Queen Corgis - fading their way out !!!

Dogs are considered man’s best ally and among the most sought after pets ~ to some they bring endless joy and fun. For some they are too scary….  There are hundreds of breeds ~ Afghan Hound, American Blue Lacy, Bearded Collie, Beauceron, Berger Picard, Border Collie, Corgis, Fila Brasileiro, Koolie, Mountain Cur, Norwegian Elkhound, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Rottweiler, Swedish Vallhund, Texas Heeler, Tibetan Spaniel ~ some names out of a group – can you identify what ?

Some from the list of ‘Shepherds’ – German Shepherd [Alsatians !] is perhaps better known to us.  They are herding dogs - a type of pastoral dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds developed for herding. Their ability to be trained to act on the sound of a whistle or word of command is renowned throughout the world.  Among them, the Welsh corgi is a small type of herding dog that originated in Wales. Two distinct breeds are recognized: the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Cardigan Welsh corgi, with the Pembroke being the more common. Cardigans are the larger of the two breeds.  Pembrokes feature pointed ears, and are somewhat smaller in stature than the Cardigan. Considered a practical dog, they are low-set, intelligent, strong and sturdy with stamina sufficient to work a day on the farm.

Corgis perform their herding duties by nipping at the heels of cattle; the dog's low height allows it to avoid being kicked in the process. As herding dogs, corgis work livestock differently than other breeds. Instead of gathering the cattle the way a collie would, by running around the livestock, corgis drive the herd forward by nipping at their heels and working them from behind in semicircles. They are also one of the few breeds able to herd geese.

Corgis often compete in dog agility trials, obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking, and herding events.  Corgis are very active and energetic. Outside Wales, corgis have been made popular by Queen Elizabeth II who has at least four in her retinue at all times. Her first corgi was called Susan. She currently keeps two corgis and two Dorgis (corgi/dachshund cross).  Queen Elizabeth's corgis are the Welsh Corgi dogs – fond of corgis since she was a small child, Elizabeth II has owned more than 30 corgis since she became Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms in 1952.

The Queen Mother introduced a disciplined regimen for the dogs; each was to have its own wicker basket, meals were served for each dog in its own dish, the diet approved by veterinary experts with no titbits from the royal table. The corgis thus enjoy a privileged life at Buckingham Palace.  The royal corgis are known all across the world and have been portrayed in many ways such as statues and works of art.

All this would become a thing of the past as now the Queen - who is known to be inseparable from her beloved Corgis - has decided against introducing any new dogs to Buckingham Palace.  It is reported that she no longer replaces the pets as they die and, as she gets older, she is worried about tripping over the small dogs.

The Queen's Corgis have been a regular sight during her rule  even on tours but she has ruled out introducing any new dogs.  MailOnline reports that the Queen declined the offer of two puppies from her granddaughter Princess Beatrice.  A senior courtier told the Daily Express: 'The Queen thought it was a lovely offer but she politely declined. 'The fact is she worries about too many dogs around her feet and the danger she will trip up and hurt herself badly. She is after all 88 and not getting any younger. Her corgis are getting on a bit and move along at a sedate speed but a young dog would obviously be very lively and much more active. Her main fear is that if she fell and broke her arm or even a leg she would not be able to perform her duties for many weeks if not months, and that would upset her greatly.'

While she has a reputation for being rather firm and fierce in other matters, the Queen is ridiculously soppy over her corgis. Over the years, the Royal Family seem to have embraced dogs as their favoured pets. Formal portraits from the 17th century onwards show them posing with dogs, from pugs to greyhounds, King Charles Spaniels to Corgis. Corgis were first introduced to the royal circle by King George VI in 1933 when he bought a Corgi called Dookie from a local kennels.  For her eighteenth birthday, The Queen was given a Corgi named Susan. She became the matriarch of the royal Corgi line and it was the beginning of a 70-year love affair.  Some Corgis were mated with dachsunds to create 'Dorgis', two of which, Candy and Vulcan, still survive, along with the two Corgis Willow and Holly. 

The Corgis have hit the headlines before - in 2004 one had to be put down after being savaged by an English bull terrier owned by Princess Anne when they ran out to greet her as she arrived at Sandringham for Christmas.  The Corgis have enjoyed life as Britain's most privileged pets. They live in palaces and castles, travel in chauffeur-driven limousines, fly by private plane or helicopter and are carried down aircraft steps by aides.

So, things change ~ old order changeth, yielding place to new !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

3^rd Feb 2015.