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Prepping For the Holidays: How to Groom a Corgi

November 21, 2018

As the holidays approach, many people are preparing for guests and travel. Preparing for the holidays may include preparing your home, your wardrobe, and your schedule, but what about getting your pet ready?

Today, I would like to discuss grooming your Corgi in preparation for the holidays. To be honest, I have never had Rooney professionally groomed, and therefore, I follow a few quick steps to get him ready for the holidays. Because, despite having what may seem like a complicated “fur situation”, grooming a Corgi is pretty easy and can be done at home to prepare for the holidays.

Prepping For the Holidays: How to Groom a Corgi

Step 1: Brushing

Corgis are shedders. They shed an insane amount because they are a double-coated dog breed.

What exactly is a double-coated dog breed?

According to the Honest Kitchen, “double coated dogs have a dense undercoat of short hairs (woolly in texture) under a top coat of longer hairs called guard hairs”. The undercoat of a double-coated dog breed serves a very specific and important purpose; they help your dog regulate body temperature despite the elements. Meaning, the undercoat of a double-coated breed keeps your dog both cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

This seasonal functionality creates additional shedding in the Spring and Fall as a result of the changing seasons. Depending where you are the in world, you might be experiencing a combination of seasonal weather. In California we are currently experiencing the aftermath of two major wildfires, so we actually haven’t had any true weather, which is terrifying (If you would like to help people and pets in California who have lost their homes, please visit the American Red Cross’ website here). In years where we have had a normal weather cycle, we are usually experiencing a drop in temperatures, and our true Fall weather in Northern California shows up the most in the month of November. All of this to say that Rooney gets a weekly brushing, and shorter quick brushes throughout the week to keep up with the extra shedding. We use a furminator for both.

The furminator helps me knock loose a lot of Rooney’s undercoat, which helps prevent him from shedding all over the place all the time.

That being said after I brushed Rooney yesterday morning, he had the inspiration for a “zoomie” session (you know where your dog suddenly runs around your house or yard unprompted), and he ran right through the pile of fur I had collected spreading it all of the living room. Hilarious, until I realized I need to clean it.

via GIPHY

Step 2: Nails

The second step for grooming your dog at home is trimming their nails. My husband and I are able to accomplish this at home which keeps our grooming costs at $0 for Rooney each year. Granted, when I worked as a veterinary technician, I trimmed so many different dog’s nails, I had a lot of practice before we adopted Rooney. If you are going to attempt to start trimming your dog’s nails at home, here are a few things I recommend:

  • Find the right nail trimmers for you. I love the Safari Professional Nail Trimmer for Dogs from Chewy.com.
  • Watch a Tutorial. Dr. Buzby DVM has an amazing tutorial series on her YouTube channel. If you have time you can also ask your veterinary hospital to provide you with a tutorial.
  • TREATS! Making nail trims a positive experience is huge for being able to trim your dog’s nails at home again. My husband provides Rooney with greenies to chew on as I trim Roo’s nails.

Step 3: Bath

The third step is simple and straight forward, give them a bath.

The only added tip I would share with you is that Rooney sheds A TON after a bath, even if I brush him right before. So if the weather is right (which typically, for us it is warm enough), I walk Rooney after a bath so that he can shed outside on the walk instead of in the house. This walk also helps dry him off, since Rooney loathes the hair dryer, AND helps file his nails, which is why I trim them before.

Alternate Step

Some Corgi parents also prefer to trim the fur on their Corgi’s rear end and feet. I find that trimming the fur around their paws is important if you have hardwood floors and your dog has a hard time gripping the ground. I don’t take these extra steps for Rooney’s grooming because he doesn’t need them, but I might as he ages and/or we change our floors. For more detailed instructions on trimming, I would visit Little Cooper Bear’s blog here.

One word of caution: if you are using shears for the first time, make sure you have lots of help so that you can keep your Corgi still. Grooming accidents do happen and at the veterinary hospital we have seen pet parents get too close to the skin with shears, which often required stitches.

I hope these tips provide you with useful information for getting your Corgi ready for the holiday season!

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

October 2, 2018

I realize that I am not alone in saying this, but Fall is by far my favorite season. I have never really been a person who relishes the summer and counts the days I get to spend in the sun. I’m more of the, let’s-spend-time-outside-while-wearing-sweaters type person.

