The Daily Corgi

Sunday Special Feature: What has your Corgi taught YOU?

2012-01-29T03:01:00.004-05:00

Duncan

I posed that question on The Daily Corgi's facebook page a few days ago and got so many terrific responses, I knew I had to share some of them here:

"Everything is better with peanut butter."

"Chloe has taught me how to speak Corgi."

"That a package of Oreos is not out of reach on the kitchen counter, and that having a human toddler is CAKE compared to a Corgi."

"Dexter taught me how happy a pet can make me. Violet taught me how happy I can make a pet."

"That she's just waiting for me to get with the program."

"How wonderful it is to fall head over heels for a dog and how generously it is returned."

"Corgi fur goes with everything."

"Maggie taught me that going for a walk was FUN! I thought it was exercise! She also taught me kindness towards all living things."

"That I need to buy more pillows for my bed."

"Unconditional, never ending, all consuming, love at first sight."

"That dogs can spell."

"That dogs can learn facial expressions from their humans, and use them right back at us! You should see my Faye's "I am so totally disgusted with you right now" look. She had to have learned it from my daughter."

"No matter where you are, SOMEONE is eager to see you."

"Singapore Chester taught me how important a role we play in his world. We are totally responsible for his well-being ... how fragile they are in this mad world of ours."

"He likes his king size bed with lots of pillows."

"That she can eat my entire house in seconds: my couch, my shoes, my socks, my napkins, toilet paper, magazines, underwear ..."

"Move it or lose it!"

"Through Rufus and Nick I've learned that Corgi people are the most giving, caring, funny folks on the planet and I feel privileged to be allowed into their world!"

"Without his unconditional love, my life would be incomplete."

"That I never have to nap alone ... I have to share cheese no matter what ... and that I don't have the heart to convince my 25 pound buddy that sleeping on my legs all night isn't a great idea."

"You can never eat enough cookies!"

Arnold of Australia

"No matter what, find humor in everything. No matter what, take time to say hello to EVERYONE you meet!"

"No glass of wine can come close to the amount of relaxation I feel when I flip him over for belly rubs."

"I used to be afraid of all dogs before we got our Corgis. Now I can't see my life without them. I learned that they're not all scary! I also learned that my husband will be a great Dad someday."

"That everything less than three feet above the ground belongs to him."

"Today is the best day ever, the best walk ever, the best game of fetch ever, etc ..."

"That touching is important. That I talk too much. That the depth of love when they are present equals the depth of loss when they leave us."

"Gimli has taught me to find laughter in everything, and how to deal with large amounts of Corgi hair."

"To clean my plate, go for long walks, hide the hamper, pick up my shoes (especially the expensive ones), stretch when you wake up, start the day at 110%, chase the things that you like and don't like, give kisses to the people you love, earn a treat, get comfortable to sleep with pillows too, look out the windows while in the car, when choosing between the big dogs and the little -- go big or go home, stop to smell the roses (or hydrant, tree, sign post), and face the day at full speed!"

"To be open to life ... to have more patience ... to try and be more stubborn than a Corgi (ha!)."

"Frap in the rain. Frap in the snow. Roll in poop and dead stuff."

"That I'm not nearly close to being ready for a child."

"To open my eyes again. To laugh again. To see the world through innocent eyes again."

"A Corgi to love is a reason to live."

"Knowing when I call it will probably go in one ear and out the other."

"My Corgi has taught me that I matter!"

"Buy more than one burger when you go to McDonalds, because if you don't, chances are you'll lose half of your burger to the "puppy face".

"To love the blissful chaos of our house."

"Kizmet has taught me that I cannot throw dirty socks in the clothes hamper as they immediately become HIS!"

"To not care what others think -- even if you're pooping in the middle of the street!"

"Babe taught me being only one foot tall, a little "funny-looking" (in the adorable way that all Corgis are) and having only two legs that "work" (after a serious spinal cord injury at age five) shouldn't stop you from enjoying life to the fullest."

"Love, love and more love!"

"Corgis always have the last word."

Zubie

Saturday Smiler: Chase!

2012-01-28T03:01:00.002-05:00

Tip of the nose to Penni A.!

Helping Paws: Franklin!

2012-01-27T22:10:00.000-05:00

Meet FRANKLIN, a gloriously handsome, best-friend-worthy, life-loving Pembroke. Look at that smile!

This happy guy has faced down a variety of illness and injuries in his short life so far, none of which have dimmed his Corgi joie de vivre. His Mom has spent several thousand on getting him well again, and now CorgiPals is asking for a small amount on her behalf to deal with his latest pesky situation: a broken tooth.

Check out Frankin's Helping Paws Campaign page HERE and read his full story. You'll love his spirit and story of living up to the Corgi rep, in spite of his medical issues. Yep, another inspirational low-rider ... aren't they the BEST?

I dare you to resist!

Romeo of California

2012-01-27T03:01:00.007-05:00

Our story with Romeo begins in jail.

On February 3rd, 2007, Joshua C. and his wife were on their way to visit her father when the conversation turned to dogs.

"She had gone to the local animal shelter the day before and found a few Corgi mixes, and I convinced her to stop by so we could take a look. When we arrived at the shelter and approached their cage, I said “You mean these guys?”

Romeo and his sister. They would be playing a harmonica if they had thumbs.

"They weren’t there the day before, and it took all of 2.5 seconds for me to be “first in line” to adopt the male. We found out later these two had been found wandering the streets of Costa Mesa the night before. We would have taken his sister as well, but we live in a three-story condominium and both dogs were severely overweight. Romeo was 48 pounds, and his sister looked like she could have been at least 55. We had no idea if the stairs would end up causing them problems, so we played it safe and adopted one."

He was rather ... chunky.

"Don’t worry. Romeo’s sister was adopted at the same time by a very loving family who had just lost their dog a month before."

"At first, Romeo was extremely shy and reserved. He seemed unsure about everything he did, and didn’t make a sound. We didn’t even know whether or not he could bark until about a year after we took him home with us."

"That was the second thing we found out about him. The first was that he loves to PLAY!"

BALL!

"I'd throw a tennis ball down the hall and he’d be after it like a shot, bounding back to drop it in my lap for another round."

"The little guy had something weird going on with his feet."

"He had some odd brown markings on them when we first got him. The vet said it was due to a food allergy and recommended a special diet. The marks began fading soon afterward, and were gone months later."

First in his obedience class.

"About six months after we got Romeo, we noticed that he was limping a bit. We took him to the vet, who took some X-rays and found that Romeo had hip dysplasia and a herniated disk between his fourth and fifth vertebra. Remember earlier when I said we didn’t know he could bark? He hadn’t made a peep in all this time, nor did he let on that there was anything wrong other than a slight limp that had developed. The vet told us to have Romeo avoid stairs, so he became the King of Sheba, carried up and down the stairs at least ten times a day, with yearly X-rays to make sure his conditions weren’t worsening."

I want THIS tree for Christmas!

"Time passed, and things settled into a steady routine. Two walks in the morning, two walks in the evening, and lots of playing when we got home. Soon, he was back to a somewhat normal weight and exploring the neighborhood."

