Corgi or Aussie - help me choose!
December 9, 2011 6:18 AM Subscribe
Corgi/Aussie people: Tell me wonderful things about Corgis! I've had Aussies before, but I'm thinking about getting a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
I'm a pretty active person - I run and enjoy paddlesports and am looking for a companion to accompany me on adventures. If I go on, say, a 4-mile run, will a Corgi be able to keep up with me? I realize they were bred for herding livestock, but I'm worried about their short little legs doing triple duty to keep up with me. I'm also concerned about their backs and them jumping off of furniture and whatnot. It's a toss-up between another Aussie or a Corgi. I know an Aussie will be able to keep up no problem. My last Aussie was the love of my life. Should I stick with what I know? Aussie's are the most awesome dogs I've ever had. If you've had a Corgi, what can you tell me about them? (Mini-Aussie's are NOT an option, so please don't suggest I get one of those.) And yes, you need to include pictures.
I'm a pretty active person - I run and enjoy paddlesports and am looking for a companion to accompany me on adventures. If I go on, say, a 4-mile run, will a Corgi be able to keep up with me? I realize they were bred for herding livestock, but I'm worried about their short little legs doing triple duty to keep up with me. I'm also concerned about their backs and them jumping off of furniture and whatnot. It's a toss-up between another Aussie or a Corgi. I know an Aussie will be able to keep up no problem. My last Aussie was the love of my life. Should I stick with what I know? Aussie's are the most awesome dogs I've ever had. If you've had a Corgi, what can you tell me about them? (Mini-Aussie's are NOT an option, so please don't suggest I get one of those.) And yes, you need to include pictures.
I do not own a corgi, but I know corgi people. If you 're thinking the shedding will be less, you got another think coming.
Also, have you picked up a Corgi- they are sturdy, solid dogs.
Why are you thinking of changing? If you want a more portable, less hairy beast, the Corgi may be more dog than you want.
As far as paddle sports go, many dogs of all shapes and sizes can be trained to sit center and steady (so long as they want to stay on the water instead of in it).
Maybe see if there is a Corgi meetup in your area or a mixed herding club where you can see Aussies and BCs and Corgies side-by-side.
I'm sorry if you're looking for a replacement dog and good luck with your new dog.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:03 AM on December 9, 2011
Also, have you picked up a Corgi- they are sturdy, solid dogs.
Why are you thinking of changing? If you want a more portable, less hairy beast, the Corgi may be more dog than you want.
As far as paddle sports go, many dogs of all shapes and sizes can be trained to sit center and steady (so long as they want to stay on the water instead of in it).
Maybe see if there is a Corgi meetup in your area or a mixed herding club where you can see Aussies and BCs and Corgies side-by-side.
I'm sorry if you're looking for a replacement dog and good luck with your new dog.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:03 AM on December 9, 2011
I have an AWESOME Corgi. Sunshine is the sweetest, cuddliest, most loving dog ever. She is 12 and I've had her for about 3 years - prior to that she lived with my fiance's family and I had only met her briefly. From what I hear, she was very active when she was younger. Actually she zips across the dog park pretty fast even now.
We don't have kids so I am not sure about her child-herding features, but she does try to herd the little dogs at the dog park which is hilarious. She is very good with kids - I call her a "one dog petting zoo" because she loves when a bunch of kids come over to pet her, she will just stand quietly.
The other "herding dog" aspect that I notice is that she likes to know where we are at all times. If someone goes into the bathroom and closes the door, she sits outside the door until they come out (you know, in case they were thinking of sneaking out). She is very happy when the whole family is in one room.
posted by radioamy at 7:06 AM on December 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
We don't have kids so I am not sure about her child-herding features, but she does try to herd the little dogs at the dog park which is hilarious. She is very good with kids - I call her a "one dog petting zoo" because she loves when a bunch of kids come over to pet her, she will just stand quietly.
The other "herding dog" aspect that I notice is that she likes to know where we are at all times. If someone goes into the bathroom and closes the door, she sits outside the door until they come out (you know, in case they were thinking of sneaking out). She is very happy when the whole family is in one room.
posted by radioamy at 7:06 AM on December 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
I have a corgi. She never gets tired of running, and will continue to chase and retrieve the ball long after my shepherd has stopped.
She is also extremely lovable. While she does have 2 coats of hair, she does not shed any more than other dogs I have had.
posted by eas98 at 7:08 AM on December 9, 2011
She is also extremely lovable. While she does have 2 coats of hair, she does not shed any more than other dogs I have had.
posted by eas98 at 7:08 AM on December 9, 2011
I grew up with a corgi. He shed like a mofo, comparable to the Lab/Golden mix I have now, who sheds her body weight in fur every day.
