After having read all on how not to get fooled, and considering adopting a corgi, we would like to recommend to you how to find and acquire a new corgi puppy the right way, from the right people.
- Acquire your puppy with your heart, but also with your head. Think things through thoroughly: The breed, the gender, is the timing correct for you and your family, can you afford it at this moment and throughout its 12-18 years of life, who will take care of the dog and play with the dog, are all valid questions that need to be pondered before taking steps to get a puppy. A dog may end up costing anywhere from $1,400 to $4,300 per year (read this excellent article).
- Look for responsible breeders (in the plural, not just one) and correspond with them several times. Be polite and knowledgeable when first approaching a breeder for the availability of puppies. In this age of fast-text, I get plenty of few-word messages like precio?, cuánto?, tiene corgis? (price?, how much?, do you have corgis?). When I see that, I feel the person thinks I am selling plantains, potatoes or bottled water in the street corner; of course, they don’t get a response to their email or text. A two-paragraph email or text beginning with a polite salutation, and then saying that you have been considering getting a puppy, the reasons for your interest in the breed, and your hopes for your new family companion (pet, an emotional or service support dog, show dog, etc.), will suffice to begin the conversation. Responsible breeders may be found in the AKC webpage or specifically for corgis in the national club webpage for Pembroke or Cardigan corgis. An additional benefit and peace of mind would be choosing a Breeder of Merit within those listed in the AKC or national club webpages.
- Establish a rapport with the breeder. Build a relationship, ask questions, let them get to know you and that you are genuinely interested in the breed, its characteristics, and how the puppy will fit in your household and family life. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When things go array with your puppy or later in the puppy’s life, it is the breeder in addition to your veterinarian who you should contact for advice. The breeder is the person who cares enough to lend you an ear and listen to you, or offer comfort in dealing with problems with the puppy the breeder help whelped.
- Most breeders will ask you to fill out a questionnaire or puppy application. Yes, the questionnaire is long, but it is a good way for the breeder to know you and see if their puppy is a good fit for your home and family.
- Responsible breeders usually have a waiting list. Get on the waiting list as soon as possible, as it takes time to advance on the list. When lots of people want this breeder’s puppies, is a good sign. You don’t want to get your puppy from someone that no-one wants puppies from.
- Ask to see the parents (at least in photos) and their pedigree. A copy of their pedigree tells you lots about the sire and dam and their ancestry. In some cases, you can access the pedigree yourself (see Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pedigree Database and The Cardigan Archives). Most responsible breeders are very proud of their breeding stock. They would gladly showcase who the parents are of your would-be puppy. Ask about the behavior, aggressiveness, or if the parents are terrified of something. Ask how the parents get along with other dogs. Better still, ask to meet one or both of the parents.
- Ask to see the available puppies. Don’t focus on just one puppy because it is the only one available, or it is of the gender and color of your liking. Keep an open mind and see different puppies within the litter. Whoever said that the puppy that first approaches you when you visit them is the puppy for you, they are wrong. Observe, evaluate, and analyze first which is the best puppy that fits the breed’s characteristics; is the puppy active, does it look healthy, is it in good weight, is the puppy behaviorally sound? After all these questions are answered, then see which is of your liking.
- Ask about the genetic tests for each parent, and if available, from the puppy. In Pembroke Welsh Corgis, stay away from at-risk or affected dogs with two recessive copies of the mutation of Progressive Retinal Atrophy Rod-Cone Dysplasia 3 (PRA-RCD3), or von Willebrand’s Disease Type 1 (VWD1). In Cardigan Welsh Corgis, stay away from at-risk or affected dogs with two recessive copies of the mutation of Progressive Retinal Atrophy Rod-Cone Dysplasia 3 (PRA-RCD3). A better scenario will be to known that both parents are DNA certified by the AKC.
