Showdog Saturday, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Wider head, smaller frame, more pointed ears

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The Cardigan Welsh Corgi

More narrow head, larger frame, rounded ears

Once again, it is Saturday and since I have not come even close to running out of dog breeds, I am checking out another one.  Isn't the internet great?  Alot of my information comes from the AKC site, as well as Dogtime.com and Dogbreedinfo.com. This time it is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, with a little bit about their cousin the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

Both types of corgi have descended from the Keeshond, Pomeranian, Schipperke and Swedish Vallhund.  The Cardigan is said to have come from Cardiganshire around 1200 BC while the Pembroke is said to have been brought by Flemish weavers to the Celts around 1100 AD. They were considered to be the same breed until a show judge decided they were too different and should be separate breeds.

The Pembroke has become more popular than the Cardigan.  I've definitely seen more of the Pembroke breed so sounds true to me.  I was told the easy way to remember which is which is by the tail; the Pembroke "broke" it's tail off.  They do usually have docked tails, at least here in the U.S.

An interesting story I came across on Dogtime went as follows:

According to Welsh legend, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi sprang from the lairs of fairies and elves!

As the legend goes, one day two children were out in the fields tending to their family's cattle when they found a couple of puppies. The children thought they were foxes, but recognizing something different about them, bundled them up and took them home. Their parents immediately saw that the pups were not foxes, but dogs, and told their children that the pups were a gift from the fairies that lived in the fields. The fairies used them to pull their carriages and sometimes ride into battle.

As proof that Pembrokes were indeed the mounts of fairies, the parents pointed to the marks on their backs where the fairy saddle had been placed on their shoulders. The children were delighted and cherished their pups. As they grew, the dogs became treasured companions and learned to help the children take care of the family's cattle.

Interesting note; Queen Elizabeth has had corgis throughout her reign and the British royalty have kept them for the last 70 years.  

I've seen a surprising number of corgis at agility trials.  They are really active little guys and love to learn so agility works great for them.

They were bred to herd, with a low profile to help keep them out of kicking range. They use barking and nipping to push the herd more than physical position. 

They are also great watch dogs because they are vocal and alert.  They are a bit stubborn and need to be trained early to respect leadership.  A consistent calm hand and daily walks go a long ways toward keeping these guys happy.

Happy Halloween with the Pet Parade

Happy Halloween!

I don't get around to dressing my dogs up for Halloween. They don't care for it and I'm usually pretty busy by now. So here is my guest dog, Scooby, and her mom, Velma. Hope you have a fun day!

We're joining the Pet Parade blog hop 

hosted by Rascal and Rocco
Co hosted by Bionic Basil, Barking From The Bayou, and Love is Being Owned by a Husky

Thoughtless Thursday, Windy Wyoming

I got caught out without my good camera so these are on my iPhone.  This is the historical bridge by Fort Laramie, the fort itself.  We're actually a little piece of history.  Fort Laramie was a stop on the Pony Express and also had a couple of Indian (Native American) Treaties signed here.  You can still go visit and tour the old fort.

Chris LeDoux was right, we have lots of blue sky.  This photo was NOT edited in any way; that's how blue the sky was.

Can you see the last of the gold leaves?  It was breezy so I figured I'd better take whatever pictures I could right then because by the end of the day, the leaves would be all gone!

Another view of the leaves and the blue, blue sky.

And the gold fields.  A little irrigation pond on the edge of the fort.  The sun made this sky look less blue, but still very pretty.

And Sera's windblown look, to demonstrate how breezy it was.  In other parts of the country, this would be considered windy, but here in Wyoming, this is just a breeze.  Windy is 50 miles per hour!

This is the Thoughtless Thursday blog hop with Ruckus the Eskie, Love is being owned by a Husky, and Barking From the Bayou.

Wordless Wednesday, {52 Snapshots of Life}, Week 44, Scary

Scary!!!!!

Sort of.

Today, we're joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop sponsored by BlogPaws! 

Tuesday Tails, Aussie Style

 

 

 

Today is Tuesday so here is another edition of Tuesday Tails.  I love the Black Dog Animal Rescue located in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  They have several programs which really seem to make difference in helping homeless pets.  BDAR has this mission statement:

 

The mission of Black Dog Animal Rescue is to provide homeless animals across Wyoming with guaranteed safe and secure placement, promote the use of proven life-saving programs in our communities, and advocate for animal welfare.



 

This post is about a program they have that helps find homes for pets that need to be rehomed without them having to go to shelters.  It's call the PASS program and here is what BDAR says about it.

 

 

Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (PASS Program) – For when you have to give them up.

Black Dog Animal Rescue is proud to announce the launch of a new program to assist community members who are forced into re-homing their dogs in finding an adoptive home without the stress and emotional toll of leaving their beloved companion pet in a shelter.