We welcome our new Corgi Overlord!

"About a year and a half after Dr. Woods told us about Romeo’s back, we noticed him limping again when he walked on the grass (he was fine on the sidewalks around our condo). It was odd, because he was just X-rayed five months before and there wasn’t anything wrong. When we took him back to the vet for more X-rays, we got the bad news. Romeo had cancer, and based on the X-ray (the head of his right rear femur was hollowed out at his knee, like an eggshell), Dr. Woods suspected aggressive osteosarcoma (bone cancer). There were no signs of it on his X-ray five months earlier."

"He recommended a specialist at VCA All-Care in Fountain Valley, and after two biopsies Romeo’s cancer was narrowed down to histiocytic sarcoma (a soft tissue cancer that attacked Romeo’s knee joint), rare in most dogs and unheard of in Corgis (the oncologist hadn’t seen a case in all the time he had been working at VCA)."

Romeo’s leg and belly shaved for the biopsy and ultrasound.

"The treatment that would give Romeo the best chance was amputation of the leg, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy. My wife and I agreed to the treatment, had the surgery done, began rounds of chemotherapy, acupuncture, and the waiting game that would dominate our next two years."

This whole ‘standing on three legs’ thing sure does tire a dog out.

"Romeo bounced right back after surgery, hopping along on three legs the next day and looking much happier than we had seen him in months. The removal of his leg ended his pain. We found out later that his femur had actually fissured down the middle. Remember, Romeo hadn’t made a peep and only
limped when he was on uneven ground, and he was looking to make up for lost playtime. The only thing that caused him trouble was using the bathroom, but once he got the balance thing down everything was smooth sailing."

The only thing Romeo likes more than fetch is fetch on the beach!

"The acupuncture was performed by Dr. Woods, and was used to combat any nausea from the chemotherapy, as well as alleviate his back and hip problems. It worked amazingly well. Romeo never suffered any nausea, and his back and hip issues have gotten better, even with the extra pressure from only having one rear leg.

"Me and the leash holder, out for a stroll."

"In May of 2011, the oncologist at VCA pronounced Romeo to be cancer-free. No more X-rays, no more ultrasounds!"

"Just Romeo, a happy, fun-loving dog who wants nothing more than a game of fetch, belly rubs and the occasional piece of Sea Jerky."

* * * * *

Romeo, you've sure got a special family! What a lucky fella. Welcome to The Daily Corgi!

Video Biscuit: Makin' Stew!

2012-01-26T15:45:00.001-05:00

Lilu of Arizona

2012-01-26T03:01:00.026-05:00

Although Lilu has enough attitude for several pups, her folks Kat and Nick R. can't imagine owning any other kind of dog.

And THAT's why they call it Corgitude!

"Neither of us had ever owned a Corgi, but I always wanted one. Something about their big ears and short legs was just so cute and quirky to me, but it took watching the Japanese anime Cowboy Bebop to convince Nick how cool Corgis are!"

"I didn't really research breed behavior before we bought Lilu in April of 2009, and boy were we in for a treat when we realized how vocal and outspoken she is! She loves to talk and give her rump-shaking welcome when we get home. Every morning she "walks" me over to her food container and promptly sticks her nose in it then looks back at me to make sure I know where to feed her!"

"Nick and I have been married for four years; Lily's been our only child for nearly three of them. She knows she's the center of our little home for now, and I trust she will adapt once we add baby Randalls to the mix!"

"We've been renovating a house in Mesa, Arizona. I chronicle the transformation at indignantcorgi.com (so named because Corgis have oh so much attitude). Right now we've got two roommates, so Lilu and Arthas (our roommate's dog) are best buds, and Jack the Cat and Lilu tolerate each other."

Talk to the butt, buddy!

"Lilu loves food and going on walks, but only plays fetch when she feels like it. We're pretty sure she thinks of us as her small herd, always giving her signature Corgi sprawl (which was featured in the Corgi Butts blog calendar) in our doorway when we watch TV, to make sure she'll know if we leave. She is so intelligent and usually obedient (although she grumbles and harrumphs as she obeys the commands)."

"Our girl is such a delight!"

* * * * *

Welcome to The Daily Corgi, Lilu! We love furry rump-shakers here!

Sleepover!

It ain't easy being this gorgeous.

The End (and what an end it is!)

Marvelous Magic! Update!

2012-01-25T21:24:00.001-05:00

1/25/2012: Update on Magic's condition HERE!

*****************************

Magic is a very cool dog.

Not only is he a Corgi (special enough!), he's also a service dog extraordinaire who goes everywhere with his Mom Amy, helping her with seizures and mobility issues. (The adoring public and extra belly rubs part is pretty sweet too). As for Amy, well ... there's no two ways about it: she's a Corgi person extraordinaire!

Those of us who frequent Corgi Nation on facebook know Amy's dedication to helping Corgis. She's tireless, all heart and all in. Her diligence has earned my affectionate respect. Which is why I'm pleased to step up on her behalf -- and Magic's.

Back in December, this bundle of energy injured his back. In spite of rest and confinement to a couple of rooms in the house, Magic still doesn't know where his rear feet are and is weak in his back end. Amy has agonized over it, as any of us would. He's far more than a service dog, he's her heart dog.

Magic's doctors say surgery would help him. That he could regain function and be back to his visits on the beach, flights to see Amy's parents, playing with his Corgi "brother"... back to living out LOUD, the way Corgis were meant to!

Here's the good news: together we can make that happen.

CorgiPals has set up a Helping Paws Campaign for Amy and Magic, so he can have his surgery on Thursday the 19th. That's less than a week away. Enough time for Corgi Nation make things right again for these heroes, to give them the kind of hope they create for others all the time.

Are you with me?

Pop over to Magic's campaign page now and give a little -- or give a lot -- give whatever you can. If you can't give money at this time, please give your support, your love, your prayers, your well wishes ... it all matters. It all counts.

Let's make some Magic happen today!

Wednesday Adoptable: Oscar of Kansas!

2012-01-25T03:01:00.006-05:00

Hello ladies.

Look at your couch.

Now look at me.

Look back at your couch. Now look back at me.

Sadly, your couch appears to lack a little something ...

….perhaps it is me?

Let me introduce myself, my name is Oscar and I am an eight year-old Corgi. I have recently retired from a long career in securities (poultry security that is), and I find myself looking for that next great adventure.

You will find that much like the Prince Charming of your childhood, I am gentle and adoring and give fabulous kisses. Although I cannot father any puppies for you, I want nothing more than to sit at your feet and to look adoringly into your eyes (although I find a stuffed chicken does help pass the time while you are out). You will feel safe knowing that I am on guard and will alert you of any possible danger with my low and melodious bark. I think you will agree it is more of a “boof” than a bark.

I am sure that you will find me easy to live with. I am house-trained. I have excellent table manners and am not bothered by having company when I eat. In fact, I am currently living with a very pushy young female Corgi who gets a firm correction when she tries to eat out of my bowl while I am still eating. But I don’t take it personally, youth will have its follies.

