in praise of a pound puppy (or the world's most natural barn dog)

[propspony]

Hey! So... I just had to write about my BDX (Barn Dog Excellent!)

A little background.

From the time I read my first Rita Mae Brown book at 11, I had wanted my very own Pembroke Welsh Corgi. I was never in a position to own my own dog (apartments, student housing and allergic roommates, and so I pretty much gave up on the whole situation. Last year I was able to move to a farm where where one of my roommate already had a corgi, and I was in HEAVEN. She was the *coolest* dog in the whole world, and soon I was on the lookout for my very own corgi.

Then the day before thanksgiving, my roommate was browsing petfinder, and found a little red and white girl at the local pound. (not something you normally find at this particular city pound...)

We went and checked her out and from that first moment where she wriggled into my arms, she was *MINE!* All that we knew about her, was that she was 5, overweight, her owner had been intimidated by her, and she had been a condo dog her whole life. Hmm... she doesn't seem intimidating upside down begging for tummy rubs, and city dog to the farm. Could be interesting....

So... let's fast forward....

She came completely housebroken, knowing sit, stay, NO!, and Leave it! She does have the bossy cattledog attitude, but I would never call her "intimidating"

and

She turned out to be an awesome barn dog!

From the very first day, she just *knew* what she was supposed to do. She never gets under the horses' feet, and she has NEVER EVER attempted to herd or chase one.

The command of:

OUT (of the arena, stall, corral, tackroom, washrack, wherever) was obeyed the first time with no further training.

As were:

GOAT (remove the d*** goat from the tackroom/ feedroom/ washrack/ horsetrailer/
arena/bathroom.)

and

CHICKENS: (round up the chickens and put them in the coop please)

She wakes me up every morning at the same time to feed the ponies, and knows the routine as well as I do.

Today she went on a trail ride and tucked in behind us like she'd been doing it her whole life.


So, just a brag... 'cause I"m so proud of my pound puppy!



Tired from doing chores:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31674909&id=23706520

In the snow that we get once every 20 years:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31619351&id=23706520

[jetsmom]

I can't see the pics because the link takes me to a log in page, but she sounds wonderful!

I LOVE shelter/rescue/stray dogs. They all seem so grateful.

[paintjumper]

A dear older man picked her up at the pound as a baby, then a year or so later he had a stroke and needed to be placed in an assisted living home.........but he refused to go because he had no one he trusted to take his beloved Mollie. She is a choc lab/pit bull mix. I agreed to take her and she is the best barn dog EVER! She never bothers the horses, insists on being under my feet at every turn and LOVES to ride in the golf cart to feed the outside horses. She is TOTALLY offended when the truck cranks if she is not invited to go. I love her to pieces.

[threedogpack]

awwww! I have 6 pems and love them to bits. They are *great* dogs. Good for you in finding a girl who needed to be loved.

[vacation1]

All that we knew about her, was that she was 5... She came completely housebroken, knowing sit, stay, NO!, and Leave it!... From the very first day, she just *knew* what she was supposed to do.

Congratulations on your dog! She sounds wonderful. I sort of understand the 'intimidate' thing from the original owner, though; corgis intimidate me, too - they have such purposeful expressions:) The greatness of a mature dog! I am always amazed that so many people want puppies when you get such a great ready-made pet with a grown dog. My first dog was acquired from a shelter at around 5yrs, and she also came with all the basics already installed and ready to go - 110% housebroken, sociable, trained and mature. When you choose sensibly, you get a dog who steps effortlessly into the household with none of the wild drama of getting a puppy or a teenager.

[harveyhorses]

I am so jealous!! My cousins had one when we were growing up, I have wanted one ever since.
People are often intimadated by superior intelegence;) and they can stare you down with the best of them.

[propspony]

purposeful! I like that!

My roommate had already had 1 corgi when I moved in, (also a rescue) which was what gave me the courage to get one of my own, and while the two are COMPLETE opposites personality-wise (my roommate's dog is definitely a wine, cheese, classical music kind of girl, while mine is more the blue collar, beer-chugging, truck pull type) but both of them are very, very purposeful. You can't fix or do ANYTHING around here without them! The other 3 dogs will be snoozin' on the tile, and the two corgis are just "all up in your business!"

We call them the corgi assistance crew.

and they ALWAYS have an opinion or four to offer...

(while I type this they're under my feet in the classic "pushmi-pullyu" position waiting to be asked to provide ghostwriting assistance)

yay for pound puppies!

