Buying a Puppy?

[Poochlover11]

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Hey guys,

So my fiance and I are talking about getting a puppy in year or so after we get married. It looks like for an apartment it would be best to start out with a small dog (I definately want a Great Dane someday though!). So we have talked about getting a corgi! I absolutely adore corgis and have wanted one for a very very long time (loved working with them at a kennel 🙂 One of my favorite dogs).

My question is where does one find a corgi puppy? I doubt I would have luck finding a corgi puppy at a shelter (but if I could-I would, all for adopting from a shelter 👍). Where do you find a reputable breeder? I did some skimming on line-but some of it sounded fishy. Are some of you lucky enough to know good breeders? And if they are from an AKC certified breeder do you have to show that dog? Thought I heard that somewhere.

So if anyone has good advice on finding healthy, happy puppies in general I would appreciate it!

 

[JustCats]

Google "Corgi rescue."

 

[flyhi]

Hey guys,

So my fiance and I are talking about getting a puppy in year or so after we get married. It looks like for an apartment it would be best to start out with a small dog (I definately want a Great Dane someday though!). So we have talked about getting a corgi! I absolutely adore corgis and have wanted one for a very very long time (loved working with them at a kennel 🙂 One of my favorite dogs).

My question is where does one find a corgi puppy? I doubt I would have luck finding a corgi puppy at a shelter (but if I could-I would, all for adopting from a shelter 👍). Where do you find a reputable breeder? I did some skimming on line-but some of it sounded fishy. Are some of you lucky enough to know good breeders? And if they are from an AKC certified breeder do you have to show that dog? Thought I heard that somewhere.

So if anyone has good advice on finding healthy, happy puppies in general I would appreciate it!

Twelvetigers has a gorgeous Corgi that i believe she rescued....i'm sure she will jump in here 😛

 

[Poochlover11]

Google "Corgi rescue."

Ya, I looked into that a little bit, but they are mostly older corgis. Nothing against adopting older dogs-but I would like to train up a puppy. Do they have corgi puppies with corgi rescues? Hmm...I will google it.

 

[Poochlover11]

Twelvetigers has a gorgeous Corgi that i believe she rescued....i'm sure she will jump in here 😛

Haha, ya I figured. I think there is at least one other person with corgis on here too based on profile pic. Hopefully they will post too! (hint hint)

 

[TrocarKarin]

I don't know if this will help, but find your state breed association. A lot of times they'll be able to refer you to responsible breeders (and breed-specific rescues can be a good source as for who is responsible and who to avoid). You might also find breed-specific dog shows, which are a good place to network and find breeders. If you google, you can find tons of lists of what to look for in a breeder, and what red flags to keep an eye out for. Not being a corgi person, I don't know what kind of genetic problems they have, but you should be able to google that and find out what tests need to be done, and screen out breeders who don't perform them.

 

[twelvetigers]

I dunno where Meg... err, StealthDog got Winnie. I just happened across mine - there was a flyer on a bulletin at the end of the main hallway in the VTH. She had her mismatched eyes and a cute look on her face, and I had decided that I liked corgis anyway... so I tore down the flyer and called the number on it as soon as I got off work. So it was luck - the girl said that someone else was interested, but I guess I convinced her that I was a good candidate. A day later, Chloe was in my car! I walked her into the house on a leash and the first thing she did was pee on the floor in the one room with carpet. NICE. Lol. But she seemed happy enough, and she snored while she slept, and it took us no time at all to work her in to our happy little family.

Anyway, I imagine it would be somewhat difficult to find a corgi puppy for free. Chloe was 3 1/2. An older dog could have some bad habits - I got SO lucky with mine - but that isn't to say that you couldn't work with them.

My best advice would be to look for local corgis online, to look at newspapers... also, http://mycorgi.com could be of some assistance. Good luck!

 

[Poochlover11]

I don't know if this will help, but find your state breed association. A lot of times they'll be able to refer you to responsible breeders (and breed-specific rescues can be a good source as for who is responsible and who to avoid). You might also find breed-specific dog shows, which are a good place to network and find breeders. If you google, you can find tons of lists of what to look for in a breeder, and what red flags to keep an eye out for. Not being a corgi person, I don't know what kind of genetic problems they have, but you should be able to google that and find out what tests need to be done, and screen out breeders who don't perform them.