As the best relationships are built on honesty, I must tell you that two years ago (2009) I was already showing signs of my future life of leisure (dragging a paw). And about six months ago, after a fierce battle in which I saved my chickens from a hungry neighbor-dog, I found that my normal swagger was looking more like a drunken sailor. I am at risk for Degenerative Myelopathy (I carry two mutated genes) and am currently using a cart to help me get around. My medical advisors are exploring various options regarding the best stuff to put in peanut butter (i.e. pills).

I come with this fine set of wheels which are on loan from CorgiAid. You can be confident that I will never go running around on you ... you can trust me.

Wouldn’t you like to make sure that I enjoy the life I would like to become accustomed to?

I am available for adoption through Corgi Connection of Kansas: all inquiries should be directed to my press agent Gretchen Anderson (who penned this fabulous post) at ganders.mail@gmail.com.

No pushing, line forms to the left!

Video Biscuit: New Wheels!

2012-01-24T16:15:00.001-05:00

Billy Corgin of Nebraska

2012-01-24T03:01:00.051-05:00

Billy Corgin is a true rock and roller, an attention-grabbing charmer with a mind of his own and the life (or instigator) of every party he's ever attended.

I AM the party, people!

This fuzzbutt -- appropriately named for another rock and roller (yes, that Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins) -- is the first dog ever for his Mom Kim V., who says he's worth every minute of the 15 hour trip she and her hubby made last Summer to get him.

"Billy was the last of his litter to find a home. We were told it was because one of his ears wasn't "coming up" like his brothers and sisters. We thought it just made him cuter!"

"Billy is always up for a game of fetch and will often nudge us in the leg with his green ball until we agree to his terms. He has a very spacious kennel (designed for big dogs) that he sleeps in, and hangs out in while we're at work. Recently we've let him on the bed if one of us takes a nap, but he's usually too pounce-y to tolerate it."

I know I heard the b word!

"He is an open-minded (mouthed?) dog who likes just about everything we've given him to try, but his favorites are peanut butter, pumpkin (the canned stuff) and bacon. We didn't intend to teach this, but whenever he hears a peanut butter jar lid being removed, Billy runs and sits in his kennel, waiting expectantly for a PB-filled Kong toy."

"The only toy he's had since day one is fun ball, and that's his ball of choice when we play fetch. He doesn't quite get "drop it"... he'll set his ball down (and continue staring at it), but as soon as you move your hand to grab it, he picks it back up again."

"He loves the squeaky stuffing-free raccoon and fox toys but tears them apart almost right away. He's a chewer!"

"We've taught him "Where's Mommy/Daddy?" and "Go get Mommy/Daddy!", to which he will frolic off and "find" that person by running up to them and giving a "gaRUFF!". He also will lay down in our hallway against the closed bathroom door when he hears the shower running, just waiting for us to finish up and come play with him!"

"Billy is a wonderful high-fiver. He never fails to make us smile and laugh!"

* * * * *

Welcome to The Daily Corgi, Billy Corgin! You are definitely rockin' the blog!

Video Biscuit: Hershey and Holly!

2012-01-23T15:45:00.001-05:00

Spark Plug of Florida

2012-01-23T03:01:00.005-05:00

I am Spark Plug! I was born July 14, 2010 in Green Cove Springs, Florida.

I found my Dad in September when I was 8 weeks old.

Dad likes to take me everywhere with him and I love car rides!

From the beginning, I slept like a typical Corgi.

I have always been a happy dog

I had REALLY big ears that I had to grow into.

We live in Florida so we go to the beach a lot!

Someday Dad will take me for a ride

I have been honored to be the raffle ticket mascot for the Florida Corgi picnic that benefits CorgiAid.

And humbled again to be selected to be on the logo for 2011.

I love to do charity work with Dad and we grabbed the opportunity when I got my berries removed. We auctioned my cone of shame and in 46 hours we raised $1430 for CorgiAid!

I am forced to wear stupid head gear sometimes to amuse Dad.

Like most corgis, I LOVE FOOD!
Especially bacon!

I am a champion squirrel chaser and I scan my hood continuously for intruders.

Flossing is important to our health!

The End.

Game Day: Ginja!

2012-01-22T12:29:00.001-05:00

A Corgi after my own heart. Go PATRIOTS!

Murray: Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-22T00:22:00.000-05:00

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Mad About The (Kitten) Girl!

2012-01-21T20:47:00.002-05:00

I thought I'd update the blog with Kitten Girl's status, as so many of you have been kind enough to ask about her in the past few weeks and I've received such generous assistance in getting her the care she needs.

I can say with confidence that Kitten Girl has recovered from the crisis she was in at the beginning of the month, though it has been a slow recovery. Getting her to eat much of anything was a challenge (insert here a mental picture of my refrigerator filled with dozens of cans of barely touched cat and baby foods in plastic baggies). The "smorgasbord" syndrome they call it, which is ironic because there's a whole lot of food but very little actual dining.

And I thought she was finicky before!

Her diagnoses at this point are common ones for senior felines: hyperthyroid (getting harder to control but manageable for the moment with medication), a touch of feline dementia (thank you Feliway for quelling the nighttime yowling!), moderate arthritis (just started Adequan injections) and kidney insufficiency. Which is a nice way of saying that her kidneys have begun a decline that can be slowed but not reversed. And yes, that means what I'm afraid to say out loud what it means.

Under the guidance of my excellent vet Dr. A., Kitten Girl is on a regimen of daily at home sub-cutaneous fluids (never thought I could deal with needles -- amazing what you do for your kids), a stomach acid reducer (pretty sure this is why she wasn't eating), ear gel (the easiest "give") for thyroid, a couple of different medications for nausea (hello needles!) and arthritis (just one needle a week, phew). Oh, and there's some tasty treats that have a protective medicine for the kidneys in them too.

It all sounds very complicated -- and by now my old girl has her own medicine cabinet -- but it honestly isn't. The routine is the routine. She's back to loving her walks in the hall and supervising the ladies who hang in the lobby, she retains the ability to leap chairs and the bed in a single bound, and has begun approaching me with purrs again.

I sure missed those purrs!

I have to groom her now (brushes and baby wipes) -- which is fine. There's much less of her than there used to be, though she still cracks the ten pound mark. Every bit of TLC I give her feeds me too. Not everyone is lucky enough to have their cat as many years as I've had mine; there are many who would have loved more years with their own but didn't get them. Ours are the problems of a lucky human and cat, really. I am by turns grateful and greedy for more days, thrilled to see the light in her eyes again but haunted by the knowledge that there are far fewer days ahead of her than behind. It's a cliche because it's true: they never ever really do live long enough, do they?

Kitten Girl is teaching me patience, humility, and how to puree precisely the foods she likes in a blender. I suppose I had to learn these things eventually :).

Laurie

Saturday Smiler: Ricky!

2012-01-21T03:01:00.001-05:00

Isn't it funny how Corgis look even better against snow? As if that was even possible!

Thanks for the woof-a-liciousness, Christopher J.

Video Biscuit: Oliver!

2012-01-20T16:30:00.001-05:00

Have skis, will travel ...