To be honest, summer isn’t Rooney’s favorite season either. While he does love to swim, Rooney gets hot very quickly due to his double-coat. So I think he’s excited for the season where we get to hike more and spend more time doing outdoor activities.

However, I was recently looking back at the photos on my phone, and thought to myself, “Wow, we had a really fun Summer”. So today, I thought we could recap some of our favorite moments from Summer 2018.

Tahoe

Most importantly, we were able to take Rooney to Tahoe twice this summer, which was amazing. It’s by far Rooney’s favorite place where he indeed lives his best life.

2018 Pride Parade in San Francisco

For the last two years we have marched in the Pride parade as part of the Corgi March! We have met some amazing people, and Rooney met his bff Wes!

CorgiCon

If you aren’t familiar with CorgiCon, it’s essentially a big beach party where all the Corgis are invited. Each year the party gets a little bigger, and it’s so amazing.

Rooney’s 8th Birthday!

Rooney turned 8 this summer! When I took him to the pet store to pick out some toys, he picked out this cupcake. I can tell he really likes it because he hasn’t destroyed it yet. 🙂

Hiking & Enjoying New Walks

San Leandro Marina from Rachel Sheppard on Vimeo.

Road Trip to Arizona

We had a chance to visit family this Summer on an impromptu visit to Arizona. Rooney’s a big fan of road trips, since it always includes exploring new places.

 

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How was your summer? What activities did you and your dog enjoy?

How to Improve Your Pet’s Dental Health with Their Food – Petcurean

March 3, 2018

February is National Pet Dental Health month. Which means, I couldn’t let too much time go by without at least briefly discussing Pet Dental Health!

Today, I am teaming up with Petcurean to share with you how choosing your pet’s food can affect their overall dental health.

Now, any veterinary professional will most certainly want me to reiterate that brushing your pet’s teeth is the #1 way that you can improve your pet’s dental health. However, many pet parents already brush their pet’s teeth, and are likely interested in additional ways that they can improve their pet’s dental health.

If you aren’t already aware, Pet Dental Health is imperative to your pet’s overall health and is wisely summed up in this quote from Petcurean:

Similar to humans, poor dental hygiene causes bad breath, plaque, tartar, gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth root abscesses in dogs. At its worst, bad dental health can contribute to more serious health issues. Inflamed gums, for example, can cause bacterial infections that can affect organs such as the heart and kidneys with extreme cases being fatal.

Petcurean recently released a new brand of food specifically designed to help small dogs with poor dental health. Why small dogs? Well, generally speaking small dogs are more prone to dental disease.

[I]f you’re thinking of adopting a small breed, be prepared for more trips to the vet. With small breeds—generally anyone shorter than knee height—periodontal disease is a huge problem, says Dr. Donnell Hansen, a veterinarian with BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Blaine, Minnesota.

I know all my fellow Corgi Pet Parents out there are wondering; “Does this ‘small breed’ definition count for Corgis too?”. I have always thought of Corgis as “medium dogs with half the leg length”, which would actually mean that they aren’t as prone to periodontal disease as small dogs, but they certainly aren’t immune to dental health problems. According to the AKC:

“Small and large dogs differ in the type of dental disease they can encounter. Small dogs are especially prone to tartar formation, gum recession, and eventual loss of teeth… In contrast, large dogs are more likely to suffer from a fractured tooth from aggressive chewing. If the fracture exposes the interior of the tooth (the pulp cavity), infection travels down the tooth to its root, causing an abscess and loss of the tooth.”

Some of the research I read claimed that Corgis were prone to dental health disease, other articles didn’t include them on the list as one of the top breeds with dental problems. Regardless, we Corgi parents want to do everything we can to improve our dog’s dental health! If you still aren’t sure of the importance of dental health, perhaps this case study from VetWest Animal Hospitals can persuade you!

If Your a Pet Parent of a Small Dog (Defined as <25lbs by feeding Guidelines)

One of the ways your can improve your pet’s dental health is by changing to a food that supports pet dental health! If you are the pet parent of a small breed dog, the new Petcurean NOW FRESH Small Breed recipes are formulated with ingredients that help support oral health and fresh breath, including sodium tripolyphosphate, which binds calcium to protect teeth from tartar formation. Peppermint and parsley are also included as natural ingredients to promote fresh breath. In addition, the small clover-shaped kibble is one of the smallest in the market, contributing to high palatability, easy chewing, and effective digestion.

