Our beloved dachshund, Sam, passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had Sam for 16 years and he was a settled easy-going dog who loved to travel. My son Michael came to visit in January 2022. When he arrived, I went out to the car to greet him and he said, “Do you want to see the family Christmas present?” He opened the car door and much to my chagrin sat a darling Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
My two sons thought we were missing Sam and needed a new dog. I put on a good face as I wasn’t ready for a new dog. However, it wasn’t that hard as Porkchop was the cutest thing ever. Don’t let that cuteness fool you. Corgis are not for the faint of heart. Here are a few reasons why they don’t make a good retirement dog.
They Are Extremely High Energy Dogs
I can’t stress enough how high-energy Porkchop is. Pembroke Welsh Corgis were bred to be hunting dogs. Porkchop just has the need for speed. He is crazy fast! If he runs, you can’t catch him. I’ll have friends mention they’ve seen my husband going for a run with Porkchop and I let them know it’s not a run, they are going for a walk. Porkchop’s energy is so high I’ve yet to take him for a walk beyond our driveway as I can’t keep up with him. He tugs on the leash and wants to take off. I’ve seen women my age in the neighborhood walking their corgis, so I know there is hope. Luckily, we have a fenced yard, so Porkchop has a place to run around.
I bet you didn’t know Pembroke Welsh Corgis can fly. Porkchop will make a running leap several feet away from our couch soaring through the air before landing with a loud thud and continuing his loop. His self-made obstacle course takes him through the kitchen under the dining room table and then a few airborne leaps onto the couch and loveseat before running out onto the deck. Porkchop needs a nice long walk every day as well as off-leash time running around. We usually do this in the backyard by playing catch. If you are thinking about getting a corgi, do not underestimate the amount of exercise they need.
They Will Eat Your House
Corgis eat everything and I mean everything. They will literally eat your house. Porkchop is a quirky thing. He started growling and biting the door when we would let him out. Each day a little more door was missing until we had to repair it. He enjoys nibbling on the deck furniture and considers the woven pieces on it a challenge to chew and pull apart. You may ask how he gets away with all this, but he is a sneaky little thing. Combined with his cuteness, he gets away with murder.
Well, there was an unfortunate incident with the cute bunny that loved to hang out in the backyard. He loves shoes so we must make sure the closet doors are all kept shut. Porkchop goes through a chew toy every day or so. The squeakers in a plush toy are no match for this aggressive chewer. We have tried every squeaker toy imaginable and he manages to get the squeakers out of everyone within a few hours. Toys have met their match when it comes to Porkchop.
They Like To Nip And Bite
Porkchop came into our lives as a puppy, and he loved to bite. It is all part of their play as well as the behavior the dogs use when herding animals. Corgis like to roughhouse, especially as puppies. My husband’s arms can attest to those bites getting a little aggressive at times. This is an important quality to know if you have small children visiting.
I was very frustrated with Porkchop at first as I am not a big pet person. I dislike dogs jumping on me. The only thing that saved him from banishment is his stunning cuteness. Now that Porkchop has reached a year old, this has calmed down quite a bit. He knows he can roughhouse with Dad and my son, but not me.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis Require A Lot Of Attention
Porkchop is very affectionate as is the corgi breed. He loves to snuggle and needs to know where everyone is in the house. He also demands attention. He’ll often come to my desk and bark continuously or jump on me to get my awareness of his needs. It is actually pretty funny at times. I watched a video of a corgi who threw his ball onto his owner’s keyboard to let her know he wanted to play. They are very intelligent animals but you will have to schedule your day around their needs.
They Shed A Lot
Porkchop sheds a lot. Pembroke Welsh Corgis have two shedding seasons, one in the spring, and one in the fall. This extreme shedding is due to their double coat. I have to vacuum every single day to pick up all the hair. There is a profuse amount of hair. Single strands on my clothes, a stream of hair floating in the air as Porkchop runs by, and just big clumps of hair that congregate all over the house. It is constant and because Porkchop is so high maintenance, he doesn’t like to be brushed, adding to the hair. It is a lot of hair, so if you are contemplating a Corgi, invest in a good vacuum made for pet hair. You’ll be spending lots of time with it.
They Bark A lot
Oh my goodness Porkchop barks so much. Our last dog was a dachshund, and they are considered big barkers, but Sam’s barking pales in comparison to Porkchop. He barks so loud I sometimes feel like I need hearing protection. On a positive note, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are known for making great watchdogs. Our community is full of devoted walkers and many people walk their dogs as well.
Porkchop loves monitoring this daily traffic making sure to bark at everyone. He will run to one end of our deck and bark then fly (literally as he is often airborne) through the house and out the kitchen door to our front gate to loudly bark at whoever walks by at the other end of our home. Porkchop will also bark if he is not getting enough attention. He loves to let me know he needs something while I am writing. He’ll jump up and loudly bark until I give him some attention. It is very challenging when I am writing.
The story has a happy ending. I have grown to love Porkchop. Our morning starts with a nice snuggle in my recliner while I drink my coffee. He hangs out with me every day and we have a routine in the morning to get some of his energy out. He runs around in the yard until he is ready for his morning nap.
Then I work to get as much done as I can before he is ready for lunch and some more exercise. Writing is a sedentary activity, and it is easy to get caught up in what you are doing and find time ticking by without moving. Porkchop ensures I move more which is a plus. Despite all his mischievous activities, he has become part of the family. My husband likes to joke that we can’t have nice things but with all that cuteness it just doesn’t matter. Also, corgi butts really are that cute.