Gus of Pennsylvania

2012-01-20T03:01:00.004-05:00

In June, only a few short weeks after his 10^th birthday, Liz and Steve M.'s wonderful Corgi Fred went to the bridge. When they told his breeder of his passing, they learned that their other Corgi (Lily's) breeder had a nine month-old male she was hoping to place.

"Lily missed Fred and we thought it might be good for her to have a companion as soon as possible. Just five days after losing Fred we went to “look” at the pup, and out came a wild puppy who dashed up to Lily to see if she would play. The answer was a resounding no, but the way he backed down and treated her with respect told us all we needed to know. Of course we went prepared so he came home with us that day."

"On the way home after many texts with suggestions for names flying back and forth with our daughter, we decided on Gus as his new name. His sweet disposition and goofy sense of humor helped heal our broken hearts."

"We boat every weekend on the Chesapeake Bay in Northern Maryland. We worried about how he would take to boating, but he fit in so well it was hard to believe he’d never done it before. Maybe Fred had whispered something to Gus about all the adventures he would have."

"I decided to take him to obedience class which he absolutely loved. He did very well, though he still needs a bit of work on not surging at heel. He tends to get very excited. We are signed up for the next level since it was so good for both of us."

"Gus loves going in the car, especially if it’s going to the park for a walk. He loves to snuggle with us on the sofa in the evenings. He and Lily get along beautifully. She tends to take a motherly/aunt role and has shown him how things work around the family."

"Gus has a sweetheart named Trude (a fellow Daily Corgi alum), whom he met via facebook."

"When Gus saw her picture it was love at first sight. She is such a lovely lady of a Corgi and so much like Lily in looks and temperament he felt he knew her from the start. He is planning to meet her in person very soon and looks forward to it!"

The fetching Trude!

"Losing Fred was a terrible shock, but Gus really has helped fill the huge hole in our lives."

Video Biscuit: Chase!

2012-01-19T16:15:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Penni and Susan for the Cardi-liciousness!

Hunter, Pippin and Montana

2012-01-19T03:01:00.004-05:00

Hi! I‘m Caryl B.G. and I’m beyond honored to be a guest blogger on today’s Daily Corgi. The Daily Corgi is my daily smile!

I’d like to introduce you to the pack of three Corgis that live with us here at Pembroke House. (I am Irish by decent and we named our house like they do).

The first time I saw a Corgi I wanted one, but I traveled for business and for horse shows so I couldn’t be home enough. I had to wait. In 2008 I said goodbye to horse showing because of health issues and sadly sold my horse. By 2009 I knew I had to fill that hole in my heart and I knew the only thing that might fill that big a hole was a Corgi! After badgering my husband (who said he wanted nothing to do with this but I could get one), I found my perfect puppy. Enter Hunter …

We picked him up at 8 weeks. From the moment I saw Hunter, that hole in my heart was filled.

Better yet, Hunter became his da’s dog immediately. Score!

After all, how can you resist that smile?

As a puppy his favorite pastime was destroying balls of all sizes.

But his favorite thing is doing things with his da at our cabin and exploring in Essex, New York.

At Lake Champlain.

A not so favorite thing is swimming. Not all Corgis are water dogs!

Since I work from home, Hunter and I have lots of time together. Hunter is a typical Corgi who loves to play and eat. But his ultimate dream is to be a Corgi model.

In February 2010 I told Sean I thought Hunter needed a playmate. The resounding answer was “No!”, but I am not a redhead for nothing …

... so in May 2010 Pippin joined us.

Hunter welcomed Pippin. They hang out with me in my office all day long, mostly sleeping unless there’s a mention of noms or a Corgi Snout-About.

And Pippin loves his da.

He is a character. He loves to hide and we often find him under his bed or sleeping in the expensive leather chairs!

Of course – where else would a Corgi sleep?

He thinks he’s pretty hot stuff. And by the way, he’s madly in love with Violet Ellen of CorgiPals fame.

Hunter and Pippin love to chase an old longe whip I had from my horse days. We call it Corgi fishing!

And they love the snow.

Occasionally they argue ...

... but mostly they are best buddies who are always looking for noms.

So there’s always room for one more, right? Via facebook, I got involved in the group Corgi Rescues of America. They are a dedicated group of people saving as many Corgis as they can and giving them new lives. It was there I found Montana. He was being fostered by Neal and Jen and they were looking for his forever home.

Once again my heart was lost. No matter that he was in Wyoming (I know, Montana from Wyoming -- pretty funny) and I was in northern New York.

This was my Corgi.

Hunter and Pippin told Santa they wanted another brother for Christmas.

After a few weeks of trying to work out transport, Mary, another Facebook friend, told us she would drive to get Montana and bring him to me.

From Michigan to Wyoming to New York -- that’s a big heart.

He settled right in. And his name quickly became Tanner.

They all sleep in my office ...

... and together we go on regular Corgi Snout-Abouts.

Tanner, who arrived in early December, was my Christmas Corgi, made possible by the huge hearts of others whom I’d never met. Talk about the power of social media!

And Tanner says thanks to all of you out there who rescue, foster, donate, care ...

... and believe.

Video Biscuit: Yuki!

2012-01-18T15:45:00.002-05:00

SQUEAK ALERT!

Wednesday Adoptable: Cary Grant

2012-01-18T03:01:00.005-05:00

Cary Grant is an energetic and friendly six year-old male Corgi. He was found as a stray, and the shelter called the rescue folks with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of the Rockies, who showed up for him.

Cary Grant had to be neutered, he got his teeth got cleaned, and the Rescue gave him a much needed bath. Buffed and fluffed, this is one handsome boy. He's a sweetie who loves children and is OK with other dogs, but hasn’t really seen any cats. So he may or may not like them ... no way of knowing quite yet!

Did I mention that he's very, very friendly?

To inquire about Cary Grant, currently living in Colorado, please e-mail Lynne: copwcrescue@gmail.com.

Rescues Rock!

LOL, Corgi-fied!

2012-01-17T15:45:00.001-05:00

via I Can Has a Hotdog

Mickey of Connecticut

2012-01-17T03:01:00.006-05:00

Of all the Corgi people I've ever met via the blog, Mickey's Mom Kiara O. is one of the most enthusiastic. She adores her Corgis, she loves other peoples' Corgis, and she's a proud, card-carrying member of Corgi Nation.

Honestly, she's a total tickle.

"My Mickey is the biggest couch potato you'll ever meet" writes Kiara. "I come home and he doesn't even bother to go to the door. There is no way I or anybody else can interrupt his sleep."

"Mickey is a beautiful, gentle dog. He's great with people, including kids, other dogs, even cats. His facebook page is welcoming new friends (hint hint), but his heart is already taken by Anne Martin."

"On his "time off" he enjoys bullying his brother Max, who he chases everywhere and tries to eat his food." Like most Corgis, "Mickey loves food and begs for it. He'll do about anything for people food."

"He loves toys too, and devours them in seconds."

"My boy looks like a teddy bear. I love his drummies!"

"Mickey is a Daddy's boy; when I hug his Dad he always barks at me."

