Pembroke CORGI- a perfect dog for our cottage garden??

16 years ago

Okay, so maybe I'm more than just a little jazzed here!! After my wanting to get a Pembroke Welsh Corgi for years, the time to get one will be soon! To me its THE quintessential dog well suited for our active and energetic family and to go very pleasantly with our English Style/Cottage Garden style gardens and home we've created here.

Yeah, so I'm biased... HA! I've been enamored of Pembrokes ever since I discovered Tasha Tudor's life and gardens via Victoria magazine many years ago, and then her wonderful children's books early in the lives of our children. Early this year, we met with a breeder in our area to see PW Corgis up close and personal. This last weekend we talked for quite a while with a couple with three young children about their "life with a corgi" to get the "real" story. We won't be getting a puppy as its been recommended to us that an older dog will be a better fit for our family.

The breeder (same breeder the family we spoke with got theirs from) wants to get a Champion rating with this dog, and then wants to breed it one more time. Then after its been spayed, it will come to join our family. In the meantime, we're going to gear up for having a dog in our lives. Can just picture taking pictures of our Corgi out among the flowering plants, and in the children's Secret garden with them...

To see pics of our children's Secret Garden in progress, and our garden projects, including our many Roses, ck out my Picture Trail:

careytearose

Here is a link that might be useful: look at Landscaping Projects, Favourite ROSES We Grow albums

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Comments (11)

Eduarda
16 years ago
I don't have first hand experience with Corgis, but all I can say is that Queen Elizabeth II has several. They have been royal dogs for a long time. If it's good for the Queen... :-)

Eduarda

Here is a link that might be useful: Queen Elizabeth II and her dogs
PattiOH
16 years ago
Careytearose,
There is no doubt in my mind that a Pembroke corgi WILL be perfect for your cottage garden.
Your family will love it.

I'm trying to think what sort of dog would fit MY cottage garden. Probably one of questionable parentage from the local shelter, who has that "Pick me! I PROMISE not to dig in the garden!" look about him/her.
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jennypat Zone 3b NW MN
16 years ago
My perfect dog for my cottage garden actually found me! We had a standard collie for 13 years, who we had to put down almost 2 years ago, from old age. We live out in the country on 5 acres, and have LOTS of wild animals visit our yard. Including deer, who happen to think I plant flowers just for them. The collie in his last years was not very good at keeping them out.

Last summer one day a yellow lab walked into our yard, and has not left. We checked with all the neighbors, the sheriff, the humane society etc. And only found the owner after about 2 months. By that time he had already went out and got a new dog, and said we could keep the one that adopted us. I really think the dog didn't like his previous owner all that well, which is why he left.

Well he is the best dog ever! Even better than our collie, he keeps the deer and the bunnies out of the yard. Loves to play with my daughter, Is my hubby's best buddy and so on.

My only complaints are that my cat doesn't like him, even after a year they avoid each other. And for some reason the dog likes to lay or sit in my whiskey barrell! Funny funny sight!

Jenny P
eileen_grow
16 years ago
I would think that most gardeners would make good dog owners as we might tend to be the active sort of home bodies. I personally find a dog a great companion and wouldn't be without one.

My advice would be to really research the dog breed. Many people issues are so instinctive in the dog it's hard to change them (hyper bird dogs, beagles that howl, herders that herd & nip small kids). A breed specific rescue group might be able to shed some light. ALso, lots of websites like this one where people discuss specific breeds. Listen to what you hear!

Dogs that are left outside by themselves for long periods of time get in trouble. Perhaps digging or barking. We have a home in which someone is almost always home. Very active family. We put a lot of miles on our dog with both my husband & I taking walks and then play and generally doggie running around time. Dog exercise isn't about just opening the door and letting them out.

I have electric fence around my yard so no loose dog and no fence. When they did the yard, we had the best flower gardens (and the pond!) excluded so no dogs in there.