Do you know if you need to show a dog if you get the dog from someone who is AKC certified (for example). I thought I hear from someone I knew that she didn't want to get a dog from an AKC breeder because then she would have been required to show the dog. I am getting this mixed up or not? Thanks for the advice by the way. 👍

And I googled corgi rescues, but I did not see many, if any corgi puppies (if there were, they were a mix with a terrior). Sigh-this might be harder then I thought. My fear is that if I was to get an older dog, there might be some bad habits already instilled.

 

[bunnity]

Petfinder.com

I got hundreds of matches for corgis near my zip code- granted not all were pure corgi and young but I saw several pure-looking corgi puppies within a couple hours of my zip code and I looked for maybe three minutes. There are a ton of shelters out there and most of the ones onmy search were small enough that I hadn't heard of them, so give it a try!

 

[MAbovines]

Do you know if you need to show a dog if you get the dog from someone who is AKC certified (for example). I thought I hear from someone I knew that she didn't want to get a dog from an AKC breeder because then she would have been required to show the dog. I am getting this mixed up or not? Thanks for the advice by the way. 👍

Some breeders want to co-own a dog with you, and require you to sign a contract agreeing to show. This isn't the case with a lot of breeders. Many times it depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for a pet, most litters have pet quality pups in them and they're often sold for less than the show quality pups. I actually have a wonderful corgi, and I think they're awesome dogs. I would suggest stopping in at a dog show, and see if you can talk to some of the corgi people there. Or try contacting the parent club (http://www.pembrokecorgi.org/) for some info. That site also has a members list you could try. If you ask around, you'll usually be able to find out who people think the reputable breeders are.

 

[sumstorm]

Just because a dog is registered with AKC or UKC does not mean they have to be shown (in any form of competition) and any altered dogs can not be shown in conformation (few exceptions in veterans classes, but that is only for past successful conformation dogs.)

However, you could enter into a contract to show. I wouldn't, but some people do. I do have a deal with my Shepherd's breeder; for every title we obtain, I get $50 back.

I don't know about where you are, but we have half a dozen corgi 'types' (can't guarantee purity) through our local high kill shelter as pups (ones that I would say may be pure...a lot more if you go with look similar to corgis but not exact). Soemtimes if you have some patience, you can get exactly what you want by letting volunteers/employees of shelters know what you are looking for (and honestly, high kill shelters see huge varieties of dogs, many of whom are good quality.)

I like corgis, but they can be an intense breed (since they were/are working dogs.) Also, for rescueing adult corgis, they are pretty smart and train well (including retraining of behavior problems) with positive reinforcement training methods.

Also, if you aren't in a hurry, breed rescues get young ones at times (though you may have to worry about potential pup mill dogs in young ones winding up in rescue, which could be good or bad.)

 

[Poochlover11]

Petfinder.com

I got hundreds of matches for corgis near my zip code- granted not all were pure corgi and young but I saw several pure-looking corgi puppies within a couple hours of my zip code and I looked for maybe three minutes. There are a ton of shelters out there and most of the ones onmy search were small enough that I hadn't heard of them, so give it a try!

I checked this out, but I wasn't really able to find any puppies close to me (let alone in my state) and I noticed that almost all the puppies they had were a mix with something else and some didn't resemble a corgi at all. One dog was listed as a corgi-but when I clicked on the pic it looked like a min pin, but in the description they elaborated by saying it has the "body of a corgi" Lol. Thanks for the suggestion though, I really do appreciate it-I just found that to be kind of funny. 😉

I think my best bet is to check out websites for corgi clubs and talk to breeders that are a part of those clubs (hopefully they will be more reputable). Thanks for the info guys! Keep it coming! 🙂

 

[Poochlover11]

Awesome, thanks Sumstorm and MAbovines. I am glad to hear that showing isn't a requirement for all certified breeders.

I will definately check into my local shelter when we get closer to picking a dog. One concern I do have is that my companion animal professor says that there are pros to buying puppies from breeders as opposed to shelters. With breeders they get more handling and contact-and there has been evidence that this allows them to develop into healthier, happier dogs. It's something I am considering. I am open to ideas about getting a older dog though (but would prefer a puppy), just exploring options now. Anyone have thoughts on puppies from shelters over breeders?

