Beauchamp Cardigan Welsh Corgi

1. Auflage 2012
ISBN: 978-1-59378-718-9
Verlag: CompanionHouse Books
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 155 Seiten

Reihe: Comprehensive Owner's Guide

The dwarf herding dog from Cardiganshire, Wales, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi-the Corgi with a tail-derived as a hard-working cattle dog capable of handling an unruly herd. Cardigans are fearless and industrious, devilishly smart, and full of spirit. Although low in stature, the Cardigan is not a small dog and indeed acts as if he's the tallest guy in the room. Canine expert and dog show judge, Richard G. Beauchamp shares his insight into this down-to-earth, enduring working dog, whose unflagging work ethic is only rivaled by his devotion to his people. The history chapter discusses the origins and legends associated with this enchanted dwarf canine, followed by chapters describing the breed's many special traits and desirable physical features as outlined in the official breed standard. New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with photographs of handsome adults and puppies. In all, there are over 135 full-color photographs in this useful and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training will help the reader better mold and train into the most well-mannered dog in the neighborhood. The extensive and lavishly illustrated chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, preventing and dealing with parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical dogs, breeders, or kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Beauchamp, Richard

Leseproben

People are attracted to the Cardigan Corgi for many reasons. The Cardigan has a big-dog personality in a moderately sized package—a package that is ideal for most average homes. Other owners rave about the Cardigan’s intelligence and his ability to understand and respond to those he loves. The breed seems to have a built-in mechanism that makes it an especially devoted companion and protector of children. His acute hearing helps him detect unfamiliar noises and alert the family to anything out of the ordinary. The Cardigan has all of these wonderful personality traits, plus a range of beautiful colors and markings from which to choose.

All of these characteristics are valid in assessing the merits of the breed. However, they alone do not constitute reason enough for anyone to rush out to buy a Cardi. The prospective owner must do a little self-evaluation as well.

This is not a breed that can be put outdoors in a pen and attended to only when the owner has the time or notion to do so. A Cardigan can be a great companion and close friend for his entire lifespan, but only if the owner is ready to invest the time and patience required to bring the dog to his full potential.

Just about all puppies are cuddly and cute; Cardi pups are especially so. Their little “one-earup-and-one-ear-down” waggy-tail personalities make them truly irresistible. Puppies are the subject of calendars and greeting cards printed around the world each year. It is important to realize, however, that a Cardigan Corgi puppy will spend only a very small part of his day sitting around looking cute. The far greater part of the day will be spent investigating, digging, chewing, eating, relieving himself and needing to go outdoors and then immediately insisting that he be let back in.

STANDING HIS GROUND

Cardis are inherently dog-friendly, getting along with other dogs and other pets, but they will not tolerate aggression on the part of other dogs. A Cardigan will not back down to a bully, no matter how large and imposing that bully might be. A leash and a collar are absolute musts any time your Corgi is not in your home or within the confines of your fenced-in property.

MORE THAN SIZE

There are many differences between the two Corgis. Physically the Pembroke’s ears are medium-sized and taper slightly to a rounded point, while the Cardigan’s ears are larger and more rounded at the tip. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is slightly larger and more heavily built than the Pembroke. Generally the Pembroke’s feet point directly forward while the Cardigan has a more bowed front, much like that of the Basset Hound, and the feet point outward to some degree. The Pembroke is the more extroverted of the two, while the Cardigan is friendly but more reserved with strangers. The most obvious difference is that the Pembroke has a natural bob or docked tail whereas the Cardigan has a full-length tail.

Puppies experience just as many of the aches and pains and sniffles that the human child does on the way to maturity. It is over a shorter time span, but, even at that, all too often the many needs are not realistically considered before adding a dog to one’s household. It takes time and planning to fulfill the day-to-day needs of a dog, whether puppy or fully grown adult. This says nothing of the time required for the many lessons a Corgi must be taught by his master before the dog understands what he may and may not do. Some breeds can be considered “pushovers” in that they seem continually ready, willing and able to respond to their owners’ commands. Not the Cardigan! A Cardi not only has to know that you are serious about what you ask him to do but he also may have to think about it a bit as well.

The bottom line is that your Cardigan will depend entirely upon you for everything he needs. If you are not ready to accept that responsibility, you are not ready to own a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. It will only result in sheer drudgery and frustration for you, and an unhappy situation for the dog.

