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CORGI NUTRITION, WEIGHT AND HEALTH

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There is nothing more important than keeping your Corgi at a healthy weight.  You can love on them, treat them, teach them tricks, let them sleep in your bed, but first and foremost you have to feed them properly.   Food is not love.  Food is nutrition and must be used that way.  Anyone with a corgi will tell you, they love to eat!  It is part of that big dog in a little package that we hear about.  Keeping consistent with a feeding schedule is good practice and feeding the same amount, once that sweet spot is found is good for their digestion.  Small puppies, around 8 to 10 weeks old can be fed free choice, with food not eaten immediately removed and offered later in the day. They do eat a lot when they are puppies, up to two cups usually.  That is an appropriate amount until they are over a year old.  At a year, they should be transitioned from puppy food to adult food.  All that being said, activity level plays a big part in how much should be fed.  A healthy puppy and adult dog should have a waist line.  You should be able to feel their ribs and backbone, but not see them.  Puppies don’t usually overeat.  But once that transition to adulthood is reached, it is important to monitor waistlines and fluffiness.  Food should be given then as nutrition, but not out of habit.  Most of my adult corgis thrive with just one cup of food per day.  Some younger ones will still be able to eat a cup and a half or even two cups, based on their energy level.

Corgis are really cute all of the time even if they are very overweight.  But that cuteness will not be worth the health risks that go along with it.  Those little short legs can only carry so much before their backs start taking on the strain too.  And just like humans, they can develop weight related disease that can shorten their life span.  So, no loving them to death!  Treats should be given in small amounts or low calorie treats can be used when training.  Also, don’t forget, corgis love walks!  Walks are good for our souls too.  So get out there and take a walk with your corgi and then  give them a small treat or dental chew.  You will both be healthier.

What is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi?

Corgis are those little short-legged dogs with perky ears and big smiles, not to mention the cute little wiggly bum.

Beyond that, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, their full name, are herding dogs that came from the Welsh countryside in Wales. They were born and raised to help herd cattle and sheep. When herding cattle, their short stature kept them from being kicked in the head when the cattle became agitated with their persistent chasing and maybe barking.

What? They bark, yes, yes, they sometimes do. They are very brave and watchful dogs. They will be protective of their territory. If that means alerting you to the neighborhood dogs or squirrels, they bark. But they are very smart. So, that alert barking can be trained to not happen at every little thing. I know this from experience.

Their tails were historically docked for taxation purposes; a docked-tailed Corgi was considered a working dog and not taxed like a pet. That tradition of docking has stayed with the breed for the most part. Some corgis, i.e., Cardigan Welsh Corgis, don’t get their tail docked. They have that and other somewhat subtle differences from the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. But not all corgis with a tail are Cardigans! Some are born with short or bob tails, and some breeders just don’t dock tails.

Another important feature of a corgi is their shedding. Oh yes, they do shed. However, if you brush them regularly and expect seasonal shedding that makes you think, “Something is wrong with my dog,” it can be managed. A robot-type vacuum is always a good idea.

The most important trait you should be aware of is their personality, it is extraordinarily big. They are funny, sweet, silly, loving, and, uhh, demanding. They will be such a big part of your life that you will wonder how you ever lived without one. And don’t be surprised, just like potato chips, you may not be able to just have one.

Why do we rehome adult dogs?Here at Long Range Ranch, all of our dogs are loved dearly. We have been breeding dogs for many years.

As much as we would love to keep all of our mama dogs when we retire them, we just can’t! Mama dogs here are never bred past 5 years old. It is in their best interest to retire them at this young age to keep them healthy. They don’t get bred until they are 2 years old and their health and genetic testing has been done. They have all been raised and loved since they were puppies. So, they are perfect pets at retirement age. They are potty trained and leash trained, some even learn a few tricks like fetching a toy.

It is always hard to say farewell to one of the girls. But after extensive thought to the kind of home they are best suited for, we usually find the perfect one! It’s a great way for us to make new friends as we very much want to stay in touch with the lucky folks that get one of the girls.

We don’t have available adults very often, but when we do, they are the best dog you would ever ask for. And sometimes they are much better suited for a human than a puppy is. Consider checking our adult and older puppy page to see who might be available.

How important is it to purchase a registered puppy?

So, you say you don’t need an registered puppy? Well then, you are asking your breeder to not care about temperament, health or conformation. Our AKC registered parents have been thoughtfully paired to bring you the best selection of puppies with the characteristics of a purebred line of soundness. Those characteristics include health with genetic testing, OFA x-rays, and DNA testing being done on parents. Another characteristic that is very important is temperament, or personality if you will. That is something that has been bred into a long line of animals to ensure that you are getting exactly what is expected of a particular breed. Cuteness is a given in any puppy. But temperament is bred into a puppy with hopefully, the very best of both parents represented in the offspring. Conformation is the way that the animals are put together. Getting the body parts of a puppy to represent the best qualities possible is done through breeding of registered, thoughtfully bred, parents. All these things go together to make a breed of dog, what it is. Our puppies are bred with the very best of intentions to bring, of course, cute puppies. But also, to bring outstanding representatives of the breed that has been an ongoing endeavor for generations. That is why it is important to ask for an AKC registered puppy!

Breed With Heart

 

What is a Miniature American Shepherd?

Have you ever seen an Australian Shepherd? These are basically the mini version of them. Not many years ago, a group of dog-loving, horse loving individuals decided that they preferred a smaller version of their travel buddies when they were going to horse shows. One breeder, then another started breeding for a smaller version. These were called Mini Aussies. Then, in the early 2000’s, some of those breeders of AKC dogs got the American Kennel club to recognize their smaller, well-built dogs into their club. And the Miniature American Shepherd breed was born!

Today, the MAS are a force to be reckoned with in the dog show world. They excel in Conformation, Agility, Rally, Fast Cat, and many other events. They are a herding breed dog and perform in Herding classes at events and on ranches.

In the average home, Mini American Shepherds live their life to please their owners. They are highly intelligent. They can be taught just about anything you can think of. Their minds are always working and they love to have something to do. They excel at tricks and making you laugh. They are very loyal, sometimes picking just one or two people to be in their circle as they like to be protective of their pack. Their loyalty is unmatched but they easily recognize a friend. They tend to be magnet dogs, wanting to be with you every step of your day.

If you are considering getting a MAS, be ready to never be alone. Be ready to have a space for them to romp or take them hiking. They will help you reach your fitness goals as they like to be active. On the other hand, they are very comfortable laying beside you as you unwind from your day. They also make good playmates for children.

They don’t require much grooming. Their beautiful coat is naturally neat and it is not hard or time consuming to maintain its glossy appearance.

If you are looking for an easy going dog, don’t overlook the Miniature American Shepherd. They are a small package with every quality a dog should possess.

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