 

[sumstorm]

I have very mixed feelings on breeders vs shelter. In my experience, it all depends. A good breeder who has worked to improve the breed in terms of temperment, performance (not just current conformation trends), and health who also has a good early socialization program is amazing and tends to produce amazing pups. Having said that, even the best breeders will have an occasional poor fit between a dog and a family. I currently own 2 dogs from breeders and 4 dogs from the shelter. My 2 purpose bred dogs are my search and rescue canines. In all honestly, they are a ton of work in terms of occupying them mentally and keeping them well-conditioned simply because that is the personality and need of a dog who is going to handle a multi-day wilderness search. Of of my purebreds has severe allergy issues (probably a combination of horrible search conditions post katrina and a genetic pre-disposition.) Of my rescues, one has storm phobia (rita put a tree through our home while he was crated, so justifiable, and we are treating now with drugs and clicker work) and another has general anxiety (he was pretty horribly abused with the scars to prove it.) The other two rescues are amazing little dogs; a happy go lucky chihuahua and a typical JRT.

I think pups coming from shelters tend to be a bit older, and it is often easier to identify thier personalities. A great breeder is priceless, but finding a great breeder can be VERY challenging. Pups who go through the shelter experience and are still approaching humans in a happy calm manner tend to handle life well (in my personal experience) and have already rebounded from stressful situations, something that might be harder to id in a breeder's pups. If a breeder has multi-adults that interact with the pup, the pup may have better dog manners than a solo-raised shelter pup (or may not, depending on pup and shelter, and life).

Just make sure that you find a breeder who is doing well by the breed, understands what you are looking for in terms of fitting into your lifestyle (and believes it is a priority to make sure there is a great fit), and takes responsability for the animals s/he produces.

 

[nyanko]

Things you should look for if you are going to purchase a purebred dog from a breeder:

1) Breeder does something with the dogs, whether it's conformation showing or (preferably) something that gauges the dog's ability to do what its breed was meant to do (field trials or actual hunting for sporting breeds, coursing for sighthounds, agility or herding trials or actual herding job for shepherd breeds, etc).

2) Breeder knows the health issues in the breed and does the health and genetic testing recommended by his or her veterinarian and breed club health committee.

3) Breeder is knowledgeable about the breed history and purpose and its good and bad points - every breed is not a good match for every situation/person/family, so the breeder should ask a lot of questions and make sure you've done your homework on the breed too.

4) Breeder is knowledgeable about their own dogs and their lines, and has a goal and a vision for the breed that he or she breeds towards, while trying to balance genetic disease control with diversity and what's good for the breed as a whole.

5) Terms of sale are good - breeder will take the dog back or help you rehome it if it turns out to be not right for you, the health guarantee makes sense for the breed, the breeder only sells with a limited registration unless you're a show or working home, etc etc.

There's other things, but these are some important points that most reputable breeders seem to agree on.

As far as getting purebred dogs from a shelter or rescue, I think it is an admirable thing to do! I own a rescued Great Pyrenees, personally. That being said, my dog has temperament issues, hip dysplasia, knee problems and back problems and doesn't conform to the breed standard very well (single dewclaws, poor pigmentation). So if you're going to rescue a purebred dog, you are probably going to end up with one that was poorly bred, which can lead to some problems. You most certainly should not rule it out based on this, though! Just be cognizant of it. There is also no absolute guarantee that purchasing a dog from the greatest breeder in the world will alleviate hereditary or other issues, especially those like hip dysplasia with a high environmental contribution, but there will definitely be a difference in the risk involved.

 

[jm1]

Hi,
So i got my boxer as a puppy 3 years ago, I had to have papers for him to prove his breed to my landlords. Especially in certain cities many breeds are banned so i needed proof of his breed; i do not in anyway condone breed banning but it was a reality where i was living. I had to go to several breeders because many of them wanted to have rights of showing and breeding their dogs until they are 3 or 4. This was also impossible because he had to be neutered by 1 year or my city permit prices were astronomical. I was able to find a good breeder who did relinquish all rights to the dog, in writing. He has been a wonderful dog and very healthy.
Long story short, just make sure when dealing with breeders you are clear on what their demands are and whether their demands will realistically fit into your lifestyle.
I also attempted to get a rescue dog and even as a vet tech, i did not fulfill their qualifications of having a certain size backyard, and they preferred for me to be married, so that more people loved the puppy. (true story, I was pretty annoyed).

