Mickey
A few years ago I received a phone call from a gentleman looking for a Corgi to train with cattle and pheasants on a large private estate in Wales. Being very dubious how farmers treat their dogs in general in Wales, I was not very enthusiastic about selling him one. However I mentioned that I did have a puppy but his bite was not 100% correct so he could not be shown or bred from. Anyway this puppy was only eight weeks old and would not be able to leave here until he was three months at least. I thought that this would be enough to put the gentleman off buying a Corgi for farm work and anyway I had also told him this was a Cardiganshire Corgi. Two days later he telephoned me again. He had visited his vet and checked on whether this bite would cause the dog any problems etc etc. This made me think that this gentleman was no ordinary farmer and really cared for his animals. Eventually he persuaded me to visit him, with Mickey the puppy who was now 9 weeks old. The result was that Mickey stayed at this wonderful home on the day we visited. I introduced him to Hereford Cattle, Pheasants, ducks, two rescued donkeys and a retired racehorse. This was no ordinary farm it was a gentleman's farm and Mickey would be living in luxury but also working everyday. Chris has promised to send me an article for the Cardifair at some time on "Mickey" and it looks now as though we can except one on "Fflossy" also. He is so very impressed with the way the Cardigan is so intelligent, brave and adaptable that he recently asked me for another Cardigan to train on during the winter months." flossy" was delivered to him four weeks ago at the age of ten weeks. Below is a copy of the email I received from him this morning. This is what the Cardigan shire Corgi was bred for and we at Gwenlais are so proud that ours are capable of doing their job as well as winning in the ring.
Dear Mair and Tom,
"Fflossy" is coming on a treat and sits, heels and stays very well. She is so good (so far) that I take her on my daily walkabout to feed the pheasants. She walks nicely to heel with the birds all around her and also stays when I go into the strips of bird cover. I had to laugh today as we brought the last of the cattle indoors; the silly things wouldn't move with both dogs barking in the front box of the bike so decided to put both dogs on the ground. Mickey was his usual brilliant self and got them going in the right direction. However Fflossy didn't realise she had to slow down once the stock were moving and gaily carried on at their heels; she got so carried away she went a good 500 yards with them before realising me and Mickey were far behind. At this point she raced back to us and followed us home at a more sedate pace with the cattle in front. To say I am pleased with her is an understatement, may I just thank you again for finding her for me.
Best wishes.
Chris
Here Chris mentions a box on the front of his bike. This is a box he has fitted on to his motorised bike which looks like a small tractor. He uses this to drive across 200 acres daily to check on his stock. Mickey, and now Fflossy sit in this until needed to drive on the cattle. I am certain that Chris will welcome any Cardiganshire fanciers visiting this country from abroad to come and watch these Cardiganshire Corgis working.
Mair and the GWENLAIS MOB.