Corgi Mountain Dog Puppies????

A couple of weeks ago I received an e-mail with photos attached. It was from Becky, the rescue coordinator at Chilton County Humane Society. “They look like Border Collie puppies to me. Do you want them?” There were 13 photos of the cutest puppies you ever did see. I immediately e-mailed her back: “YES!!!”

I couldn’t believe that two of the puppies looked just like my Kona and Kaz, who I was fostering at the time. I’ve been fostering for years and had never had puppies like this, and here is a second set? What were the chances???

The puppies arrived a week later and were, indeed are, adorable. Three boys, two girls. Three smooth, two fuzzy. Three stubbed tails, two full tails. What could they be? They are all rather low to the ground, and the golden has the look of a Corgi about her. With the mixture of tails, I could see that being in the mix. In fact, the photo of them with their mother shows her to not be a whole lot taller than them, so I suspect she is part Corgi. What else could they be? Well, I had thought that Kona and Kaz looked to have Bernese Mountain Dog in them, and I could see that in at least two of the litter. What else? Your guess is as good as mine! So, we’re going with Corgi Mountain Dogs!

We believe they were born in early January and vary in weight from 11 to 16 pounds. They are quite the little crew. No one believes me when I say they are littermates. Glad I have the original photos to prove it. You can see them and more in their Photo Album.

As I get to know them, I will share updates on their personalities. But let me at least introduce you to my babies:

Chunky Monkey is a fuzzy male. Tricolored, he is similar in appearance to his brother Chubby Tubby but with a darker face. Also, he has a tail. He is the second largest of the litter, 15.4 pounds when he arrived. He is wearing a green collar. Adopted.

Chubby Tubby is the largest of the litter, 16.6 pounds when he arrived. A fuzzy tricolor like his brother Chunky Monkey, with more white on his face. He has a nubbed tail. His collar is orange. Visit his personal photo album. Adopted

Chutney is a smooth coated tri-color. He looks like his sister Chai, except he has a more pronounce white flame on his forehead and a nubbed tail. He wears a blue collar. Visit his personal photo album

Chai is the female smooth coated tri. She has a full tail just like a Corgi. This first day she has been a bit more reserve than her brother. She wears a red collar. Adopted

Cheetos is the smallest of the litter, 11.1 pounds when she arrived. The only gold, she also looks the most like a Corgi. Very outgoing, she is the first of the litter to run up to you for attention. She has a full tail and wears black collar. Adopted

These puppies are being fostered in Winter Park, Fl. If you are interested in adopting one of them, please review our adoption process, then e-mail me at holly.thedogliberator@gmail.com .

March 2nd Update:

What a difference just a few days make! When the puppies first arrived, they were all very skittish. I don’t think that they were handled very much on the farm where they were born. They were certainly cared for ~ they’re healthy and plump, but not highly socialized. But that’s okay, this is what my family does. We play with the puppies, we hold the puppies, we talk with the puppies, all to turn them into wonderful family dogs.

Cheetos was the first to respond to us. The first day I managed to pick her up before she could scoot away. She screamed like a rabbit (a common reaction) but I held her for a while, rubbing her ears and telling her it was okay. When I put her down again, she stuck by my side, and that is now where she likes to be. She is always the first to come running and to try to jump up in our laps. She is extremely friendly and outgoing.

If Cheetos was first, then Chutney was second to come around. I didn’t have to force myself on him. I think he decided that since I didn’t eat Cheetos, I must be safe! When I put her down, he came right up to me. In no time at all, he was laying on his back asking for belly rubs. He is a brave little soul. When Chunky Monkey played too rough with his twin Chia, he went over and put his front paws on his shoulders and pushed him to the ground. Since Chunky Monkey is quite a bit bigger than Chutney, this tells me that Chutney has some natural leadership in him. I’ll bet he’d be top banana in a dog training class!

Chubby Tubby decided we were okay the afternoon of his second day. He’d not been willing to let me approach him, but that afternoon I was outside playing with the puppies when I realized that it was Chubby I was petting! He’d just trotted up on his own and joined in the fun. He is now more often than not my shadow, walking around right behind me. Right now he is staring up at my loquat tree while it sways in the wind. I don’t think he realizes it is a tree!

I was concerned about Chunky Monkey because he seemed so shy. That is so unexpected in such a big puppy, but there it was. He’d disappear under the hedge and not want to come out (I’m sure the fact that it was cooler under there had nothing to do with it! lol). I was on the phone walking around the yard, talking to someone about the litter, the puppies following at my feet when one of them kept grabbing the bottom of my capris. I looked down and, well, guess who it was. Yup, Chunky Monkey! Ever since then he has been fine. I guess he has a capri fetish! He does tend to be a bit quieter than the rest and seems to prefer to be inside ~ he likes to hang out on the deck by the door. Because his coat is so thick, he may prefer the cool of the indoors.

Chai was the hardest of the puppies to bring around. We just couldn’t get near her. By the third day we could tell she wanted to be part of the play ~ she’d come up the the crowd, work her way in, but as we reached our hand toward her she’d move away. But today was different. My husband was outside playing with everyone. I looked out and my jaw dropped. I said to him through the window, “Look who is under your hand.” He answered, “I know. She’s been here a while.” Chai is going to be just fine. As the day has progressed so has her self confidence. What would have become of her if she had been taken to a shelter instead to me? I fear she would have been permanently scarred. Instead, she has found the delight in being with people!

March 14th Update:

Chutney just cracks me up! Today I put out a bowl of water with ice in it. All of the puppies thought the ice was great fun and played bobbing for apples with it. But then Chutney started stirring the bowl. Literally. He put his paw in and paddled to one side to the the water to swirl around. Then he’d watch the ice go around and around and around. When it slowed down, he did it again. I’ve had puppies paddle the water out of bowls before but I’ve never had one stir it like this. Just too funny!!!

March 14th:

Popcorn is a 10-week-old Yellow Lab/Great Pyrenees puppy that I just started fostering. He is pretty much full of himself,always wanting to wrestle and show off. Chutney is forever putting him in his place. It is hysterical. I made this video of Popcorn and the other puppies. My favorite moment is 1:37 when Chutney gets sick of his antics and tosses him across the yard! That’s my boy!!!