 

[DollyyLlama]

my first dog was a pembroke corgi from a breeder. i don't know if he was representative of the breed, or our poor training skills, but he had some quirks:
-extremely food-motivated. jumped on tables, knocked over garbage cans, stole food out of our hands, drank coffee, dietary indiscretion (rubber bands, tampons, pieces of stuffed animals).
-bolted out the front door and loved to be chased (maybe the herding heritage)
-a bit stiff in his back and legs, especially as he got older. our current dog is (we think) a corgi mix and is much more flexible.

of course i have a soft spot for corgis, but cute as they are, i respectfully put in my vote for rescuing instead of buying- personally, i cannot justify breeding while adoptable animals are euthanized.

 

[TrocarKarin]

Do you know if you need to show a dog if you get the dog from someone who is AKC certified (for example). I thought I hear from someone I knew that she didn't want to get a dog from an AKC breeder because then she would have been required to show the dog. I am getting this mixed up or not? Thanks for the advice by the way. 👍

AKC doesn't really mean anything. Its basically just a service to track pedigrees. You're under no obligation to show a dog just because its AKC registered. Certain breeders will require you show, if you buy a show-quality dog, but what you probably want is a pet-quality dog from a show-breeder. A responsible breeder will have you sign a spay-neuter contract if you're not showing, and only give you limited AKC registration. Whatever you do, if you are going to get a puppy, make sure you're not financially supporting a back yard breeder or a puppy mill.

Since this will be your guy's first dog together, are you sure you want a puppy? My first three dogs were rescues that I got between 6 months and 2 years. We decided to get an 8 week old puppy last year. Yes, he was cute as all hell, and it was nice not having to deal with the baggage that can come with a rescue, but between housebreaking, and chewing, and crate training, and not wanting to leave him home alone for any stretch of time - I wanted to kill him. I am never getting a puppy that young again. If he had been our first dog, I probably would have screwed him up.


What to look for in a breeder - applies to all breeds

The Corgi club of America - has a breeder referral service

 

[twelvetigers]

my first dog was a pembroke corgi from a breeder. i don't know if he was representative of the breed, or our poor training skills, but he had some quirks:
-extremely food-motivated. jumped on tables, knocked over garbage cans, stole food out of our hands, drank coffee, dietary indiscretion (rubber bands, tampons, pieces of stuffed animals).
-bolted out the front door and loved to be chased (maybe the herding heritage)
-a bit stiff in his back and legs, especially as he got older. our current dog is (we think) a corgi mix and is much more flexible.

I can't yet speak of the last of these three, since Chloe only just turned 5 this January, but I will saw that she LOVES food. She will eat anything. If I presented her with a bar of soap like it was a treat, I'm sure she'd eat it, even ruefully. She thankfully isn't capable of getting on the table and hasn't knocked over any trash cans, but we do keep things off the floor that she might eat. Also, she doesn't necessarily like to be chased, but she loves people so much that if she runs outside into the front yard and sees our neighbor across the street, she runs like hell for him and then does the usual roll over for a belly rub thing. Now, if a car was coming... yikes. She will not stop for us calling her! Obedient, usually, but driven by belly rubs.

So, these are things to be aware of. Also, they shed a LOT... they can be nippy if you don't get them used to having their paws handled... they are energetic and need exercise... if you run they very well might bite your heels as you go, as part of that herding instinct... they are prone to some diseases, including disc problems much like dachsunds... all things to consider. Of course, I love mine, but you know. I also love my cat that meows incessantly, wakes us every morning at 5am, and farts a LOT. So, maybe my love isn't saying much. Lol.

 

[VeganChick]

Because of the economy, breed rescues have a lot more puppies available now than they had in the past, so please don't forget to check with them. And shelters in general are getting dogs turned in at a higher rate than ever, so you may actually have some luck in one.

 

[cozycleo]

Just my $.02. Having dealt with puppies before, I know why they're cute (so you don't kill them).

