Hi all! I have a friend (completely different to the malamute fiasco friend) who is having Internet problems at the minute so she will be joining Champdogs forum but she's asked me to post this on her behalf for now. My friend is a student who's just finished a degree, she's interested in a Pembroke Corgi and is looking for an active little dog to enjoy showing and day trips with. The family already own a German Shepherd and this dog is never left on its own, he is always walked at least twice a day as well as being given 20 minutes of brain training a day. She always attends Crufts on Working and Pastoral day, and is doing a lot of research in to her chosen breed. Anyway, she's tried to contact a few breeders to arrange to meet them at a Championship Show to discuss the breed but none of them seem to want to know, when she mentioned about an interest in showing one said that 'no one would sell her a show quality puppy or be interested in mentoring her in the show world'. This shocked me as whilst I am still doing research and reading about my next breed, the Norwegian Elkhound everyone has been amazingly friendly, helpful and forthcoming with advice. Surely breeders with breeds with such low numbers should be overjoyed at the thought of someone taken interest in their breed? Wanting to be more than a pet owner, surely the future of breeds is in the hands of newcomers with an interest in the dog scene? Or is this the norm and I have been extremely lucky? She just wants to know if the Pembroke Welsh Corgi world is particular clique like or of there is a better way of approaching breeders? She's tried email (a long detailed doggy CV email as well!) and is trying to set up a meeting with a breeder to 'test run' the breed. However, from what I can gather she is extremely disheartened with Pembroke Corgi breeders at the minute which is a shame as she could offer a wonderful, lifetime home to one.

Any advice or tips would be most welcome. Hopefully her Internet will be sorted soon and she'll be joining us all but she says thank you for now :)

How rude, this may only be a handful of breeders but seriously. If I were treated like this then id probably tell them to stick it.... With that attitude you do wonder how a breed could progress, why some may turn to byb's etc

I truly hope that this isn't the general consensus of those who breed this Corgi... Sad times if it is :-(

It could just be she has met a few funny breeders. The few people in corgies I've met at class and local open shows seem very friendly.
A friend was interested in poms and was told to forget about it as the breeders won't sell quality pups to new people who are interested in showing/breeding and that she would need to get ones from pet breeders and breed and show those untill she was known in the breed and doing well.

Anyway, she's tried to contact a few breeders to arrange to meet them at a Championship Show to discuss the breed but none of them seem to want to know,

Maby she is coming on a bit to strong for some, I know if a stranger emailed me wanting to meet me at a show it would put me off. After a few emails back and forth getting to know them first then I'd be more happy to meet them.
When I mailed breeders I said a bit about myself and asked a few questions about the breed I couldn't find answers for. Then the one I liked I asked a bit more about them and there dogs and it was then that they offered to meet me at a show local to me. So there had been a few emails before a meeting was suggested.

A Swedish Vallhund may well be worth considering, more leg and certainly active enough to go with larger breeds, good at Agility etc.

If this has been the attitude she has met with just at the enquiry stage I'd not to try and get involved with such a cliquey group of breeders, who will be the ruin of their breed.

I'd be very pleased to meet someone so keen, even if it ended up being the breed didn't suit them, but could help them clarify in their minds which would.

Maybe they have sold good potential puppies to people who said that they wanted to show before and then they haven't? 

I have done that and would now be very reluctant to sell a show potential puppy to a person who hasn't shown their interest and committment by attending Champ shows and Club shows for some time.  Words are cheap and some of us have been burned before.........  :(

Unfortunately that is true, but I have had others that have joined in, and some that hadn't intended to, but were encouraged to.

I know that breeders are protective over the puppies they produce. Why not be, time money and expertise go in to raising a litter and their bloodline. Think of how many time wasters they get and would be puppy owners. Been there done that. Be a face get to a show. Show commitment then you can see the dogs you like and choose who to approach. Almost 4 years ago whilst showing my first frenchie I met a lady who had won the class and congratulated her on the win. My first real dabble in the ring and I didnt really know anyone in the breed other than my boys breeder. I had been in touch with a few others but most ignored emails or didnt have a litter at the time.

