We got an early rainstorm yesterday afternoon, after which Laddie and I went over the ridge to check on the new chicks in Ian’s Cave. Laddie finds his new environment fascinating: So many things to see, to smell, to herd. He really wants in among the chickens, and they don’t share his fascination. And so he’s constantly wandering off out of sight during walkies, something I completely relaxed about when Ghost did it but Laddie isn’t Ghost. He wasn’t born here, I don’t know if he’s snake-averse, don’t even know if he could find his way back to the cabin yet, and to any predator bigger than a doodlebug he’s going to look a lot like food. He kept wandering off, I kept calling him back. Mostly he obeyed willingly enough, but one time just as we arrived at the Cave I turned my back on him and he vanished like he’d apparated.
I looked around and called – he’s much quieter than any dog I’ve cared for in the past: I can’t hear him walk or pant, he doesn’t bark at all so far. No Laddie. Fortunately those tiny paws do leave clear marks in the wet sand, and he very clearly had launched up the ridge and past the driveway toward – something probably bigger than him. I tracked him till I lost him in some rocks, calling and calling. Of course he finally showed up behind me, by which time I wanted to punt him into a gully.
We’ll work it out. But I’m leaving for the Cave right now, and he’s coming with – on a leash.
I’m sure you wouldn’t want to put a bell on his collar, but maybe a couple metal tags so you’d hear him?
It will be interesting to see his reaction to cattle. Maybe he’ll “herd” them away from The Lair.
I seem to recall that LB spent most of your “walkies” on a leash. Or do I misremember?
If that was the case, the new situation isn’t all that much different, is it?
Like Kentucky, I’ve been wondering what will happen when the bovines wander by. He’s likely to want to herd them. Do you still have dog packs running loose? Big trouble.
Not very different, no. Easier, really, because Laddie is much smaller and cooperates easily with the leash. I was hoping, and still kind of hope, to get away from needing one but if that doesn’t happen life will go on,
I can’t begin to imagine the wonders Laddie is experiencing with all the newness! Kind of glad my sense of smell is shot and I don’t experience all those particular wonders.
You might try putting him on a longer leash – two hooked together if necessary – and call him to come back BEFORE he gets to the end of the leash. If he doesn’t respond quickly, THEN tug on the leash. Sort of training him to always come when called…
Corgis are herding dogs, so watch out around cattle. Little bastards love to herd cattle and sheep, but the wild west versions are much less tame than their overbred and pampered English cousins.
They herd by nipping at the heels, so they really are ankle-biters. Just so you know.
Other than that, they are a fun breed, and surprisingly fast when they get their run up.
+1 on some clinky things on his collar. Maybe some spent brass on a split ring or something. Just enough, and it will help when you’re stumbling around the cabin half-asleep, too.
You did notice from Wikipedia:
“With regards to their health, according to a 2004 survey, they both had similar lifespans, although kidney or urethral conditions are more likely in the Pembrokes. Furthermore, Pembroke Corgis were more likely to have eye problems than the Cardigan breed.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_Corgi
I have considered that. We’re getting a break from the cattle at present, the dry season caused the grass to be so bad the cattle guy rounded them all up and took them somewhere else. I wouldn’t be surprised if that changes in the next month or so now that we’re getting a little rain. I’ve heard of Corgis being used at cattle dogs, but it’s impossible to imagine that working well with these half-wild beef cattle. The cattle guy does have dogs but they’re not Corgis by any stretch.
And the herding instinct is a problem when they do it for play. Dharma, an Australian cattle dog, gets away with it so far because she’s young and quick with long legs and can dance away from retaliating cows. And she doesn’t try to nip ankles. Yeah, cows are a main reason Laddie may spend the rest of his outdoor life on a leash. We’ll see.
You may want to conduct some Joel-Supervised Kennel Sessions before trusting Laddie to his own devices. I suspect he may turn out to be both a Digger and a Wanderer.
I can believe the wandering, but I’d pay money to see him successfully dig out of that kennel. It’s designed to prevent coyotes from digging in. Don’t know how you’d do it without getting a cinderblock on your head.
Anyway, he used to have a fenced yard and never dug out of it.
I suspect he is just taking a walkabout. He will get used to his new home and surroundings.
He may still be heartbroken from the loss of his beloved MaLiberty. More patting and belly scratching and I think he will soon love you!
Corgis’ technique is to nip the heels and go belly down so any resultant kick goes over their head. Then rush in and nip again. For being so small, they are remarkably able to handle full grown bulls.
Watch for the nipping. They do it to everything. It’s instinctive. The Queen of England’s corgis are said to have bitten everyone in the castle except the Queen. Also watch his weight. Like Dachies, being overweight will cause spinal issues.