"He is the biggest lap dog and I love dancing with him. He hates walks. You literally have to run after him to get him to walk."

"You'll never meet a lazier couch potato than Mickey!"

Welcome to The Daily Corgi, Mickey! You're all kinds of woof-tastic, handsome!

Video Biscuit: Harry & Crew!

2012-01-16T15:45:00.003-05:00

Nobody gives a broom the what-for like a Corgi!

Mabel of Ohio

2012-01-16T03:01:00.005-05:00

Heather L. writes "Six month-old Mabel came into our lives in January of 1999. She was a gift to my then 10 year-old son from friends because she wasn't getting along with their older Pembrokes. She was a horse show dog that my son played with every time her owners came to town, and they felt she’d be happier with our family. Mabel got along very well with our tolerant Golden Retriever and quickly charmed her way into our hearts with her full-speed-ahead approach to life."

"My son took her to 4-H obedience classes for two Summers. Although Mabel loved working in obedience, the 4-H shows were not my son’s favorite activities, and he readily allowed me to take over her training in January of 2001. We took agility classes and competed a little in Canine Performance Events (CPE). In the Fall, following a minor injury, I had her hips x-rayed and was told she had hip dysplasia and should cut back on her activities, except for walks."

"Retirement was not what Mabel had in mind, so we continued with some light obedience training on and off for several years. In 2004, we discovered APDT rally, which Mabel enjoyed tremendously. She earned great scores and many titles (in AKC rally, too), including the APDT Rally Champion Extraordinaire in 2007, at the time the highest title offered by APDT."

"Along the way, I learned a lot about training. Mabel has always been very wary of other dogs and tended to be reactive. With the help of a wonderful obedience instructor and advice from the many friends I met at the APDT trials, I learned to build both her skills and confidence using positive reinforcement. She is great fun to train, though we can only repeat an exercise a couple of times. Otherwise, she figures she's done it wrong and offers a new behavior. This has provided much entertainment!"

"In 2001, Parker (another Pem) joined our family, and his quiet, confident demeanor set a good example for Mabel. In 2005, Sonny (yes, another Pem) came along. He was a goofy youngster, would chase Mabel and even pull her ears, and she was surprisingly tolerant of him. We lost our sweet Parker in 2009. Young Dexter (of course, a Pem) flew in from California in June of 2010 and brought us back to the joys of three dogs. Mabel likes her ears rubbed and her neck scratched, but she's very happy to let the male dogs be the cuddlers while she monitors the house and the neighborhood."

"We tried sheep herding, but my lack of knowledge and confidence made it difficult. While she was laid up with a broken toe, I decided to pursue herding with Parker (who loved herding and was very tolerant of my mistakes) and stick with rally with Mabel. She did earn her Pembroke Herding Certificate at an instinct test several years later."

"When the obedience and rally venue of C-WAGS started up in 2007, Mabel and I found more skills to learn and she earned more titles there too."

"In the Spring of 2009, while I was puzzling out some agility maneuvers with my young dog, I began practicing them with Mabel. She never showed any problems with her hips, which I'd had X-rayed several times over the years, and they showed no changes. She returned to the agility ring, jumping 4 inches (no full-size contact equipment), and earned a couple of CPE agility titles."

"She made her AKC agility debut at age 11 at the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club National Specialty in 2009. She won the 4 inch Novice Jumpers with Weaves Preferred class!"

"In December 2009, Mabel developed a tumor in her right eye. The entire eye had to be removed, but she recovered quickly (the morning after the surgery, during her leash walk, she dragged me to the fence line, not to be deterred from her morning patrol. By February, she was back in the agility ring, and finished her AKC Novice Jumpers with Weaves Preferred title."

"She continued to dabble in CPE agility, C-WAGS rally, and APDT Veterans rally through 2010 (x-rays showed still no changes or additional arthritis in her hips, but surprisingly, she had arthritis in both shoulders and her right elbow and carpal joints). She attended one Teacup Agility trial and thoroughly enjoyed tackling the smaller-sized contact equipment)."

"In mid-January 2011, I noticed her starting to drag a hind toe occasionally and to wobble a bit when she turned. Her Degenerative Myelopathy DNA test showed her to be At Risk, so I had x-rays and an MRI done of her back to rule out other possibilities. All were clear, so we are assuming she has DM. In March she began twice weekly visits for physical therapy and a water treadmill workout."

"Mabel is now 13 and a half. She currently has very limited use of her hind legs. She drags herself most of the time. She does not like to use her cart unless she has a job of some sort. She loves to walk/run in her walkabout harness. She now wears a floatation jacket in the hydro tank and needs help getting the left hind leg forward each step. She has cataracts developing in her remaining eye, but still seems to see quite well. Her hearing is not very good, but now the thunderstorms don’t bother her very much."

"In October, she returned to the C-WAGS rally ring in her cart for the Zoom 1 class (no sits) and earned a perfect score and 2nd place."

"After her eye surgery, a friend referred to Mabel as an Indomitable Spirit. This is her most fitting title. She has let nothing stand in her way -- broken toes in 2005 and 2007, hip dysplasia, arthritis, an eye tumor, and the progressive loss of the use of her hind legs. She has been a wonderful training companion, tolerant of my training mistakes (yay -- new behavior, more food!), and a joy to take in the ring in all our fun pursuits. She sleeps a lot more now and plays a lot less, but is still the little spitfire I brought home from the horse show 13 years ago."

Mabel, on top of your string of titles you can now add Daily Corgi Dog of the Day! Welcome!

Mabel's accomplishments:

APDT, Association of Pet Dog Trainers (Rally):

ARCHEX, Rally Champion Extraordinaire; RLVX2, Rally Veteran Champion (achieved 2 times)

CPE Agility: Canine Performance Events (Agility):

CL1-R, Level 1 Standard; CL1-F, Level 1 Fun; CL2-H, Level 2 Handler

St Hubert’s (Obedience):

CD-H Companion Dog title

APDT, Association of Pet Dog Trainers (Rally):

ARCHEX, Rally Champion Extraordinaire; RLVX2, Rally Veteran Champion (achieved 2 times)

CPE Agility: Canine Performance Events (Agility):

CL1-R, Level 1 Standard; CL1-F, Level 1 Fun; CL2-H, Level 2 Handler

St Hubert’s (Obedience):

CD-H Companion Dog title

C-WAGS, Canine Work and Games (Obedience and Rally):

CW-OB3,Level 3 Obedience; CW-ZR2, Zoom 2 Rally (no sits); CW-Pro (rally), CW-ARF (class incorporating elements from Agilty, Rally, and Freestyle)

PWCCA, Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America:

PHC, Pembroke Herding Certified

AKC, American Kennel Club:

RA NJP, Rally Advanced, Novice Jumper with Weaves Preferred (jumps a lower height)

Corgi vs. Stick!

2012-01-15T15:01:00.002-05:00

No siree, this stick ain't bigger than me.

Ernie Corgi of Australia

Saturday Smiler: Llyr!

2012-01-14T13:53:00.000-05:00

Llyr is a regular visitor to The Daily Corgi. His fame has grown with a recent article on him in the Penn Vet newsletter!