Every My Kid Has Paws reader can enjoy a $5 off coupon to try any Petcurean recipe using coupon code PAWSOME8 which can be redeemed at Petcurean.com/pawsome!

I wouldn’t classify Rooney as a small breed dog. Not only because I think he is a medium dog with short legs, but also because Rooney is 30lbs and lives and behaves much more like a medium dog, therefore, he wouldn’t necessarily benefit from small kibble.

If you are interested in reading more about Pet Dental Health, don’t forget to check out some of our top pet dental health articles here:

What You NEED to Know About Pet Dental Health – Interview with Dr. Burr from Trupanion

Why Do Dog Dentals Cost So Much?

February Challenge! 20 Days of Dental Health #MKHPFebruaryChallenge

Why Shouldn’t My Pet Have a Gentle Dental?

Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean blogger. I was provided with food and compensation so that Rooney and I could provide our honest opinion. However, Petcurean is the food we feed Rooney every day. My Kid Has Paws only shares reviews we believe benefit our readers.

How Important is it to Keep Your Corgi in Shape? – Petcurean

February 5, 2018

Disclaimer: We are part of the Petcurean Blogger Advocate program. However, we feed Rooney Petcurean every day. My Kid Has Paws only shares information about products we like and we believe our readers will enjoy.

A few months ago I was taking Rooney to a Corgi meetup in San Francisco and I heard someone say, “Look at that chubby Corgi!”. I wanted to turn around and say, “He’s just fluffy and his body condition score is perfect!”, but I refrained.

How Important is it to Keep Your Corgi in Shape?

Corgis are one of those breeds that can easily look overweight. With their fluffy double-coats and low-to-the-ground stature, it’s easy to seem chubby. Regardless of general appearance to the public, maintaining and managing your Corgi’s weight is one of the most important things you can do as a pet parent.

Obesity & Excess Weight

Obesity and excess weight are most commonly brought on by overfeeding, a lack of exercise, or both. Additionally, obesity and excess weight can lead to a variety of health issues for your Corgi including, but not limited to diabetes, arthritis, and a shortened life span.

Obesity is a significant risk factor for many life-threatening diseases that affect dogs and cats. For example, diabetes and obesity in cats often go hand-in-hand, and in dogs even a slight increase in weight has been shown to decrease their lifespan by about two years. – Dr. Jennifer Adolphe, Petcurean

For Corgis, proper weight management is especially important since they are prone to IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) and DM (Degenerative Myelopathy).

In dog breeds that are predisposed to IVDD, keeping them at a lower weight will help reduce the stress on their backbone and neck. – PetMD

Body Condition Score

The proper way to determine if your Corgi is at a healthy weight is by measuring their Body Condition Score. A good Body Condition Score is characterized by a distinct waist line from above and the side, as well as, the ability to easily feel (but not see) ribs and vertebra.


To see what a proper Body Condition Score looks like for Corgis, please visit Little Cooper Bear’s blog where Cooper explains what a Corgi’s body condition score should look like, with photos which are really helpful!

If you are unsure of your Corgi’s body condition score, you should definitely ask your veterinarian at your dog’s next annual exam.

via GIPHY

 

Keeping Your Corgi in Shape

Now that we have established the importance of keeping your Corgi in shape, let’s discuss ways to do so.

  1. Exercise: Regular and consistent exercise is the cornerstone of keeping your pet in shape. Rooney gets his exercise on frequent walks, weekend outdoor adventures, and weekly doggy daycare. Even when the weather is bad, don’t forget that exercise includes stretching, training, and engaging with puzzles.
  2. The Right Food: In college I used workout DVDs to stay in shape during the offseason. Every DVDs said that you could workout as much as you want, but you have to eat the right foods to stay in shape. The same is true for your dog. Make sure you are feeding them quality food designed to fuel their activity. We feed Rooney Petcurean GO! SENSITIVITY + SHINE™ Duck Recipe, and at 7-years-old people still say he looks and acts like he is 2! Enter code: PS141ZW997 to get $5 off any bag of NOW FRESH, GATHER or GO!
  3. Reduce Table Scraps: If you take the time and invest the money in feeding your dog the best food, it doesn’t make sense to then feed them non-nutritious table scraps.
  4. Hold Everyone in the House Responsible: If you are increasing your dog’s exercise and feeding them a balanced diet, and their body condition score isn’t changing, often, there is a family member who is feeding your dog something they shouldn’t (or it could be a sign of hypothyroidism). I hate to point fingers, but its really important that everyone is on a fitness journey with your dog.
  5. Supplements: If you haven’t already, consider adding supplements to your dog’s diet to support digestive and bone health as they age. Glucosamine and Omega 3’s are very popular among dog parents, but I recommend working with your veterinarian before adding anything to your dog’s diet.

