So you want a corgi puppy… what now? It’s important to note that historically the corgi was bred to be a working dog. Corgis are the smallest in the working class breeds. They are a livestock herding dog that can herd cattle, but are more well known for herding sheep. Despite their small size, corgis are fast dogs that can run at high speeds in order to get around a herd. Additionally this means that they are dogs with a doubled layer coat to protect them from high heat or extreme cold, they chase people/children/animals/things (which can lead to heal nipping if not properly trained) and have an affinity for barking at moving targets or sounds.
The first step is to find a responsible breeder. Think of responsible breeders as the keepers of the corgi lineage. Many work very hard to breed puppies without inbreeding or carrying on inherited health issues. Although, a number of bad seeds have made breeders frowned upon because of the large amount that are mishandling the corgi breed (mostly for profit). Websites that offer “batches” of puppies to choose from tend to be a breeding ground (get it?) for puppy mill puppies. When I was searching for my very own puppy, I found that the lower cost puppies from those websites weren’t AKC registered, didn’t have any medical history paperwork and/or the breeders I did call didn’t know who the fathers of the puppies were half the time. Every time I called a “breeder” I was met with puppy mill vibes that I just couldn’t shake. The combination of low cost, sketchy puppy history and lack of AKC registration turned me off from purchasing a dog off a puppy finder type website.
Instead I located local corgi clubs and contacted them directly to find my puppy from a responsible breeder. A good breeder is often VERY protective of their puppies. They will usually contact you for an interview, have paperwork for you to sign, have AKC registered puppies and/or a whole family tree they can show you with a full medical history. Another good option is that local corgi clubs often have connections to corgi rescues, there are so many out there now that it’s easy to adopt a corgi across the nation from non-profit rescues such as Queens Best Stumpy Rescue or Forpaws (Your local corgi group should have contact info for a rescue group near you). Don’t overlook older dogs either, many of them have a wonderful temperament and might have recently just found themselves without an owner, but they have a lot of love to give!
What happens if I don’t find a responsible breeder? Corgis whose origin is unknown tend to have a series of issues that could stem from puppy mill conditions, in-breeding and inherited health issues. Corgis are prone to genetic diseases such as degenerative myelopathy (spine disease), hip dysplasia (causes walking issues), cataracts, Von Willebrand’s disease (genetic blood disease) and the list goes on. Many of these disorders/diseases are stemmed from breeding dogs with these genetic disorders and carrying them along to future generations. Many of which can and will be debilitating to the dogs from birth through their lifespan.
Finding a corgi puppy can be a grueling task when looking for the option that is right for you. It took us months to find ours and when we found a litter, we still had to wait until he was the proper age to come home with us. Have some patience and don’t give up! The end reward is worth every moment when looking for your perfect best friend.
Have a corgi puppy? Share your experiences in the comments!
More Corgi Things:
Amazingly, my corgi came from my local SPCA! People are always amazed when I tell them that but it must have been fate 🙂
Help needed finding a breeder in Brevard County Florida..East coast …..Indian River… willing to travel…Thank you!