Love ya, Llyr!

Time for a wee nap ...

2012-01-13T14:30:00.002-05:00

via The Daily Squee

Shelby of Arizona

2012-01-13T03:01:00.005-05:00

bamfoto

In early 2010, Tami R. was running agility with a friend (who happens to be Director of Arizona Cactus Corgi Rescue), and commented that she'd like to have a fast, confident dog to run agility with. "My agility dog Belle was a Hurricane Katrina rescue" Tami says "and we ran agility more for a confidence builder then for the real competition. Belle has improved with time, but continues to struggle with self-confidence issues and she has a fear of the judges and sometimes the obstacles, which is challenging."

About three weeks later I got an e-mail with a picture of a sweet little nine month-old Corgi female.

She had been turned in by her prior family because they didn’t have time for her and wanted to find her a home where she would be kept active and happy. I'd never had a purebreed dog before (she came with AKC papers) as I had always rescued mixed breeds, but she was just beautiful. So the “negotiations” with my husband began ... we had three dogs already and fourth was a tough swallow for him. There were criteria: Must be female: check. Must be crate trained: check. And finally, he got naming rights: check. She came home with us in March of 2010 and her AKC registered name is Cobra Jet Shelby Mustang -- call name Shelby. (Yes, my husband is a car nut!)

Shelby started to fit in with our existing pack. We have a Corgi-Basenji mix (Hamlet), and she bonded with him right away. Maximus, our Lab-mix, is so laid back he just puts up with her bossing him around. Shelby's BFF in the house is Belle, my Hurricane Katrina rescue.

Belle took on the “mom” role with Shelby right away. She'll play with Shelby and they wrestle constantly, but when Shelby goes too far, Belle will put her in her place and Shelby quickly understands that it’s time to stop.

I have never had a dog more food motivated than Shelby. She will do anything for food. Anything! She throws herself into the big dog food bag in our pantry when we aren't looking, just to get a nibble. She will steal food from the other dogs and even the cats when they aren't looking. This has made her very easy to train, but can make feeding four dogs at the same time a challenge. We have to watch the short one or she'll eat her food and everyone else’s too!

I began training Shelby in agility at around 11 months of age. She caught on quickly -- really quickly. She didn't have any of the fear I faced when I trained Belle. At her first competition race in June 2010 (at 13 months old) she qualified in a Jumpers run!

She is sooooo fast and it was quite an adjustment for me to run a confident dog like Shelby. When the 2010 fall season started, she began running the same agility schedule Belle ran.

Initially, we focused on DOCNA (Dogs on Course in North America), which is a terrific venue for a young dog (or a scared dog like Belle). Shelby advanced quickly to the Specialist level in DOCNA and after 15 months of competition and still two years of age, she has her:

Specialist Standard Merit Award (S-SSMA and 18 Specialist Qualifying runs or “Q’s”)
Silver Jumpers Merit Award (Silver S-SJMA and 26 Specialist Q’s)
Bronze Snakes and Ladders Merit Award (Bronze S-SSLMA and 7 Specialist Q’s)
Specialist Gamblers Award (S-SGA and 8 Specialist Q’s)
Specialist Trigility Award (S-STA and 3 Specialist Q’s).

She needs 2 more Q’s in the Gamblers races to obtain her Merit of Excellence Award. She competed in the 2011 DOCNA National Championships and she won the Standard and Jumpers events for her height class (8 inches) and she came in 2nd place nationally in her height class division at DOCNA’s signature event, the North America Challenge.

2011 DOCNA Championship Ribbons: This picture shows all the ribbons she won for Championships.

DOCNA Championships - North America Challenge Run - Sept 2011

She started running agility in AKC around the beginning of 2011 and by the end of the year, she had her:

Excellent Jumpers with Weaves title (AJP) (AKC Ex A JWW Title)
Open Standard (OAP) title
Open FAST (OFP) title

AKC -- Jumpers with Weaves Excellent A Title Run

She needs one more Standard Q at Excellent A to earn that title and has already accumulated 29 speed points towards her PACH (Preferred Agility Champion), which will be our next challenge.

Excellent A Standard Q (1st one!) - AKC November 2011

She ran her first Time 2 Beat race, which is a new event for AKC, in November and took 1st place with a Q! (She even stops after the first jump on this run and finds a snack on the course!)

AKC -- Time 2 Beat -- November 2011 -- 1st Place and a Q (and 10 points)

She also just started running USDAA (United States Dog Agility Association) in October of 2011, and has already achieved her Starters Performance Standard Title (SPS) and has a Tournament Q (and 1st place) in Steeplechase (Performance Speed Jumping).

USDAA Snooker Q Run - Dec 2011

Wow - she’s a busy Corgi!

We attended an Agility party in November, where there was a pet psychic. Shelby announced in the midst of a room of VERY experienced agility dogs (remember that she is only two years old) that she was a “winner” and she only liked blue and red ribbons (1st and 2nd place). She also told everyone that she liked her “thin figure” and thinks that other dogs that look like her (other Corgis) are fat. (Wow, kids say the darnedest things!) The psychic said she was VERY self confident ... you think!?

We love having her in our pack. She has my husband wrapped around her little paw and is just a joy to have in the house. She has been a blessing to Belle as well, as Shelby’s enthusiasm for all things fun and food have helped Belle continue to come out of her shell.

One of my agility friends said to me one day after a particularly excellent series of runs, “Do you know how lucky you are to have adopted her?” Yes I do -- I truly do!

Some days I feel like I stole her from someone, but I didn’t. I just rescued her and gave her the life she very much deserves!

Video Biscuit: Yuki! Stuffies ... squeakies ... you play NOW!

2012-01-12T19:00:00.001-05:00

Warning: this video will sound activate Corgis for miles around.

Video Biscuit: Waffles!

2012-01-12T13:30:00.000-05:00

Waffles sees the light!

Isn't this the perfect soundtrack for a romping Corgi puppy?

Rio, Ella and Uno of New York

2012-01-12T03:01:00.016-05:00

Colleen K. is a lucky young woman: she’s a second-generation Corgi owner. When she was just seven years old, her family acquired their first Corgi, Mac. Within a year, Alex arrived to make it a two-Corgi family. Five years later, the family welcomed a new puppy. Young Colleen named him Rio.

Sadly, the family said farewell to Mac and Alex in ’06 and ’08, but Rio is still going strong at age 11 ½. Colleen writes, “Rio is still his same old playful self as when he was a puppy. He will still chase the ball (although his hip dysplasia prevents him from playing to his heart's desire), bark at the vacuum and scarf a sandwich out of your hand with lightning fast speed. Rio is a bit of a challenge to photograph, as he is scared of cameras. As soon as he hears one turn on, or hears the shutter click, he's gone.”

The family adopted five-year-old Ella in 2008 to lift their spirits after losing Alex. Ella is a true princess, Colleen reports.

“She must have her way at all times, and was not overly enthusiastic about wearing a hat for Rio’s 11th birthday party! She has a deep aversion to doors and in true Corgi fashion, is passionate about food.”