How do you keep your Corgi in shape?

All photos of Rooney in this post are courtesy of Pawpawrazzi Pet Photography. 

Should You Adopt a Corgi? Adopt A Shelter Pet Month with Petcurean

October 30, 2017

As many of you know, my husband and I adopted Rooney almost 6 years ago from a Northern California Corgi rescue, and he has brought SO MUCH joy to our lives every day since then. Today, in honor of Adopt a Shelter Pet Month, I would like to discuss if you are ready to adopt a Corgi.

Recently, we had a chance to attend CorgiCon, which is a very large gathering of Corgis in the community at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Queen’s Best Stumpy Dog Rescue, which is a Corgi specific rescue in California, had an owner surrender at the event. This post from QBSDR really resonated with me because lately I have been thinking about the recent popularity of Corgis and the number of people who are likely ill-prepared to have a Corgi. You might be thinking, “Rachel, why are you telling people they are ill-prepared, if you are trying to get people to adopt Corgis?”. Great question! It’s because those people who have purchased a Corgi and are ill-prepared, might give them up for health reasons (see below), and those Corgis are going to need AMAZING forever homes. Forever homes require a certain amount of preparedness and research. So, let’s outline the things you need to consider before adopting a Corgi.

Happy #FindAFriendFriday everyone. This isn’t going to be your usual, happy-go-lucky Friday post…prepare to have some information dropped on you. This little baby is Cheddar Bay Biscuit, a 15wk old Pembroke. He came to us last week, given up for Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts. Before y’all start getting all puppy drunk, exclaiming “I want to adopt him!”, he’s not available for adoption yet – he still needs to finish his vaccinations, get microchipped, neutered, and be seen by an ophthalmologist. I know, he’s cute, he’s so young, and everyone wants a puppy. Now take a moment and ask yourself: 1. Why was he given up? 2. Would you be prepared to take on the reason he was given up? 3. Where did he come from? 4. Was he responsibly and ethically bred? 5. Did his breeder test for Degenerative Myelpathy (DM), von Willebrand disease (vWB), eye disorders, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and cardiac issues? Have they had cases of Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)? 6. Did the sire (dad) and dam (mom) have their OFA certificates, indicating a clear screening and evaluation from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals? 7. Does he come from a lineage of sound temperament and structure? 8. Did the breeder microchip him? 9. Why do any of these questions even matter? I just want a corgi puppy! Y’all know, we will ALWAYS advocate for adoption first, but we also respect that corgis are purebred dogs that exist because of breeders. That being said, if you’re going to get a dog from a breeder, KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM. With the rising popularity of corgis and the increasing desire for puppies, there are plenty of breeders, backyard breeders, puppy mills, and non breeders who want to “have just one litter” or “keep just one puppy” and have the rest to sell, that are willing to meet the supply and demand. Let’s not forget the puppy slingers/flippers/brokers out there. Never heard of them? Well you’re about to. 1. Why was he given up? A: Cheddar was given up because “they already had two dogs and couldn’t keep a third one.” That’s the reason the flippers gave. The real reason: they never intended on a third dog, especially one that might go blind.

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Herding Breeds & Behavior

I am putting this as the number one thing you should consider because adopting a herding breed is not the same as adopting a non-herding breed. (I think I just heard a bunch of dog parents nod their heads in agreement!).

While Rooney is outgoing and wonderful, he also needs a lot of exercise, training, and mental stimulation. I love every quirk in Rooney’s personality (it reminds me of mine), but not everyone finds him as charming as I do.

