to see if she's listening.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah C. on June 17, 2011 at 3:55pm

Not really corgi only, i think a lot of people aren't prepared for the expense of dog ownership. Even barring buying a dog (a lot of people adopt, and that's great) there's crates to buy and vets to visit, and then good food and heart worm treatments and spay/neuter if you need it and then constant toys; and that's excluding any unexpected health problems. It can be very expensive! I see a lot of friends who get out of college and get a dog for their new apartment right away and then do not have the means to care for their dog properly.

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Permalink Reply by Vicky Hay on May 8, 2014 at 10:07pm

That is entirely true.

After paying $1,000 to purchase Ruby, who is now 15 weeks old, I estimate I've spent just about that much on a) gear and toys and b) a health problem that shows signs of turning into a chronic and expensive issue.

It's also possible that, as with greyhounds, you need to seek out a vet who understands the peculiarities of this specific breed. I have no proof yet that this is true, but it's something to think about.

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Permalink Reply by Beth on June 17, 2011 at 4:02pm

I must say we researched Corgis very thoroughly and I was pretty much prepared for most of it.

 

I guess the one thing I didn't really anticipate was just how hard a Corgi puppy can bite;  I was raised with bird dogs who have softer mouths.   Bird dog puppies mouth and nip as much as Corgi puppies, but a bit more gently.   Jack was with his litter til he was 10 weeks old.  That tale that dogs that stay with their litter learn proper bite inhibition is a bit of an exaggeration;  what is tolerable pressure for a fully-haired thick-skinned rough-and-tumble puppy is PAINFUL to a person.  

 

But otherwise, I was prepared for the independent streak, the energy level, the shedding and the barking and the heel-chasing.   

 

I was prepared for the fact that the dogs HATE it when one of us is upstairs and one is downstairs.  

 

I knew about the weight-gain and the potential for back issues. 

 

The shedding can be a bit ridiculous, and living with it is different than hearing about it.  Still, I've lived with oily-coated dogs and I'll take the shedding over the oil any day.  Ditto for taking the shedding over the hound smell of beagles and their cousins.

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Permalink Reply by Rachael & Waffle on June 17, 2011 at 4:26pm

Thank you for your responses, everyone!  If you have anything to add, don't hesitate to do so!  I won't be writing the Corgi entry until I am finished with my 3 or 4 part series for new owners.  So, depending on how motivated I am to write, it may be within a week, or in two.  Probably not later than 3.  

 

For those curious, here is my blog: http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/  

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Permalink Reply by Peggy Woods on June 17, 2011 at 5:09pm

all through my teen years we had several dogs in the house and one was always a corgi - so I was prepared...

Mostly. since that was 30 years ago!! I was prepared for hair, barks, smarts, proper diet, proper medical care, etc.

I have to add another stubborn example however, as it goes with the smarts :)

I have bee trying to (passively) train Bugsy the command "wait". We wait to cross the street, we wait while mommy picks up after him... so every time I give the command - he sasses back at me with a "yip!". Little turd.

Another thing - the toe-dragging. I never had one of those before. I can't take him on too many long walks on pavement or he'll wear his middle 2 toes to the quick.

Heat. Bugsy is a tri & really seems to get warm easy. If he's running around alot, he gets hot if it's only 30deg outside & he burrows in the snow to cool off!

I wouldn't trade my little man for the world! I love our morning cuddles & walks. The way he looks at me to make me feel guilty for going to work. the constant tug-of-war that must be played. I'd rather have to clean up all that hair off my bed than not have any of that...

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Permalink Reply by Alison Prasavath on June 17, 2011 at 5:20pm

A-men to rather cleaning up the hair than not having them. He is my little man (yup, a true mama's boy) and my life wouldn't be the same without him. I thank him for building my arm muscles up while we play tug-o-war for at least an hour each night. And I hear you on the toe dragging which is only worse the warmer it gets outside. The look he gives me and the snuggles that he only likes to do with me, is wonderful! I am blessed with him.

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Permalink Reply by Peggy Woods on June 20, 2011 at 1:41pm

oh my - we must have twin boys!! I got sculpted biceps from nightly tug sessions too :) and he's Mr Snuggle-Bunny at bed time :)

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Permalink Reply by Priscilla, CARLY, and Frankie on June 17, 2011 at 11:45pm

i have two of these wonderful, smart, stubborn dogs... two very different personalities, and they are two totally different dogs!! My female Carly is 1yr 6months ...she wont stop pulling on the leash weve gone on hundreds of walks. shell walk 2 miles twice daily , when im tired shes still going ...Weve gone through cgc classes and failed all three times.. Ive cried many a tear over her and love her dearly, but she is as high strung as they come and as sensitive as any woman ive ever known, and ive know hundreds ( since i do hair and have for forty yrs) Her obsesion with chasing cars has never stopped, and i never let her off leash around the street because of this.. Of course  ive gotten her to sit and stay and  down and treated her each time , she still wants it , she wants that car that is coming toward her and she has to have it !! Go figure i give up ? Her need to get into the trash has never let up , even though if i say leave it, she does obey, until i turn my back and she has the kleenex torn into shreds on the floor in less than three seconds..Bath time is hilarious , she hates the water!! Oh ~ and she is so afraid of strangers, especially men... that she hides between my legs when were in petsmart or petco or barks when ever we meet someone new or if a new person comes in our home.. like the air conditioner man, today she chased him out the back door!!! I socialized her  at the beatyshop meeting new people four days a week for five months! No didnt do any good...need i go on?

 Now frankie who is five and 1/2 months ...same home, same socializing, etc... he is so laid back, never meets a stranger, loves everyone!! Never pulls on leash , never looks at another car much less want to chase it.. wont walk longer than one block... The toe dragging is an issue with him, he drags his feet till his two middle toes bleed, so walking long distance is out of the question.. On the other hand this boy loves to bark, its his thing!  He barks at Carly until she lets go of the toy he wants, barks at me till i pet him, barks at the back fence and stares at it to listen for the slightest noise to bark at what ever.. sits perfectly still while i bath him loves the water...

Carly never over eats , hes never full...She hates to go outside with out me, he could careless ..They could not be more different but they are both full blooded akc registered corgis!

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Permalink Reply by Priscilla, CARLY, and Frankie on June 18, 2011 at 9:30am

my husband just said dont get a corgi if you dont have four hrs a day to get on the computer to see what your doing wrong or how to raise one! lol

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Permalink Reply by Stacy & Einstein on June 18, 2011 at 1:52pm

HA! So true... My husband and I are always saying "well what do the forums say?" about various things Ein has done. lol

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