[Louise]

I wish I could see the pictures, but I don't, and won't, have a facebook account. She sounds just wonderful. Congratulations on finding such a terrific partner.

[propspony]

ahh... sorry. Didn't realize the pictures wouldn't work...

Is this better?

http://s649.photobucket.com/albums/uu217/rrosenth/Bailey/?albumview=slideshow

[Bluey]

Corgis are great dogs, but I am very allergic to them, more than to most any other dog.
Any dog with short guard hairs and a heavy down coat, like GSD, ACD and corgis around and I can't breathe.:cry:

A friend used to raise them and I could never go into his house.
He was a cook and weighed well over 300 lbs, walked, well funny and watching him with his current puppy at puppy class, both behinds wobbling down the line back and forth on heeling practice, all of us had trouble keeping a straight face.:D
He didn't care, he was very proud of his dogs.

I wanted my own little wobbler soo bad, but had enough sense to want to be able to breathe more.:(

Glad that you could give her a home and her give you so much pleasure and that extra hand everyone needs around a farm.:cool:

[nagatha]

The owner of the barn that I board at breeds Pemmies. She had a litter today: 10 in total. 5 Sable nd 5 tri-colour.

I have a 10 month old from the last litter and he's a joy to own. He loves everybody and if you say to him "Oh you are so cute" he sits and give you that "I know it, now pet me" look. Everyone should have at least one Corgi in their life. They are the greatest "little big dogs" in the world.

[monstrpony]

Aww. I just lost The Best Dog In The World last week, my 13 y.o. Pembroke Corgi. He'd had a couple of tumbles during his life, and was large for the breed, so he developed spinal arthritis and had lost the use of his back legs. But he really was The Best Dog In The World and I miss him terribly! :cry:

Enjoy your little treasure!

I do still have my second-in-command, also a Corgi; poor little guy has huge paw prints to fill!

[PalominoMorgan]

An overnight visit from a friend with a corgi got me hooked on the breed. Got my first corgi boy through the Giveaway board here on COTH. He's a love bug. A year or so later I bought a female puppy. A few months ago I was checking out stud dogs for my girl and fell in love with one of the puppies. He got to come home because he loves my daughter and he's the calmest corgi I've ever met. SUPER laid back, great confo. Bringing him home put me in the dog house for a while, but he was worth it.

Now, my girl is in heat again and I'll be taking her for a booty call later today or tomorrow. :) Yay for corgi puppies this summer (if all goes well.)

[MunchkinsMom]

ahh... sorry. Didn't realize the pictures wouldn't work...

Is this better?

http://s649.photobucket.com/albums/uu217/rrosenth/Bailey/?albumview=slideshow

Aww, so sweet. Thanks for sharing. I love Corgis!

[JohnDeere]

One of the peeps at the barn has a corgi. That dog is built like a square building block with very short legs. I dont know how the fat thing can role over onto his back, but he can! And he can run to!

[propspony]

heehee, I've always thought cinder block myself.

Yeah, when she gets excited she does the fat girl tabletop dance. You know, the one where she prances her little legs up and down, and the back doesn't really move. :-D

I mean, she doesn't look aerodynamic at all, but boy can those short legs go!

and her preferred sleeping position is flat on her back with all four legs sticking up in the air...

Corgis, proving to the world that you don't have to *look* athletic to be athletic!

lolol

[yellowbritches]

Love corgis. The one I found chowing down on the deer carcass in the middle of our road a few months ago was very "purposeful". (I got him safely home).

Pound puppies ARE the best! I was just admiring how great my pound puppy is today. While she has a naughty streak a mile wide (she is a horrible, horrible sneak...I swear she knows how to move so her tags don't jingle), she is the coolest dog. She was sitting in the Mule this morning while I was working in a pasture, and "her" horses came to say hi. My guy was nibbling on her toes and loving all over her, and after she enjoyed it for a minute, she returned the favor. She is SO calm and so unafraid and so much fun to have hanging around, "helping" out.

[JohnDeere]

heehee, I've always thought cinder block myself.

Yeah, when she gets excited she does the fat girl tabletop dance. You know, the one where she prances her little legs up and down, and the back doesn't really move. :-D

I mean, she doesn't look aerodynamic at all, but boy can those short legs go!

and her preferred sleeping position is flat on her back with all four legs sticking up in the air...