The last dog we adopted was my lab, and we got her at just over a year old and she was perfect! Still has quite a bit of puppy in her, but she's definitely potty-trained and has been great indoors. We are working on her training, but she has picked up on it very quickly. She came to us already knowing some of the basics, and so I've been able to teach her some more basics and some fun tricks in just days. I wouldn't necessarily count out an older dog, as there are definitely some perks to getting one. You can most definitely train older dogs, and there are plenty to go around.

 

[sumstorm]

😀 The above descriptions of corgis ring very true to me! Bright, energetic, enthusiastic dogs with a bit of clown personality. Those same tendencies can be described as troublesom, restless, demanding, and foolish (depending on how frustrated you are at the moment.) Corgis are a breed we see turned in locally due to typical breed tendencies (in other words, if anyone had read anything on them before purchase, they would KNOW this was part of the package...or had read it and not said 'doesn't matter cause they are SOOO cute!')

Be cautious with breed club referral services...some are just an extra feature available for paying members and some are a fee-service (pay to be listed.) Check with the club on how referrals end up in their service.

I admit that for the most part I prefer rescues (just like I mostly prefer mixes) but I am not opposed to intentional selective breeding. When it comes to working dogs, I want to KNOW the genetics....I want to know that the past 5 generations didn't have joint or eye problems, and that they were able to work for up to 15 years. When a service requires 1-2 years of training, you want to be sure it won't be cut short if at all possible.

I also second the 'puppies are pains' and I much prefer other people's puppies. We joke, in the training groups I am in, that trainers should raise a pup every couple of years because we forget just how insanely frustrating it can be, how sharp and damaging puppy teeth are, how many accidents an excited pup can have, how much attention they need every single day, etc. I am actually CALMER now that all our dogs are over a year old. Even 3 out of 4 rescues were under 6mo when they arrived. Also, some rescues might be cheaper (due to being altered already, not needing pup teeth polled if they retained some, and sometimes having a good idea about allergies or other conditions.)

A lot of the junk that people talk about with shelter dogs (surrendered because they have problems, set in their ways, untrainable, unappealing, unhealthy, unsocialized) aren't really accurate for the majority of dogs. I think the same traits can be found in pupose bred dogs. Especially right now, the economy has resulted in more surrendered/abandoned dogs in excellent health. We had a beardie come through recently that was found in a shelter. He knew all the basic commands, walked beautifully on leash, was relaxed and low key around livestock, got along with other pets, good traveler, excellent health. According to his current owner, he came crate trained and housetrained. When he needs to go outside, he comes up to her and bumps her thigh, then walks to the door. Estimated age was about 1 year.

 

[Poochlover11]

This is great info guys! I love asking questions on here because everyone has so much info and you all see it from different angles.

Personally I am not opposed to getting a pup or dog from a shelter. Our family dog, whom I adore, is turning twelve this year and is also a mutt we got from a shelter as a puppy. My parents orginally got a mutt because supposedly they have less health problems then pure breeds. Definately not the cause with our pooch-he has terrible allergies which have caused a mess of other problems (not to mention lots of money).

And sumstorm you just mentioned what I had been thinking about concerning shelter dogs-with the economy the way it is some people surrender their dogs simply because they can't afford them (not because they have behavioral or physical problems). I will definately check this option before I check with breeders.

I guess I am wondering which is more difficult-training a puppy or retraining an adult dog with some bad habits? I have had experience with puppies and boy I know they can be a handful. While at the kennel I babysat the owners puppy sometimes. She was adorable, but a handful. I would be talking to a customer and she would jump onto the counter and send papers flying! Not to mention accidents and chewing anything in sight 🙂

And I have heard that herding dogs-such as corgis-have a tendency to nip at kids heels to herd them. Any other corgi quirks? I want to be well informed and not just get a dog because it's cute. I feel it is important to make sure that the dog's temperment be well suited to your family and lifestyle.

You guys have mentioned some good things. I really enjoyed reading all the info. I am still not sure which avenue to go-whether it be shelter or breeder. I do know that I will check my local shelters first before I go to a breeder. Thanks for all the suggestions! Let me know if you have anymore!

 

[Ben and Me]

I guess I am wondering which is more difficult-training a puppy or retraining an adult dog with some bad habits?

