Brian J. Lowney — Fur, Fin and Feathers: Little dog with big ideas only needs a job

For almost a thousand years, dog lovers on both sides of the Atlantic have admired the Pembroke Welsh corgi, an energetic cattle drover by day and a loyal family companion at night.

Britain's reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, a dedicated breeder of these popular herding dogs, is often photographed taking a stroll with these charming short-legged canines whose ancestors were brought to Wales by Flemish weavers to drive cattle on small farms in the early 1100s.

Dartmouth resident Leslie Aubut, owner of Sassafras Grove Kennels, has been breeding these astute drovers for 12 years.

"Our precious little corgis are precocious and exuberant herding dogs and they need a job to do," Aubut begins, adding that a corgi left to its own devices can wreak havoc when its owner isn't looking.

"They are clever and they think up things on their own which may not be appropriate," she continues. Aubut has bred 10 litters and she encourages new puppy owners to engage their dog in pursuits such as pet therapy, herding or other type of performance activity or conformation.

"If they don't have a job, they can be headstrong and bossy," Aubut admits.

Aubut, whose father bred field trial beagles and grandfather raised English cockers, emphasizes that prospective corgi owners should research the breed and talk to responsible breeders before making a purchase. She formerly served as the state rescue coordinator for the Mayflower Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club and understands how difficult it can be to successfully place homeless dogs.

"Go to the parent club," she advises, noting that national breed organizations offer a wealth of correct information about a specific breed and direct viewers to regional clubs, where they can be put in contact with knowledgeable local breeders.

Aubut credits one former area corgi fancier, the late Al Kirby of Westport, for generating a lot of interest in the breed and serving as a strong mentor who guided hundreds of new owners with practical advice and sound judgment.

Aubut says, for example, new owners must be taught that although corgis are low maintenance dogs, they are a double-coated breed and shed their thick undercoat twice a year — in the spring and early fall. These herding dogs also require regularly brushing.

When a dog sheds heavily, Aubut recommends that owners brush their dog outdoors.

"The corgi fur will form tumbleweeds in your yard," she quips, warning owners that they'll be spending a lot of time pushing a vacuum cleaner if they don't brush their dog's coat regularly during peak shedding seasons.

In addition to brushing, corgis also need to have their erect ears cleaned and nails kept short.

According to the American Kennel Club, the Pembroke Welsh corgi is more popular than its cousin, the Cardigan Welsh corgi, which has a longer body and a tail. The Pembroke's ancestors include several Spitz-like breeds, unlike the Cardigan, which has some dachshund characteristics.

Swansea corgi fanciers Wayne and Marita Gray have owned Pembroke Welsh corgis since 1998. They purchased their current companion, Nell, a delightful 2½ red-colored female, from Aubut and in no time, the intelligent little canine took over the house and quickly put the couple's two older male dachshunds in their places.

"She was tough as a puppy," Marita says, adding that the couple selected two private trainers who came to the house to work with the young dog. The Grays considered returning the precocious canine to Aubut, but fortunately the dog's behavior improved and she is now a joy to own.

"She was hard to catch at night," Marita recalls, adding that the wayward puppy would run around the fenced-in backyard with her owners in hot pursuit as if they were playing a game.

Once Marita purchased a Pet Corrector, a device created to humanely stop bad behavior, Nell quickly calmed down.

According to the product's website, the Pet Corrector is a spray can filled with an inert gas with a special nozzle device. When the nozzle is depressed and the gas is released, the dog hears a sound (inaudible to human ears) that resembles a hissing snake, a sound that domesticated pets have an instinctive sensitivity to, thus interrupting the unwanted behavior.

"I never had to use it again," Marita says. "I just mention 'the can' and she stops what she's doing."

The longtime dog fancier says Nell provides her owners with hours of amusement. The astute drover likes to herd her canine housemates, and likes to play tricks on Wayne by stealing socks from the bathroom floor.

"She loves kids," he emphasizes, adding that Nell likes to play Frisbee and catch balls.

"She's also good at catching treats," Marita adds.

"Nell has a great appetite," she chuckles, revealing that the playful corgi has to be fed in a separate room because she steals the other dogs' food and won't leave until all the dishes are clean.

For more information about Pembroke Welsh corgis, visit


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