Corgis, proving to the world that you don't have to *look* athletic to be athletic!

lolol

Maybe a cinerblock cant breath while on the stomach?!

[Bluey]

The owner of the barn that I board at breeds Pemmies. She had a litter today: 10 in total. 5 Sable nd 5 tri-colour.

I have a 10 month old from the last litter and he's a joy to own. He loves everybody and if you say to him "Oh you are so cute" he sits and give you that "I know it, now pet me" look. Everyone should have at least one Corgi in their life. They are the greatest "little big dogs" in the world.

That brings to mind a sobering thought.
I had some dobies and when I could not get a breeder to sell me one without cropping ears found another breed that didn't need that done.

Now, I would love to have a corgi if I was not so allergic to them, but on the other hand, I have second thoughts to owning, much less would if I was breeding, dogs like corgis, that are deformed, too short legged and prone to back trouble more than their share would have been if they had regular sized legs.

For those that want to point fingers sometimes at others for what they have or do with the animals they have, those are thoughts they should consider, as they too may be cutting some ethical corners to have what they want.

No, I am not an escapee from an animal rights site, far from it.:winkgrin:
I was just pointing to this interesting fact, that when we use animals, many times we do make trade offs, ALL of us do.
Food for thought.:yes:

[Go Fish]

[QUOTE=Bluey;4116317] Now, I would love to have a corgi if I was not so allergic to them, but on the other hand, I have second thoughts to owning, much less would if I was breeding, dogs like corgis, that are deformed, too short legged and prone to back trouble more than their share would have been if they had regular sized legs.

For those that want to point fingers sometimes at others for what they have or do with the animals they have, those are thoughts they should consider, as they too may be cutting some ethical corners to have what they want. QUOTE]

Do you understand the history behind the breed? They are NOT "deformed." The Corgi has been around in basically this form since the 10th century. The Corgi's conformation is "job-fitting." Their primary skill is to herd cattle. Cattle are stubborn and kick. The dog was bred low to the ground, as a result. The Corgi can nip at heels to move a cow, and when the cow kicks in response to the nip, they kick OVER the dog.

The back trouble comes from the long spine, not the length of leg.

I've had Corgis for longer than I care to remember. I've never had a spinal issue on a single one of them. I DO buy from a reputable breeder and keep my dogs fit. Corgis tend toward obesity, so managing their weight goes a long way in keeping them sound.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=Bluey;4116317] Now, I would love to have a corgi if I was not so allergic to them, but on the other hand, I have second thoughts to owning, much less would if I was breeding, dogs like corgis, that are deformed, too short legged and prone to back trouble more than their share would have been if they had regular sized legs.

For those that want to point fingers sometimes at others for what they have or do with the animals they have, those are thoughts they should consider, as they too may be cutting some ethical corners to have what they want. QUOTE]

Do you understand the history behind the breed? They are NOT "deformed." The Corgi has been around in basically this form since the 10th century. The Corgi's conformation is "job-fitting." Their primary skill is to herd cattle. Cattle are stubborn and kick. The dog was bred low to the ground, as a result. The Corgi can nip at heels to move a cow, and when the cow kicks in response to the nip, they kick OVER the dog.

The back trouble comes from the long spine, not the length of leg.

I've had Corgis for longer than I care to remember. I've never had a spinal issue on a single one of them. I DO buy from a reputable breeder and keep my dogs fit. Corgis tend toward obesity, so managing their weight goes a long way in keeping them sound.

Well, you just have been lucky there, as if you ask any vet, they can give you plenty of examples.

Here is some information, skimpy, but I didn't take the time to find more:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lunge

That people have bred for a deformity for 1000 years doesn't make any less of one, really.

Not bashing the breed, they are great little dogs and I have known many, some in our dog club, that have multiple MACH's too, but we know what concerns are due to each breed and with corgis, there are some directly related to their too short legs.

No debate from me that they have stellar dispositions and are so very awesome cute all their lives, not just as puppies, as many breeds can be, especially with that waddle of theirs, that is a direct effect of those too short legs, undeniably so.

My friend that bred them many years ago would have given me one in a minute and I would have loved to have one, if I was not so allergic.
That doesn't mean that we are playing with what really would be best for them as dogs, that is longer legs.
Then they would not be corgis any more, a catch 22, there, that denying it doesn't do anyone any good, especially when it is clear to anyone seeing them and thinking about this.

There are trade-offs everywhere in life, are they.