The PASS Program is a re-homing assistance program, which allows participants to take advantage of BDAR’s structure, outreach, online presence and mobile adoption drives to find an adoptive home for their qualifying dog. Additionally, animals placed through the PASS program benefit from BDAR’s returned adoption guarantee, meaning thy will never end up in a shelter, even if the adoption does not work out. It is not an owner surrender program; participating pets must stay in their current home during the period of time they are participating in the rehoming assistance program.

In an attempt to achieve its mission, and provide life-saving programs which prevent the unnecessary euthanasia of pets in shelters, BDAR is offering this program to the public so as to help reduce the number of dogs entering our local shelters. Resources in those shelters can then be used to assist other animals, for whom the program is not an option.

To qualify for participation in the PASS rehoming assistance program, dogs must meet the following minimum criteria:

 

- Must have proof of current rabies vaccination

 

- Cannot be exhibiting aggressive behavior and must pass an interview with a BDAR representative

 

- Must be allowed to stay in the current home until an adoptive home is found

 

- Cannot be suffering from an unmanaged or untreated health condition

 

Program participants must pay a $50 non-refundable enrollment fee ($20 additional charge for pets who are not microchipped. BDAR will provide a microchip). Owners will be expected to complete a pet personality profile, and must bring the pet for an interview and photo shoot. The program is at-will and participants may withdraw at any time.

 

If you cannot keep your dog anymore, for whatever reason, but also cannot bring yourself to leave your pet in a shelter to an undetermined fate, then this program may be able to help. To apply, download the application and e-mail it as an attachment to bdar@bdar.org, or post mail it to Black Dog Animal Rescue, 3619 Evans Ave., Suite B.,  Cheyenne, WY 82001. Please read the application for a complete description of the program function and requirements.

 

 

Although having to give up a pet can be traumatic for pets as well as owners, this seems like a great resource to ease the situation in a safe way.

 

 

Check out this great organization at BDAR.org. 

 

 



The Tuesday’s Tails blog hop is hosted by Dogs N Pawz and Talking Dogs. This is the blog hop that features shelter pets. Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!

Showdog Saturday, the Belgian Malinois

Being Showdog Saturday, I decided to look up the Belgian Malinois.  I know they are grouped as shepherds and are closely related to the Belgian Shepherd and the Belgian Tervuren. However, I seem to see them in much different settings than the other shepherds.  Belgian Malinois are often confused with German Shepherds but are actually smaller and more refined in build. 

They are often used in the military, search and rescue and by police because of their intensity and abilities. In this photo, although the dog looks pretty intimidating, it is actually doing as it is trained.  If you've seen one of these demonstrations, you know that the second a command is given, the dog will back off.  It's really pretty awesome to behold!

You can really see the intensity in those eyes.  These guys are known for being very high drive and intense.  That's one of the reasons they are not a breed for everyone. Mals are very intelligent and active dogs so they do really well with a job!  First time dog owners or passive dog owners are likely to have behavior issues.

Some of the more notable members of the breed are Cairo, a member of Seal Team 6, and Max, also in the military, who had a movie released recently  by the name of "Max".  I haven't seen the movie although it is on my list.  I hear it is great!  

Belgian Mals are usually very sensitive dogs who don't respond well to harsh training.  The trainer/owner need to be confident and in charge but fair. First time dog owners often have trouble with knowing what "alpha" means. They do need socialization, even at a young age, and need lots of time for exercise and mental stimulation. They like to be included in the family instead of being left in kennels. Mals are eager and quick to learn and love doing what their people ask of them. If they are well socialized, they also do well with children, although the herder may come out and direct them.

These pictures were all off of various internet sites and not my own, but show alot about the breed.  The information is also largely off the internet, with a little personal experience thrown in.  These dogs are really great at what they do but not for everyone.

Sunday Selfie

This is Sera's "windblown" look.  

Sera is saying "I'm ready for my closeup".

We're joining the Sunday Selfies Blog Hop hosted by, a big bunch of kitties at The Cat On My Head. 

Best Buddies?

Sera is a very patient dog.  It takes quite a bit to make her lose her patience and set someone straight.  I just happened to catch this one with George the catdog, trying to snuggle up to Sera.  Right at this moment Sera looks like she might actually like George.

Rare that these two show affection and even more rare that I had a good camera in hand when they did.  So here is my (possibly) once in a lifetime shot of these best buddies.

And then George pushed his limit just a little too far and Sera decided she had had ENOUGH!  Right after this, she walked away and left George staring wistfully after her, if cats can do that.

The Pet Parade Blog Hop

Hosted by Rascal and Rocco

Co hosted by Bionic Basil, Barking From The Bayou and Love Is Being Owned By A Husky

Throwback Thursday, Aussie Style

I was going through some pictures this week and found this one of  Rocket.  She was probably about 10 in this photo.  She was always such a sweetie and wanted to go everywhere with me. 

If you look closely, you'll see that her fur is wet because she had already been in and out of the horse tank.  Funny girl!