Now our story finds Colleen a grown-up young lady with a boyfriend and an apartment of her own, two hours away from Mom and the Corgis. What to do? Enter Uno, a one-year-old rescue Colleen adopted in July of 2010.

“Uno has been making us laugh ever since [we got him]. He loves to cuddle more than any of the other Corgis, and will sit on your lap for hours on end if he is allowed. He loves to play 'stick' although he is not adept at bringing it back (yet).”

“Uno goes almost everywhere with us. He loves to go for rides, has a particular fascination with banana Runts, and for some reason loves the word 'ostrich.' Every time it is spoken he responds by either barking or running frantically around in circles.”

Uno loves to play with Rio and Ella when Colleen visits her Mom. “Uno idolizes Rio and loves to play fetch with him; even though he can't quite grasp the concept of the game, he still tries.”

“Ella isn't one to fetch but enjoys taking the ball from the other dogs.”

For now, Uno is enjoying being the only Corgi in his home with Colleen and her boyfriend, but she feels that in time he will be getting a sibling: “We would absolutely love another Corgi in the house.”

“Corgis have been an integral part of my and my family's lives for many years, and we couldn't imagine not having them around.”

What a beautiful extended family! Thank you, Colleen, for sharing your Corgi-filled life with us!

(Editor's note: Many thanks to Susan Mooring -- Trude's Mom -- for writing today's story).

Video Biscuit: Vicky!

2012-01-11T15:45:00.002-05:00

Wednesday Adoptables: Gimli, Buster Brown and Happy!

2012-01-11T03:01:00.005-05:00

Gimli of Tennessee is an active elder gentleman who enjoys other dogs, snuggling, chasing, snuggling, tug of war, eating, and of course, snuggling. He has little patience for the two-legged youngsters, so households with kids aged 10 +, please.

Despite a sensitive stomach, this Cardi boy loves treats and belly rubs and is constantly grinning at life. Having spent his entire life with only one family, he does have some separation issues when his family leaves, but when his people are home house he's glued to their side (or as close as the nearest La-Z-Boy). Despite his age (9 years) he has plenty of energy to run, chase and go for long walks. He follows basic commands and is an excellent leash walker.

Gimli's foster Mom Susan says he "smiles all the time and sends us into fits of hysterical laughter when he sometimes grumbles and snaps when we get him up for breakfast. He was staying in bed, thank you very much! Gimli is making himself at home here and it will be hard to let him go, but he deserves the best Corgi home possible."

He's on Petfinder and can be contacted through Middle Tennessee Corgi Rescue (mtcorgirescue@hotmail.com.

If you need a loyal companion for your future adventures (and some serious snuggling sessions), Gimli might just be the Corgi for you!

* * * * *

Happy is sweet little un-spayed female Corgi (mix?) found as a stray in Austin, Texas. Her foster Mom Amy says Happy "had no collar, no chip, and tests positive for heartworm, for which she is being treated.

She is completely submissive (the belly-up kind), herds, does not chew furniture, and is great with kids and other dogs (we have three)."

Happy was found on her own by the side of the road on North Loop in Austin. Efforts to find her owners have turned up nothing.

"We want to cast a line for finding Happy a forever home and think she could do great with a person with a quiet life, although she's been great with my loud one."

Happy would make a forever home truly happy indeed! If you'd like to contact Amy about this pretty gal, e-mail her at amydubu@yahoo.com.

* * * * *

Mr. Buster Brown is a six year-old red and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi looking for a new forever family. Currently living in Corinth, Texas, he is neutered, current on his shots, heartworm negative and on preventative. Buster is housebroken, leash trained, good with other dogs and older children.

Although he has the energy and playfulness of a three year-old dog, he needs a home without small kids where he'll get a lot of attention.

If this guy has caught your eye, contact his foster Mom Kay (with North Texas Corgi Rescue) for further information: kaybdaniel@aol.com.

Can you help me and KG?

2012-01-10T20:10:00.008-05:00

UPDATE 1/11/2012: The response has been phenomenal, thank you to everybody who has given and written with kind words of support! Kitten Girl will be going in for tests and treatment this Friday afternoon; I'll update her status over the weekend. NOTE: I have sent acknowledgements of donations to the e-mail addresses associated with PayPal accounts. If your "everyday" e-mail address is different from your PayPal one, please check. -- Laurie

Friends, I love to use my blog to help Corgis and their people. It's become a really important part of what I do with my days, and I look forward to many more years of the same.

It's much more fun to be the giver -- to ride into the sunset -- than to be the one in need, but I'm running out of viable options for affording my Kitten Girl's treatment, and today I'm asking for your help.

KG is sixteen now, and her age has really just begun to catch up with her in the last year or two. We could live with the beginnings of arthritis, the hyperthyroidism easily controlled with medication, but things have reached a critical point right now with her health -- and my finances.

I live on a small fixed income and have already spent hundreds on tests, medicine, vet visits, supplements. She's got a visit to the vet's again this Friday, at which point she'll be tested for kidney disease and more than likely go on sub-cutaneous fluids. No doubt there will be prescription food, more medicines, shots for advanced arthritis, more tests as her illness comes (hopefully) under some control, stuff for treatment at home ... The cost of these is pittance in exchange for her happiness and comfort, but I haven't got it. The money just isn't there.

The honest truth? I've never lost a pet before. I've had to leave one with an ex, but I've never had an animal companion in my life from birth to old age. Every time I've ever counseled someone through the blog or facebook page on the loss of their pet, I was doing so out of sympathy and intuition. I didn't know what it was like to see a beloved animal grow sick and pass.

All I can say is WOW -- so far it's hell. I always say none of us should have to go through these hard times alone, and right now I need my community. Now I know why it's true. I want to help my Girl live another few months (maybe even a year) comfortably, but I just can't do it on my own.

If you can help us, kindly send your donation via PayPal: thedailycorgi@gmail.com. I'm happy to provide proof of expenses in the form of receipts, if that's a stumbling block to giving. (No, I'm not a non-profit. I'm just a blogger :-). The blog pays me nothing except the small commission I get from purchases through the amazon.com search box, out of which I donate 25% to CorgiAid.

If you cannot give, please know that your prayers, thoughts, well wishes and love are also very welcome -- and VERY appreciated.

Yours in Corgi (and cat) love!

Laurie, aka Kitten Girl's Mom

Founder & Editor

The Daily Corgi

Video Biscuit: Billy Corgin!

2012-01-10T15:45:00.001-05:00

Trude of Maryland

2012-01-10T03:01:00.010-05:00

Daily Corgi reader Susan Mooring joins us today for an update on Trude, the five-year-old Pembroke who joined her family just six weeks ago and made her first appearance on the blog a few weeks later.

So ... Trude Alert!

"As Trude continues to weave herself into the fabric of our daily lives, Jim Cooke and I repeatedly ask ourselves how we got so lucky to find this gentle, loving spirit. Ann Phillips, co-owner with her husband Warren of Sunline Kennel, breeds for temperament and a soft expression, and Trude is proof of that!

Her manners are impeccable and her eyes are so expressive and loving.