We got him when he was 5, and he had no trouble on stairs, jumping into the car, etc till he was 10 or 11. He lived to about 15, I think, with no health issues except the back problem that meant he had trouble going up stairs without some assistance.
He had been abused before us and was terrified of vacuums or any other loud motors, including diesel vehicles, but his response was either to attempt to herd them (seriously, he tried to herd a school bus once when it stopped outside of our house and he got out) or, if he couldn't get to them, run in circles around our dining room table to herd it until the noise went away.
He was always great with us as kids, friendly, and happy to go for walks.
posted by olinerd at 7:39 AM on December 9, 2011
We got him when he was 5, and he had no trouble on stairs, jumping into the car, etc till he was 10 or 11. He lived to about 15, I think, with no health issues except the back problem that meant he had trouble going up stairs without some assistance.
He had been abused before us and was terrified of vacuums or any other loud motors, including diesel vehicles, but his response was either to attempt to herd them (seriously, he tried to herd a school bus once when it stopped outside of our house and he got out) or, if he couldn't get to them, run in circles around our dining room table to herd it until the noise went away.
He was always great with us as kids, friendly, and happy to go for walks.
posted by olinerd at 7:39 AM on December 9, 2011
How will you get the Corgi into your boat/canoe/kayak? The Corgis I have known are not graceful leapers, much like this one here. However, the Aussies I have known would not sit still long enough to make them good sailors.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:04 AM on December 9, 2011
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:04 AM on December 9, 2011
Have you thought about getting a Shetland Sheepdog? I had one, my best friend has one, my parents have one, my aunt used to have several, so I've met quite a few of them. They LOVE running and are very agile, but are quite a bit smaller and lighter than Aussies.
The shedding from a Sheltie is unlikely to be any less, though. They are shedding machines.
Personality-wise, and here I am obviously biased, but shelties are just the sweetest, most hilarious, awesomest little dogs ever. My dad takes his sheltie out boating all the time, and that dog is just so happy sitting out there with the wind in his face - and has never shown the slightest inclination to jump off the boat or make any other trouble.
posted by lyra4 at 1:12 PM on December 9, 2011
The shedding from a Sheltie is unlikely to be any less, though. They are shedding machines.
Personality-wise, and here I am obviously biased, but shelties are just the sweetest, most hilarious, awesomest little dogs ever. My dad takes his sheltie out boating all the time, and that dog is just so happy sitting out there with the wind in his face - and has never shown the slightest inclination to jump off the boat or make any other trouble.
posted by lyra4 at 1:12 PM on December 9, 2011
I had a corgi as a kid-- and that dog could not STOP running, so I can say that you may find you've got a match on your hands as far as energy goes. It seems most full-bred dogs have problems later on, especially stubby dogs, like a corgi.
I don't own an aussie, but a friend does, and when they're older, they're VERY cranky. My friend's dog seems to get just a little crankier every year... Whereas a corgi is very friendly. I think it might be a good choice for you! But regardless-- there are many high energy dogs that are worth looking into.
posted by camylanded at 4:43 PM on December 9, 2011
I don't own an aussie, but a friend does, and when they're older, they're VERY cranky. My friend's dog seems to get just a little crankier every year... Whereas a corgi is very friendly. I think it might be a good choice for you! But regardless-- there are many high energy dogs that are worth looking into.
posted by camylanded at 4:43 PM on December 9, 2011
From my friend who has a corgi that is 10+ years old now:
"They can run all day, but may not be able to keep up with a four mile run. Thats a bit much for their little legs. As for boating, I used to love taking my corgi canoeing, and she loved it too. She does, however, shed like the dickens. Good luck!"
I have known Toby (the dog) for a long time and I've never seen her be cranky, but my friend didn't comment on that. I will also say, though, that the thing Toby herds best is dinner scraps. If you drop something, she is all over it.
posted by bilabial at 11:55 AM on December 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
"They can run all day, but may not be able to keep up with a four mile run. Thats a bit much for their little legs. As for boating, I used to love taking my corgi canoeing, and she loved it too. She does, however, shed like the dickens. Good luck!"
I have known Toby (the dog) for a long time and I've never seen her be cranky, but my friend didn't comment on that. I will also say, though, that the thing Toby herds best is dinner scraps. If you drop something, she is all over it.
posted by bilabial at 11:55 AM on December 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
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Be aware that a corgi will herd anything it sees. If you have kids, they will get their ankles nipped at when they run away. For a herding dog, that's a feature, not a bug.
posted by Gilbert at 6:37 AM on December 9, 2011 [1 favorite]