Fast forward through a friendship and I now have one of her frenchie babies. Stayed in contact met at shows talked on the phone. this babe Is a true stunner and were at malvern in thurs for her first show at 6 months to the day. She knows im a good person and have shown commitment with my other dog. Attended health testing sessions and joined breed clubs via her and the stud dog owner. Tell her not to be disheartened but to take a few road trips. People will talk her face off about dogs. I know I do, there are those kind in every breed. As well all know.

Very unusual as my name suggests yes I have pembroke corgi,s and I like a lot of corgi people went from German shepherds to the short legged version it is a standing joke that they are little German shepherds, but the down side of the breed is that there's lot of people who do not want to be bothered I was mentored by breeder but that is not usual now it.is done people in the breed helping you at shows now,where I live it is the normal thing to see a line of corgi crates side by side and all of us sitting chatting, I am giving you the name and number of the Secretary of the welsh corgi league but getting a puppy will be hard there was less than 350 puppies born last year breeders have lists of people wanting puppies the demand outstrips supply, welsh corgi rescue which is both corgi breeds has a 3 year waiting list of people wanting dogs, Secretary name is Margaret HoggGarth phone number is0191 5294118 she will try and help your friend find a puppy but be aware there are a lot of cliques in the breed it depends where you live but we are all not like that some of us love nothing more than to show off our dogs and chat I hope this helps despite what my flag says I am from north east england

Ten years or more ago a friend wanted to get a P.Corgi pup with a view to showing her.
I accompanied her around the benches at a couple of shows, did the old flattering " Oh what a lovely bitch" thing.

Several pairs of grey haired older ladies totally blanked us, others looked at us as if we had 'gone off' and quite frankly some were rather hostile and this was BEFORE she asked about puppies.

A truly unfriendly miserable bunch of people indeed.

Maybe it's wrong of me to say but I hope she gets a great pup and absolutely floors the rude breeders in her showing career :) How rude of them.

Unfortunately for half the time she would be possibly showing under those same miseries.

Yes unfortunately it does happen the younger newer showers are trying to make it better but some of the old guard will not talk to people it has been that way for decades with the older showers try asking the younger ones most will talk to people but puppy numbers are not large and most older showers are not breeding any more I am breeding no more due to my mother's death my next puppy I will buy in

I'd agree with Brainless :-)    a Swedish Vallhund is what I'd go for too :-)

I grew up with a  Pembroke Corgi, and a very active little man he was too, but the dogs I see today are nothing like that,  they seem a lot lower to the ground for a start.

Funny about the mention of 'little german shepherd' :-) :-)    My father had kept and bred German Shepherds, but my mother was scared of them,  so when his old bitch  died, he  got a Pembroke Corgi pup :-) 

>A Swedish Vallhund may well be worth considering

Well I for one would say that some Vallhund breeders are absolute dears.  It must be about 5 years ago that I had been watching the judging at Crufts.  One lady came out of the ring and I asked if I could stroke her dog.  After I had made a great fuss of him she handed me the lead and told me to walk with him and see what I thought.  I couldn't believe my luck.  And ran for the bus to the car park.  :-)  Not really.  But she was fine about me getting to know her boy, and I was impressed how he was happy to be handled by a stranger. 

Naturally I think that Swedish Vallhund owners are great people.

If I had room to do justice to two breeds I seriously considered Vallhunds, especially when my children were young and my daughter was interested in Junior handling, as she had to wait until she was old enough to mange my own dogs, not that she couldn't have at 6, but there is always the what if there was an issue in the ring with another dog. 

I well remember the time she was in the ring with one of the girls whom was being constantly goosed by a Randy Pyrenean Mountain dog with a very young child attached and obviously not strong enough to manage it.

She was able to handle things OK.

Maby she is coming on a bit to strong for some, I know if a stranger emailed me wanting to meet me at a show it would put me off. After a few emails back and forth getting to know them first then I'd be more happy to meet them.
When I mailed breeders I said a bit about myself and asked a few questions about the breed I couldn't find answers for. Then the one I liked I asked a bit more about them and there dogs and it was then that they offered to meet me at a show local to me. So there had been a few emails before a meeting was suggested.

