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| Group: Herding It is said that if you put a Corgi together with a group of small children they will try and herd the kids. I have never witnessed it but Gus, my older dog, will sometimes nip at my heels to try and "herd" me away from the door if he doesn't want me to go somewhere. Origins: No One really knows where the breed comes from One legend ties Corgis to the fairy kin in British folk tales. The story goes that one day two children found a pair of small, dwarf-like puppies playing in a clearing when they were out tending to their family's cattle. The children brought these foxlike puppies home and the family fell in love with them, convinced that they were a gift from the faries who used them to herd their cattle and ride into battle. You can still see the marks the fairy saddles made on Corgi's backs today. Less fanciful accounts tie Corgis to Scandinavian Radiers who brought their dogs with them to the British isles or Flemish weavers who settled in Pembrokeshire. Description Corgi's are somewhat foxy, but with less pointed faces. These dogs are long and low to the ground. You can see the intelligence shinning in their warm eyes and they constantly seem to be "smiling". Size Corgis are considered a medium sized dog with adult males weighing 27-30 pounds and adult females wighing 25-28 pounds. They are approx 10-12 inches tall and are fairly long (for many years Corgis were called Ci-llathed meaning "yard long dog"). Coat Coats come in many colors including red, sable, fawn, black and tan with white markings. Sometimes Corgis can have white or even blueish coats (these are not acceptable breed standards but who cares? All Corgi's are adorable). Corgis have a thick, full coat so potential Corgi owners should be aware of the shedding factor. Corgis do tend to shed a lot (it can come out in clumps in the summer) so they should be brushed about once a week. Eyes Corgi's eyes are normally a deep chocolate brown. You will also see true black eyes as well as golden and blue eyes (anything besides brown is considered "undesirable" for show dogs but my Corgi Gus has gold eyes and I think they're beautiful, they match his coat perfectly). Temperment Corgis are quite possible the most affectionate breed that I know (but then again I'm a little biased). They are playful, needing a good romp with their families every once in a while to stay happy. They love attention and are extreemly fun-loving but can also be very protective. Corgis sometimes forget that they aren't Great Danes - I once heard the expression that Corgis are "a big dog in a small dog's suit". Just ask my little Delia who, when she she was only a pup weighing all of five pounds, was tackling my Aunt's rather "big boned" Corgi Devon who weighed in around 45 pounds at the time. They are "people dogs", not outside dogs and should be kept inside with their families where they can get lots of love, attention, and stimulation. Noteworthy Corgis Queen Elizabeth II of England is probably the most promint Corgi enthusiast and keept several Corgis with her in Buckingham Palace. Corgis have also appeared in two Disney movies: "Little Dog Lost" and "Murder She Purred", a who-done-it staring Ricky Lake in which Tucker the Corgi and Ms. Murphy the cat help their owner solve a murder mystery (yes, I'll admit that I saw it ... see me in the corner blushing shamelessly). Also, a Welsh Corgi called Beanie is the offical travel and tourism mascot of Washington D.C. (and I have the coloring book to prove it - given to my by my fabulous parents at Christmas along with a box of crayolas). |
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