ARE YOU READY FOR A CARDIGAN?

Failure to understand the amount of time and consideration that a well-cared-for dog requires is one of the primary reasons for the number of unwanted canines that end their lives in animal shelters. Given proper consideration beforehand, the purchase of a dog can bring many years of companionship and comfort as well as unconditional love and devotion that no other animal can match. Before any person brings a dog into his home, he should give very serious consideration to three extremely important questions:

Rachel Stoltzman, age five, with her Cardi, Libbie, age nine months. Cardis and children can develop a special relationship based on trust and good clean fun!

Although not a water dog by nature, the Cardi will dive right in to spend time with his favorite children.

1. Does the person who will ultimately be responsible for the dog’s day-to-day care really want a dog?

The children may desperately want a dog; however, will they be doing more than just playing with the dog once he arrives? Pet care can be an excellent way to teach children responsibility, but it should not be forgotten that, in their enthusiasm to have a puppy, children are likely to promise almost anything. It is what will happen after the novelty of owning a new dog has worn off that must be considered.

In many active families, the ultimate responsibility for the family dog often falls on one person. Who will this person be? Can this person really handle it and does he or she really want to be responsible for more duties?

2. Does the lifestyle and schedule of the household lend itself to the demands of proper dog care?

There must always be someone available to see to a dog’s basic needs: feeding, exercise, coat care, access to the outdoors when required and so on. If you or your family is gone from morning to night or if you travel frequently and are away from home for long periods of time, the dog still must be cared for. Will someone willingly be present to do so? If not, are you prepared to pay the costs of frequent boarding for your dog while you are gone?

SAVE THE “WALES”

The Corgi breeds’ debut as show dogs was less than auspicious and it is to the credit of those who championed the cause of the little working dogs from Wales that the two breeds survived at all. When the highly respected British dog man George Raper first laid eyes on the Corgis at a show, his only comment was said to be, “Drown the lot!”

DEVOTED WORKER

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi’s history details all the mental and physical characteristics that served to produce both a hard-working, efficient herding dog and a fine household companion. Generations of selection on that basis give us a dog that is happiest when given a job to do that can be performed for those he loves.

3. Is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi suitable for the individual or household?

Corgis are wonderful with well-behaved children, but, on the other hand, no dog should be expected to tolerate abuse just because the child knows no better. At the same time, an enthusiastic Cardi puppy or adult can unintentionally knock down and injure the toddler in a playful moment. Overall, though, Cardigans love kids and will adapt to be gentle around the young, the old and the infirm.

In addition to these three major questions regarding dog ownership, the prospective dog owner should strongly consider the specific peculiarities of his or her own lifestyle and household. All of this applies, whether the household is made up of a single individual or a large family. Everyone involved must realize that the new dog will not understand the household routine and must be taught everything he needs to know and do. This takes time and patience, and often the most important lessons for the new dog to learn will take the longest for him to absorb.

WHY A PURE-BRED?

There is no difference between the love, devotion and companionship that a mixed-breed dog and a pure-bred dog can give his owner. There are, however, some aspects of suitability that can best be fulfilled by the pure-bred dog.

Not all puppies will grow up to be particularly attractive adults, or they may appeal only to someone with very exotic tastes. If your picture of the ideal dog is a Greyhound, a Cardigan is not going to live up to that ideal, nor will the Great Dane fit into life in an apartment as easily as a Cardigan or another smaller breed.

Predicting what a mixed-breed puppy will look like at maturity is rather difficult. Size, length of coat and temperament can change drastically between puppyhood and adulthood and may be not at all what the owner had hoped. Then what happens to the dog?

In buying a well-bred Cardigan puppy, the purchaser will have a very good idea of what the dog will look like and how he will behave as an adult. Like other pure-bred dog breeds, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi has been bred for generations to meet certain specifications of looks and temperament. This does not mean that the Cardigan breed is the result of a giant “cookie cutter.” Naturally, there are differences within breeds just as there are differences from human to human. At the same time, the general character of a specific breed is far more predictable than that of a dog of unknown parentage.

THE FAMILY FLOCK

High-energy children that are running and being noisy when outdoors playing can easily awaken the herding instinct in an untrained or uncontrolled Corgi. When this happens, the Cardi may dash off after the children, attempting to herd them or even...