Not all adult rescue dogs have bad habits, though. I got my lab through a rescue group--that might be a good way to go since they are already in the habit of going through shelters and selecting adoptable dogs--it's what they do all day! Any bad habits that our dog has were caused by us! 😉 Even though I'm not sure she was ever officially house trained, she just seemed to know to go to the bathroom outside. It probably helped that the rescue group had crate trained her already. She is a wonderful dog and seems very appreciative of having a home with us (you hear lots of people comment about that with rescue dogs).

Of course, it depends on the degree of "bad habits" too. Any dog that has been abused, etc is going to have a lot more baggage and might be a lot to "bite off" right before vet school. On the other hand, there was another thread where people were talking about having dogs in vet school--several vet students mentioned that it would be very difficult/impossible to have a young puppy in vet school simply because you can't make it home often enough to let them out!

 

[twelvetigers]

The quirks I listed above are the most obvious things. I guess I should also mention that they bark a lot. Chloe knows what "quiet!" means, thank goodness. But a noise outside, a car door or honk nearby in the neighborhood, or a squirrel in the backyard can make her start barking. And if someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door, she goes nuts. I'm not sure about corgis + apartments because of this... so it's something to consider too!

I'll let you know if I think of anything else.

 

[smm482]

I am so excited to see a corgi thread! I have a 10.5 year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi (Abby) and we just got a Cardigan Welsh Corgi pup (Winifred) about 5 weeks ago. Corgis are a fabulous breed with loads of personality and they actually smile when their tongues hang out of their mouths. Needless to say, I am a corgi lover. Our first two corgis came from a breeder in TX that my aunt was doing business with at the time so that's where Abby came from. When we decided to get another puppy, I used the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America website http://www.cardigancorgis.com/BreederDirectory.asp and the Pembroke Corgi Club of the Potomac http://www.pwccp.org/Default.aspx to find registered breeders in my area. I started by checking out websites for those that had one and then sent emails to all of the breeders in NJ, NY, and PA telling them a little bit about myself, what I was looking for, and requesting more information. A responsible breeder will want to know more about you than you might think! The cardi breeder website actually has a column on the list of registered breeders where some breeders list their next upcoming litter. The breeders I talked to were primarily showing their dogs and had no more than 1 litter a year from which they chose their future show dogs and sold the rest as companion dogs.

I contacted a cardi breeder that had a litter of puppies born 12/22 and inquired if any of them were still available. She wrote me back and said she was waiting to evaluate the pups at 8 weeks of age to determine which had show potential and which would be better suited as pets. She sent me a Puppy Questionaire to fill out in the meantime. Most breeders are happy to refer you to another reputable breeder if they do not have a puppy suited to your needs. Luckily, one of the puppies in the litter came available when another prospective owner backed out and she wound up being a great match for us. She was described by the breeder as "the largest female with a very laid back disposition" and she has lived up to that 100%. Winnie has been the dream puppy. Her house training is going really well, she's not nippy, rarely barks, and is equal parts "Let's play!" and "Let's snuggle!" While cardigans are thought to be a bit more laid back than pembrokes, there were 2 pups in her litter that were more high-energy and very yappy that the breeder would not have let go to an apartment home or less active owner.

I mention that b/c some people have mentioned barking, nipping, and food agression as corgi tendencies but I think that depends moreso on the individual dog. All of our corgis have been extremely food-motivated but that only presented itself in positive ways b/c it made them so easy to train. We had Abby's brother (Jack) from the same litter before we got her (she lived with my aunt in TX amongst a herd of corgis for her first 5 years). He was a typical herding dog type that had lots of energy and was on the noisier side, but he was amazing at agility and an awesome companion. He had to be put down at age 5 b/c he developed a terrible brain tumor, but was always a great dog. We got Abby after the loss of Jack b/c we weren't ready for another puppy and my aunt thought she'd enjoy being an only dog. She's from the same litter, but is the polar opposite. She is mellow, snuggly, and almost cat-like. So not all corgis are food crazed maniacs although I was always happy our first corgi didn't have the legs of a lab or he might have been a counter surfer .