This post is part of the Thoughtless Thursday blog hop.
Hosted by Ruckus The Eskie
Co hosted by Barking From The Bayou, and Love Is Being Owned By A Husky

Wordless Wednesday on Thursday, {52 Snapshots of Life} Week 43, Pumpkin

Would this be Jack o lantern?  

We're joining the Wordless Wednesday blog hop, a little late.

Tuesday Tales, Tango

It is Tuesday, once again.  So here is this week's edition of Tuesday Tales.  I've been talking about the Black Dog Animal Rescue  in Cheyenne, WY lately.  They have been doing a great job in our area of helping dogs find great forever homes.  Even if you aren't personally looking for a dog, maybe a share or repost will help this baby find her home.

This week, this sweet girl is being featured. Here's what BDAR says:

Our featured dog this week is Tango. Tango is a 4 1/2 year old, female, pit bull mix. She is a very sweet and energetic gal who is looking for an active home. She would love to have a family that would take her jogging and include her on all of their fun activities! She will require daily exercise to be her happiest self.

Tango would prefer a home with older kids and no cats or small animals. She is super playful with other dogs who will play with her, but does take a little extra time during that initial greeting. We are doing our best to have her meet lots of new dogs while she is in our care, but will need continued practice with her new family. We are more than happy to help with introductions with any dogs currently living in your home.

When Tango doesn't have a case of the zoomies, she is happy to snuggle with her family on the couch! She is also happy to hang out in her kennel, but will let you know when she's ready for some extra attention! If you would like to meet Tango, please complete an adoption application on our website, www.bdar.org. Her adoption fee has been reduced to $50 through Sunday!

 If you can, give this sweetie a little share!

Black and White Sunday, Smiles

Smiles!

We're joining the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop Today.

Showdog Saturday, The Poodle

It's Saturday, once again, and this week I'm researching the poodle.  The internet is great for finding tidbits of information, so most of this is from various sites on the internet.  I love to find out history and uses for the various breeds so I can understand each one of them better.

Most of us have seen poodles or known poodles, but how much do we really know about them?

Here's what I found out.  Even though poodles are often referred to as French, they seem to have come from Germany a few hundred years ago.  They did become the national dog of France and were popular in Spain and England as well.

                               

There are three sizes of poodle; toy, miniature and standard.  According to dogtime.com, all three sizes are variations of the same breed.  It is said that the standard sized poodle has been popular as a water dog and used as a retriever.  Poodles are said to be excellent swimmers.

Seems like the smaller sizes are more often seen as pets, but they had another use as well.  In some areas of Europe, they were used to dig up truffles and actually preferred to the larger poodles because their small size caused less damage to the truffles. 

The unique haircuts of the poodle have some functional purposes as well.  The dogs were clipped to protect the organs and joints while decreasing interference with swimming.  These cuts became more elaborate as people used them less for workers and more for pets.

Poodles are a non-shedding breed and sometimes better for people with allergies. The hair is curly and dense and requires regular grooming to keep it in good shape. Fairly extensive grooming is required at least every 6 weeks if not more often; either by a groomer or a person familiar with grooming a poodle.

                        

Although they are generally thought of as pampered pets, poodles are actually very smart and eager to please.  Considered one of the most trainable dog breeds, being so intelligent has a down-side; owners can easily teach bad habits as well as good ones so care should be taken to teach responsibly.

Poodles are active dogs who need regular exercise. They also need a good deal of people time to keep them happy. Taking these factors in mind, they make great house or apartment dogs and do very well with kids.

Flashback Friday, Aussie Style

Jessie (and Reba) just had their fourth birthday.  Honestly, the time flies so quickly, I was thinking they were turning three, but nope!  It has been really fun watch her grow up and become the smart, loving, quirky dog that she is.  In this picture, she's about four weeks old. Not a great photo, I know.

My time placement has already come into question, but here I think she is two.  You can see the love in her eyes.  But she was very shy around other people.

Our daughter and granddaughter have been living with us for the last few months.  And Jessie has really enjoyed it!  When she first met the granddaughter, Jessie wanted nothing to do with her.  

But the cool part is that the kiddo has learned how to respect Jessie's space, at least most of the time. And Jessie has come to love her to pieces.

When the baby wakes up, Jessie is right there waiting to tell her good morning!  When they leave, Jessie has to give kisses goodbye.

And Jessie has "taken her charge under her wing".  Jessie watches out for our granddaughter and makes sure she is as safe as a little dog can.

It is really cool to watch how the dogs learn and grow and change, as well as how the kids learn and grow and change.  They help each other out!  

Today we're joining the Pet Parade blog hop hosted by  Rascal And Rocco.

Co hosted by Bionic Basil, Barking From The Bayou, and Love Is being Owned By A Husky.

We're also joining the Flashback Friday blog hop hosted by  Five Sibes Mom

and cohosted by Love Is Being Owned By A Husky.