Trude attracted the attention of a young male in Corgi Nation right away. Gus Maudlin spoke up right after she came home with us and now he and Trude are a devoted Facebook couple.

We are eagerly planning their first meeting.

She does show a will of iron in the heeling department, however. We’ve begun basic obedience classes, and she often flatly refuses to move. She takes the title “retired champion” very seriously!

Her favorite positions are the “Please rub my belly -- you know you want to” spread eagle and the “You don’t mind if I sleep in your favorite chair, do you?” snuggle.

Trude is so happy when she hears us waking up, she asks to get into bed with us, where she likes to lie still on her back and receive belly rubs. Generally, she is the quietest of Corgis, rarely barking and only making a low, appreciative growl of a “Barooo” when she’s about to get her breakfast. Then she’ll frap all around the bedroom until I’m ready to head downstairs with her, where she fixes me with the “It’s time to feed me” stare.

The most ladylike of Corgis, Trude has an elegant, asymmetrical swirl of white on the back of her red head, almost like a veil.

Trude is a devoted homebody, and wiggles with joy when we arrive back after an errand:

She bounds up the stairs like a gazelle!

We can’t imagine life without our Trude now, and she has us right where she wants us: wrapped around her lovely little paws!"

Brandelyn's Family Needs a Helping Paw!

2012-01-09T17:11:00.008-05:00

Brandelyn of Oklahoma is a service Corgi who made her Daily Corgi debut in March of last year.

She was her Mom Alysianne B.'s trusty sidekick, going with her wherever she went. And hey -- who wouldn't want a face like that around 24/7?!

As sometimes happens, rescue Brandelyn (Brandi) has since crossed the path of another dog who didn't have the benefit of a responsible human to teach him the ways of good citizenship. To put it bluntly, she was attacked. The other dog -- who wasn't a service dog -- was kitted out in gear to pass him off as a service dog.

Sad but true. Some people don't deserve to have a dog, do they?

Luckily Brandi survived the attack, but has had to confine her service activities to the home. Her fears are too much now for her to go out and continue the job she loved so much.

Brandi wants her Mom to be happy -- in typical Corgi fashion! -- and this means passing the service duties to another dog, one who can accompany Alysianne on her trips around town. The solution has come in the form of Geronimo, a handsome young Beauceron. He will assist her not only with the challenges of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) -- as Brandi did, but he's also training to assist Alysianne as a mobility, hearing alert, medical alert and response service dog!

Geronimo is growing fast and learning mobility work, which he can officially do beginning at (about) 18 months, or when his bones are done growing. He'll need a harness for that important work, and here's where we can make a difference for a fellow Corgi person.

In 8 months, Geronimo will be old enough to get his hips x-rayed as a precaution, and then begin adjusting to a light mobility harness. Alysianne needs some help affording the kind of custom made harness her new service dog will need. The cost, including shipping, is $320. Not a whole lot of of money for a bunch of people to scrape together, is it?

So what do you think -- can we do this for a Corgi Mom? Can we do it for Brandi, who wants to know her favorite human is happy and living her life to the fullest, even though she can't help her quite as much as she used to?

I think so!

Friends, I know this is an unusual request. But life throws us curve balls, and sometimes a curve ball is a call to step outside of our comfort zone. I consider Alysianne and Brandi (and by honorary extension Geronimo) a part of our Corgi Nation, so I think it's a great opportunity to put our pennies together and make a difference for one of our own.

If you agree, here's an easy way to donate to her mobility harness fund:

As always, no amount is too small. We are thousands strong. Let's use our numbers to make this special thing happen. Are you with me?

Hope so!

UPDATE at 9:30 PM (Eastern) 1/9: Goal has been reached! Thank you to everybody who gave!

Yours as always in Corgi Love,

Laurie

Diamond of Georgia

2012-01-09T03:01:00.002-05:00

Today I'm happy to feature the youngest blogger ever to guest post here on The Daily Corgi! Her name is Emily R. and she writes about her beautiful Cardigan at Team Diamond.

I'm sure you'll agree -- this girl and her lovely pup have a bright future in Corgi Nation.

Take it away, Emily!

My name is Emily and I am 6 years old. My puppy's name is Diamond and she will be a year old on February 20th.

Here is what she looked liked when she was very little.

Diamond's real name is Grangefield Lyberty Cracklin' Rosie Make me a SMile. We named her that because my mommy is CRAzY about Neil Diamond (and we needed a song that started with "C"), BOL ...

Diamond started her show career last August.

She was not too sure about it at first, but I think she's got the hang of it now.

When I get older, I want to be be a Junior Handler, and Diamond will be MY show dog.

Right now, we just have fun playing around the house with Uncle Norman and having a good time!

Real Men Love Corgis!

2012-01-07T11:37:00.003-05:00

If you haven't visited The Daily Corgi's facebook page lately, check it out! Right now there are dozens of readers' photos of the Men of Corgi Nation posted.

It is, if I do say so myself, quite a handsome sight.

Saturday Smiler: Gromit!

2012-01-07T03:01:00.000-05:00

Thanks, proud Corgi Dad Doug K.!

Video Biscuit: Goro in Slo-Mo!

2012-01-06T15:00:00.001-05:00

Is it me or is Goro even more fun in slow motion?!

Chubby Chibi-San Fuzzbutt of Arizona

2012-01-06T03:01:00.008-05:00

Chibi is a true ham for the cam. He'd love to be in every photo and does the Puss In Boots cute face perfectly, according to his Mom Lisa Z.

The List of Things Chibi Believes with All of His Big Corgi Heart:

* Everybody who comes to my house is there specifically to pet me.

* It's fun to wake up Daddy in the morning by jumping on the bed and wrapping myself over his face and licking his ear.

* The angry bird is a cool toy! No wait ... its my favorite toy!

* It's worth waiting for the mini human in the chair to throw food on the floor.

* Sleeping upside down is completely natural.

* Foot rubs rule.

Chibi (aka "chibi-butt, butt head, bugger face") loves to sing. He's got quite the baroooo-itone! He's a barker, a cuddler, and he wags his little stub when he's happy.

This four year-old chunk of hunk has done a trial run for agility and seemed to enjoy it. His Mom thinks he'd be great at it, "if he would just listen."

What? A Corgi not listening?! We never see any of those here. :-)

Welcome to The Daily Corgi, Chibi! You're a STAR!

Ole Faithful!

2012-01-05T19:17:00.005-05:00

Have you heard the breaking news out of Montana about the heroic Ole?

AP Photo/Natasha Baydakova

As reported by The Billings Gazette, following the death of his Dad in an avalanche on Saturday, four year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi Ole "managed to dig his way out and then walk four miles on stubby legs" back to the motel where his family had stayed four days earlier ... "Ole’s survival and return are all the more amazing because Corgis are not large dogs."

Ole may not be a large dog, but he has a humongous heart and a handsome head full of glorious Corgi smarts. Bless him and his family. Deepest sympathies go out to them in the loss of one of their own.

NBC News has a video showing the heroic Ole here.

View Ben Zavora's video chronicling Ole's trip here.

Video Biscuit: Beach Day!

2012-01-05T15:11:00.002-05:00