The AKC question has been pretty thoroughly answered, but in my case Winnie came with a "Limited Registration" which means that she can compete in any AKC event except conformation. Her breeder offers a $100 rebate if she wins an AKC title (Rally, Agility, Obediance, Herding) which is nice. We did not have to sign a spay/neuter contract, but even if we were to breed her, her puppies could not be AKC registered due to her Limited Registration. We're spaying her regardless, but I thought I'd put that out there.

Sorry for the novel, but I adore corgis and wanted to add my .02! Also, petfinder.com is an awesome tool for finding adult dogs, but the purebred corgis that do pop up are usually adopted really fast (like within 24 hrs) if they don't have any major issues so you have to be ready to act fast. And lastly, if you decide you don't want the trouble of raising a puppy but want a purebred corgi, many breeders have adult dogs (although I've seen as young as 6 months) that didn't pan out as show prospects, but would still make fabulous pets. Many of them are already housebroken, know basic obediance, and some are even started in agility! Let me know if you have any questions and Good Luck!

 

[ponio]

I know you said you want a corgi, but you might consider a corgi mix. I have a corgi mix that I rescued and she is incredible. She has all the wonderful traits associated with a corgi, but is also a lot more laid back.

That being said, I completely understand the desire to get a purebred from a breeder. I desperately want a doberman some day, but I also feel very strongly about adoption. I just wonder if you might have more luck finding a corgi puppy at shelters if you expanded your search to include corgi mixes.

 

[ponio]

I know some people mentioned concerns about behavioral problems when adopting an adult dog, but it is important to keep in mind that often times that older dog has been through a really stressful time and may just be going through an adjustment period. I work at a shelter and it is very frustrating how frequently dogs come back before they could possibly had time to adjust.

My dog came from a high kill shelter down south. She had been picked up on the streets and suffered from severe separation anxiety. I got her home and within a weeks time she had destroyed 10 pairs of shoes, emptied trashcans, and shredded many other things. Then one day I left to run to the store and I came back and she was asleep on my bed and everything was in order! I think it was just all the stress of being abandoned/homeless, the scary high kill shelter, being snatched out from under the needle, transport to New England, a short term foster home, and then finally HOME. Of course she was acting out! Any kid would act out too.

It has been years now and she honestly hasn't done anything wrong. I really don't understand how a dog can be so good! I have really long days between class and work and she just hangs out at home with her kitten. She only barks when we play and she is great with kids. I really couldn't ask for a better dog.

So the moral of my story is: Corgi mixes are fabulous and give older dogs at shelters a chance!

 

[Poochlover11]

I know some people mentioned concerns about behavioral problems when adopting an adult dog, but it is important to keep in mind that often times that older dog has been through a really stressful time and may just be going through an adjustment period. I work at a shelter and it is very frustrating how frequently dogs come back before they could possibly had time to adjust.

My dog came from a high kill shelter down south. She had been picked up on the streets and suffered from severe separation anxiety. I got her home and within a weeks time she had destroyed 10 pairs of shoes, emptied trashcans, and shredded many other things. Then one day I left to run to the store and I came back and she was asleep on my bed and everything was in order! I think it was just all the stress of being abandoned/homeless, the scary high kill shelter, being snatched out from under the needle, transport to New England, a short term foster home, and then finally HOME. Of course she was acting out! Any kid would act out too.

It has been years now and she honestly hasn't done anything wrong. I really don't understand how a dog can be so good! I have really long days between class and work and she just hangs out at home with her kitten. She only barks when we play and she is great with kids. I really couldn't ask for a better dog.

So the moral of my story is: Corgi mixes are fabulous and give older dogs at shelters a chance!

I like your dog! What is the other breed in the mix?

 

[BR549]

Not all adult rescue dogs have bad habits, though. I got my lab through a rescue group--that might be a good way to go since they are already in the habit of going through shelters and selecting adoptable dogs--it's what they do all day! Any bad habits that our dog has were caused by us! 😉 Even though I'm not sure she was ever officially house trained, she just seemed to know to go to the bathroom outside. It probably helped that the rescue group had crate trained her already. She is a wonderful dog and seems very appreciative of having a home with us (you hear lots of people comment about that with rescue dogs).

Of course, it depends on the degree of "bad habits" too. Any dog that has been abused, etc is going to have a lot more baggage and might be a lot to "bite off" right before vet school. On the other hand, there was another thread where people were talking about having dogs in vet school--several vet students mentioned that it would be very difficult/impossible to have a young puppy in vet school simply because you can't make it home often enough to let them out!