I'd have to agree with this - and for sure, arranging to meet up with people at an important Champ show may not be ideal!   Showing is expensive, and add to that the fact that some people get very 'involved' in their showing, and may not have the time, or inclination to get into all she wants to get into at that time.   Frankly I'd phone some known good breeders (found via the Breed Club) rather than email (breeders are busy people and often don't have time to wade through long and involved emails.    By all means go to some shows and observe, quietly from the ringside.  This is useful to see the different types, so there's no time-wasting going on.  But basically make an appointment to go visit the breeders of choice when they'd have more time to sit with a prospective new keen owner.   To be honest, somebody coming at me full on, would put me off too!!!    I think this may be the reason she's not been received very well, so far.

I would just add that in the past, I sold two puppies to a fellow breeder/exhibitor.   Going by what happened there, never again.  I'd far rather get my puppies into a loving permanent pet home - and if the puppy turns out to be a really nice one, having kept in touch with my pet owners, as I usually do, perhaps persuade them to try showing!!

I have only sold one to a show home some one I knew first and knew how he treats his dogs, his like mine are pets first and he owned the stud I used like mine his are house dogs and he has a dog room come utility room for the beds, as I write this mine are lying on the couch on their backs paws in the air, pets are loved and well cared for no matter what they do in the ring, a couple of owners do play at showing going only to the local agricultural shows where looking around is more important than showing the dog, one family has three of mine of various ages and another couple are wanting another one or at least for me to find them a puppy

Naturally I think that Swedish Vallhund owners are great people.

I couldn't agree more Jean ;)

>Naturally I think that Swedish Vallhund owners are great


>I couldn't agree more Jean ;-)


I just tell it like it is.  :-)

Showing is expensive, and add to that the fact that some people get very 'involved' in their showing, and may not have the time, or inclination to get into all she wants to get into at that time.

Unless you have a breed needing a lot of coat preparation at a show, and/or are showing several dogs in several classes and leave straight after, I fail to see how anyone could NOT have time to speak with anyone interested in acquiring the breed, whilst at a show. There is so much waiting around time! Today at Southern Counties we had hours and hours of just sitting around waiting before going in the ring. In fact we arrived at 10.30 am and went in the ring at 4 pm! At SKC a few weeks ago we DID in fact have a man turn up who was interested in the breed. We showed 2 dogs, we were first in the ring, but there was still time for a chat. The man watched the dogs be shown, got to say hello to them etc, and he later sent an e-mail saying thank you.  It doesn't have to be a lot, it can just be a first bit of contact -meet the dogs briefly and see if you like what you see, and if you do, then see about going to meet a breeder at their home. For anyone who happens to have a show locally, it can be ideal.

I agree Marianne, and I have also found that by doing this we have managed to interest some potential new owners to have a go at showing, where they admit they would never have considered it, having no real idea what it's like, with only having seen Crufts on TV, where the impression is that it is not something just anyone can take part in, or only weirdos do.

I cant add anything about corgis but would suggest she attends shows and generally gets chatting to people in the breed. |I found it very helpful and you get an idea of who is who. Once people start to see she is serious I would hope she would get friendly responses. Just make sure you time the chat to not when people are going into the ring or she might get short shrift.
When I was looking for my flatti I chatted to numerous people at shows and it really helped. I did meet up with the now sire of my Brooke at ashow but that was aftr conversation on the phone emails etc and she invited me to come and meet her. Inspite of that it was a very busy time and she tried to give me attention but obviously  she had other priorities which I understood.
With regard to Poms, sue I have met much the same attitude. It appears to be a difficult breed to get into other than for a pet very tight knit.  I am sorry if I have offend anyone I am not meaning too but I was even told that by a very nice breeder  at discover dogs and who is in showing and would have considered me for a pom . Since then I have heard and seen the same myself, not very easy breeders to talk to so far. Sorry pom breeders

Regarding some of the more 'popular' breeds, I wonder if it's because so many people now see a bitch as a money-pot on legs?

If these breeders have been 'stung' in  the past with welcoming people who turned out to be not what they claimed before getting a pup, it would hardly be surprising if they then were more suspicious of people looking for a show pup.

Good news :D I've managed to persuade her to attend a Championship show with me in August so hopefully the Pembroke Corgi will be friendly in person than they have been via email. Here's hoping.

Which one I might be there

City of Birmingham? I am going on the Friday to watch the Elkhounds but said I would attend the Saturday as well to see the Pembroke's and view my current breed as well :)

Make sure they see the Vallhunds too ;)

Sorry not doing city of Birmingham Don't like the judge will be at Darlington