- Read about the breed standard. At least read what is acceptable and what is not in the breed standard for the puppy you are looking for. Know if your prospective puppy and its parents fit most of the critical points of the breed standard. The breed standard for the Pembroke Welsh Corgis can be found here; The breed standard for the Cardigan Welsh Corgis can be found here. Following the breed standard, in the US and Puerto Rico, Pembroke Welsh Corgis will be tail-docked and their dewclaws removed. Similarly, a responsible breeder would never tail-dock a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Don’t fall for “designer dogs” in which not-responsible breeders mix Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis (they call them “American” corgis. You are basically getting a mix-breed or a cross (sato , viralata, vinosolo, firulais in Spanish), just like mixing a Boxer with a Poodle. If they say they are selling you a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, but it has Cardigan colors (particularly blue merle and blue eyes), huge ears, and no tail, it is a sato. It they tell you they are selling you a Cardigan Welsh Corgi and it does not have a tail, they are giving you a firulais, as no responsible breeder of a Cardigan would date tail-dock their Cardigan puppies.
- Responsible breeders have their puppy’s health checked by a licensed veterinarian around 6-7 weeks of age. Puppies also need to start being dewormed at 14 days, and vaccinated by 42 days of age. The breeder will provide you with a copy of the veterinary health letter or certificate and the dates of their deworming and vaccination. To help control the lost pet population, responsible breeders also microchip their puppies, and register them in AKC Reunite.
- Parents and puppies are kennel-registered with a serial number in a formal kennel club, whether it be AKC, FCI, or a specific country kennel club. Ask the breeder if the puppies are offered as a pet with a limited registration, or an open or full registration. Ask the breeder also if as part of the contract, your new pet needs to be spayed or neutered, and at what specific time.
- Prices for puppies vary depending on different factors. Talk to the breeder about prices (not at the beginning of the entire process, it gives out the wrong signal), but understand that pet corgi puppies sell between US$1,500 and $3,000. Open-registry or show-quality corgi puppies may be offered, usually at a higher price ($3,000-$3,500) and with other conditions, such as co-ownership and reproductive rights.
- Don’t buy a puppy without a contract. A written bill of sale, which stipulates the conditions of the transfer of the puppy to the new owner, is of utmost importance. This is your tool and that of the breeder if something goes wrong with the transaction or with the puppy. The contract should state who the buyer and seller are, details of the puppy, the litter and the parents, date of whelping, registry number, when were they check by the veterinarian, the purchase price and any other costs or guarantees on the puppy. It should state that the breeder will accept the puppy back if any issues arise.
- Don’t pick up your puppy until it is over 8 weeks of age. Puppies, as social carnivores, develop specific social bonding strategies and behaviors between 4 and 8 weeks of age. These are important for the mental development of the dog. Thus, make sure the puppy is allowed to bond with its littermates between this period before taking it home with you. A responsible breeder would not give you a puppy at 4-6 weeks of age; they will wait until they are 8-10 weeks of age, at the least. Show quality puppies are offered after they are evaluated at 10-16 weeks of age.
- Pick up your puppy personally. Most responsible breeders will ask for the puppy to be picked-up personally and will not ship them. Exceptions are made for specific outstanding cases, mainly if you know each other or there is no other option if the puppy is coming from overseas. For example, all dogs in our kennel were picked-up at their kennel or origin. Still routinely, the modus operandi would be for you to pick up the puppy at the breeder’s home or other agreed location. The personal treatment upon picking up your puppy will enhance the rapport between the new owner and breeder and allow the breeder to provide important information and advice on socialization, exercise, training, feeding, immunizations, and veterinary care.
Getting a puppy for your new home is a conscious commitment to bringing a new family member to your home for the next 12 to 18 years. It requires time, research, reading, and establishing a positive relationship with the person that will provide you with your family’s next play and unconditional love canine companion.
When in doubt, ask.
If you have questions or doubts about obtaining a puppy because it sounds like a scam, please ask us before sending any money. We will give you our honest opinion. Similarly, suppose you have questions on getting a puppy from an AKC, PWCCA, or CWCCA listed breeder or how to go about it; we will be happy to assist you.