I agree. I just got my pup last week and no bad habits at all. He is about 3 years old. I got him from animal control. He is house-trained, seldom barks, sleeps by my bed, and doesn't chew. The only downside to him is that he sheds!!!!!! Hair is everywhere in my car! However, I'll take that any day over poop and pee in the carpet!

 

[bunnity]

Yep, there are plenty of dogs in shelters without the stereotypical behavior issues. Especially if you go to a well-run shelter that has enough funding to be effective at behavior testing, they do a pretty good job of screening out dogs with aggression / bad anxiety issues from the adoption floor. And if you go to the shelter beforehand and talk to them about what you are looking for, they can email you once a match comes in and you can snatch them up before someone else does (this is key with puppies). Another thing to consider is that with this economy, there are a lot of dogs from good families that are losing their house etc. and are there because of finances and not because they were being neglected or abused.

I just feel really strongly about getting shelter dogs adopted from my experiences working at the shelter. I think there are a lot of harmful stereotypes about shelter animals - of course some of them have problems, but it's surprising how resilient most of them are at dealing with their life experiences. One of the dogs my roommate and I fostered came to the shelter with a broken leg, suspected abuse, and given up because they didn't feel like paying for the bills, and she was the sweetest dog you could imagine.

I know there are certain advantages to buying from a breeder, but I wish everyone who was considering it went to a shelter and walked through the adoption floor first. You never know what dog you will fall in love with and you will be able to give a second chance to.

 

[ponio]

I like your dog! What is the other breed in the mix?

Thanks! She's a corgi, shepherd, sheltie, something with floppy ears, and probably some other things too. The corgi is pretty dominant though...she has tiny little legs and a fluffy bum (but with a tail).

She is the love of my life.

I am permanently in search of a good friend for her and I have looked at shelters for corgi/sheltie and corgi/shepherd mixes before and you'd be surprised how common they are.

 

[Caninerepro]

As a breeder, though not of either corgi, I will list a few of the benefits of getting something from a good breeder.

A) Parents have probably been tested for most of the genetic defects/problems that can be screened for. Back problems, hips, eyes et. the puppies will have been checked for as many of the same problems as above.
B) You know who the parents are, and can see almost exactly what your baby will grow up to be.
C) you can usually go meet the litter and pick the one that best suits you, rather than having to take the only similar thing available at the shelter.
D) Most ethical breeders will be happy to answer your silly questions at any time, for the life of the dog.

PM me if you can't find a breeder in your area, and I can probably point you in the right direction. The national breed clubs will probably have a list of known breeders in your area as well.

Now, I am absolutely not trashing pound puppies. I am sure can give you the advantages of them as well, and there are many positives there as well.

I will second the idea of a rescue dog/an older one. They have already gone through all the awful puppy stages, and probably have a bit of training already. Not many rescue dogs are problem children, often the breeder has to take a dog back b/c the owner moved somewhere they can't keep the dog, decided they do not like the breed, et. It is rarely the dog's fault. Any responsible breeder will take back any dog they have bred, whenever. The other thing I will inject, especially with such an active breed as Corgis, a pet puppy out of a show line will tend to be calmer and more managable than a high drive, high energy herding dog. In a typical litter of 8 puppies, I will get maybe 2 or 3 show quality specimens, the rest are pets. Dog shows are a beauty contest in some ways, and something as simple as not having the right markings will rule out a conformation career. Or a crooked foot. Not anything that will actually affect their life as a couch potatoe in your house.

Anyhow, at least go meet a few breeders in your area, and visit with their dogs. That way you can be sure a Corgi is the right breed for you. Short-leggers are not for everyone.🙂

 

[Poochlover11]

Thanks so much for the info guys, this will give me a great start. We still have some time before we will buy a dog, but I am glad I have more knowledge about how to get a dog or puppy from a shelter or breeder. Thanks! 🙂

 

[Sk8gurl06]

I would go with Petfinder.com. They have a great site. Then just hold out until they have what you want. It is so rewarding giving a shelter dog (or pup) a good home. Every one that is adopted is a life saved. I have to purebred Rotties that came from shelters, I wouldn't give them up for anything! 😛