Should You Adopt a Corgi? Adopt A Shelter Pet Month with Petcurean

Herding breeds are meant to work. If you don’t give them the mental stimulation and exercise they need, they might end up taking it out on your furniture, or your shoes, or other expensive items in your home.

However, if you are looking for a sturdy dog to keep you company on your hikes and other outdoor activities, then a Corgi might be the right dog for you. Additionally, if you don’t mind seeking out training classes, you may have found your breed.

via GIPHY

Don’t believe me? Here is what the AKC has to say:

Pembroke

  • Personality: Smart and alert, affectionate but not pushy, bold but kindly.
  • Energy Level: Very Active; A strong and athletic little dog, the Pembroke loves physical activity and is happiest when he has a job to do.
  • Trainability: Responds Well
  • Barking Level: Barks When Necessary

Cardigan

  • Personality: Loyal, affectionate, and smart; even-tempered, never shy
  • Energy Level: Very Active; Athletic, rugged herders with a love for the outdoors, Cardigans thrive on mental and physical activity
  • Trainability: Responds Well
  • Barking Level: Barks When Necessary

Genetic Diseases and Common Injuries

Unfortunately, Corgis are prone to a certain number of aliments mostly having to do with their back. I was highly aware of the risks and costs associated with a slipped disc and subsequent back surgery when we adopted Rooney, therefore, I purchased pet insurance.

Rooney slipped a disc in his back in 2014, and fortunately, he didn’t need surgery and only had to spend one night in the emergency room. However, it is likely we haven’t seen the end of Rooney’s back injuries. While we do everything we can to keep him lean and healthy, we know that another slipped disc is a possibility. If you are considering adopting a Corgi, I HIGHLY recommend pet insurance. If you have any specific pet insurance questions, I am happy to answer and share my experience, feel free to email me at mykidhaspawsblog@gmail.com.

Pembroke

While the AKC didn’t explicitly state any diseases associated with Pembroke Welsh Corgis, I can say from personal and professional experience that all Corgi parents should know what the symptoms of a back injury and degenerative myelopathy look like.

Cardigan

According to the AKC, here are some of the specific health concerns associated with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi:

  • Hip Dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joints that causes arthritis and pain
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), which causes blindness
  • Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Lifestyle Alignment

This one is easy…

…can you deal with shedding?

If your answer is no, please consider adopting another breed.

Okay, okay…I’m sort of joking, but seriously, Corgis shed all the time.

If you are considering any breed, you definitely want to discuss things like shedding, drool, and how you want their tiny little legs to weave into the fabric of your life. Will they sleep on the couch? Will they be around kids? Do you have cats?

While the two sections above are more specific to the Corgi breeds, this section is really about finding the right individual dog for you and your lifestyle. Take your time and think about the things you are willing to compromise on, as well as the characteristics that mean the most to you. One of the best things about adopting a dog is that their personalities are already developed and the rescues and shelters usually have some insight into their behavior.

For example, when we adopted Rooney I had never had a dog who liked to swim. When I asked the rescue group they weren’t sure if he did like to swim or not, so I just had to wait until that summer to find out. I wish you all could have seen the look on my face when Rooney waded straight into the lake one summer and took off swimming, I was so happy! Now, Rooney goes swimming with me whenever I get the chance to swim in a dog-friendly pool, and we have had the opportunity to visit a few lakes and oceans for swims as well.

via GIPHY

Family Preparedness

This is something I can’t stress enough. How ready is your family for a dog?

Has everyone in your family had a chance to voice their concerns and requests?

Having the whole family involved is definitely a key to success for helping a dog find their forever home with your family. If you aren’t sure if your family is ready, I highly recommend pet sitting and/or fostering a dog to see if your family members are ready for the responsibility and adjustments.

I would love to hear from other Corgi parents how your Corgi came into your life and if there is anything I forgot to include.

Petcurean would like to provide a Giveaway to celebrate Adopt A Shelter Pet Month! Tell us the story of your rescued or adopted pet in the comments below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean blogger. I was provided with food and compensation so that Rooney and I could provide our honest opinion. However, Petcurean is the food we feed Rooney every day. I am also a Chewy.com influencer. My Kid Has Paws only shares reviews we believe benefit our readers.

Photos of Rooney: Pawpawrazzi Pet Photography

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