Like I said, I wouldn't be without a dog. They enrich my and my families lives. But, many new dog owners have unrealistic expectations
frogviewcottage
16 years ago
Hi Careytearose,
I never post but when you mention Corgis, well..... We have three! Nothing better for playing ball, chasing squirrels and giving love. Get ready for joy!
Jim
pfmastin
16 years ago
You will love your Corgi...we've had several and they are wonderful dogs. A big dog personality in a small dog body. ...with a BIG heart!
girlgroupgirl
16 years ago
This half-Welsh gal sez get a corgi!!! They are fantastic dogs. We'd have one except for the cats. Boo just doesn't like dogs at all.

GGG
klimkm
16 years ago
Corgis are great, but warning the ones I have been around do shed a lot.
ksflowergirl
16 years ago
Corgis are adorable. We had one, but he went to stay with my parents at their farm while we were building our house and in an apartment. Long story short, they have cattle, Corgis are too adorable, and Mom couldn't bear to give him back after the six months. He also loved the farm lifestyle--he was a natural with the cows. Scrappy was always very good with our oldest DS, but youngest DS was only 1 1/2 when Scrappy went to stay with my parents and after that he wasn't nearly as tolerant of youngest DS. I don't think I would worry about how an older Corgi would do with kids unless he/she had never been around them. Anyway, we still go visit him regularly, and I still love him to pieces. He is too spoiled now--runs the house! They are very intelligent and easy to train. They do shed like monsters. Scrappy gets shaved twice a year now; it really cuts down on the shedding. They need lots of attention, so if your dog will be playing with the family and participating in the family activites; she will be very happy. Corgis are personality plus, and their expressions are adorable. Wish you much happiness with your Pem!

We have a Scottie now. He's definitely more hyper than a Corgi and harder to train. But he is more content to be home alone during the day. Unlike some peoples' experiences, neither of our Scotties has ever dug in the yard. Jock is a very British-looking fellow too--so he looks nice in the garden. He was a pup when we got him and is very good around kids.
careytearose
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks to everyone for all the replies!
Eduarda: I'll just wear my Barbour coat (gotten from an English tea shop for my rose gardening- same kind the Queen wears), some sensible shoes, and a head scarf, when I walk our Corgi! I'll do the royal wave at people, HA! Thanks for the link about the Queen and her corgis.
Pattioh: I'm sure having a dog tagging alongside me while gardening shall be a most interesting experience. If you get a shelter dog at some point please post a picture of it in your gardens. I'd love to see it!
Jennypat: sounds like you have quite a place-- our kids would love it!! Do post a pic of your new to you yellow lab in that whisky barrel sometime!
Eileen grow: Yup, that's what I've been doing researching and seeing this breed. I had quite a long phone call with the local corgi rescue lady out here. Have talked with two corgi breeders and many corgi owners. Definitely worth doing our homework before ours joins the family. Thanks for the post.
Frogviewcottage: GREAT to hear that I got ya to post about a favorite subject of yours! Three wow... are they red/white, tris, what... Hey, got pics? You can even send me an email off list if you want with picture attachments. We're really looking forward to having a Corgi become part of our lives!
Pfmastin: Would love after the children are a few years older to even get maybe a redheaded tri puppy as a second corgi. We'll see! My hands will indeed be very full with just this first one. A number for people do have more than just one it seems. That's what I've heard said about them, too--
Girlgroupgirl: Thanks for the vote! We have an outdoor cat that we hardly ever see, expect in the morning to get fed. I think it lives more at the neighbor's house these days. We used to get about neighborhood five cats that would traipse (sp?) through our yard on a regular basis, in part to use the pea gravel area before we got the slate put in for the patio done as a big litter box- yuck. We've been told that once those cats find out there is a dog in the yard, they won't be back...
Klimkim: one couple I met at the local show that have had a number of corgis over the years said these dogs shed 24/7. At least I know that upfront!

careytearose
careytearose
Original Author
16 years ago
hey ksflowergirl: looks like you were posting when I was replying this morning. Didn't want to miss ya... I can see it would be hard to get him away form a farm lifestyle- they are suited for it! Sounds like your scottie is a good dog for you and the family, and you can still go visit that spoiled corgi!

careytearose

Pembroke CORGI- a perfect dog for our cottage garden??

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Pembroke CORGI- a perfect dog for our cottage garden??

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