There’s been a huge surge in people buying Corgis after the Queen’s death
The Pembroke Corgi, a type of dog famous for being Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite breed, is seeing a surge in popularity following the death of Her Majesty – who passed away on 8 September at the age of 96.
Demand for the dogs has hit an all time high after renewed interest in the Royal Family and the televising of the Queen’s funeral, which saw her two remaining corgis, Muick and Sandy, make an appearance. Now, Google searches for ‘corgi puppies’ are currently 86 times their usual volume.
According to an animal information website, WhatAnimalsEat, there has been a huge spike in people looking to buy a corgi from breeders, which is a marked change compared to this time ten years ago – so much so, that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi was considered a ‘vulnerable’ breed at one point.
While it is great to hear the news that Corgis are surging in popularity again, animal charities fear that unethical breeding will take place to fill the newfound demand. As such, it's important to recognise the warning signs of a bad breeder before purchasing.
In the past five years, Dogs Trust say they have only taken in 29 corgis, but that could change. “We are yet to see if there will be a rise in demand for Corgis,” a spokesperson for the charity tells Cosmopolitan UK.
“Choosing to have a dog in your life can be a wonderful decision, but it’s also a big responsibility,” they added. “It’s important for anyone considering getting a dog to carefully think about the commitment required and to make sure that they get a dog safely and responsibly.”
Mirroring this, Rob Young, Head of Centre Operations at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, urges people to look past the pedigree and instead concentrate on personality when it comes to choosing a new furry companion – and if possible, to adopt, not shop.
“Sometimes people think rescues will be harder to train than a pedigree puppy or that it’s just not as prestigious to own a dog or a cat that hasn’t come from a breeder, but nothing could be further from the truth,” he explains. “At Battersea, we urge people to look beyond a pet’s pedigree and instead concentrate on personality; stop focusing on their age and instead see their character.”
So, if you have found yourself set on welcoming a corgi into your family (and have made sure you have the appropriate living space and ample time to care for a pet), it's important to think about how to find the right breeder for you, should your local shelter not have any corgis in need of a home.
Top tips on how to buy a pet responsibly (from an ethical breeder), according to Dogs Trust:
Potential owners should always call the puppy seller beforehand and should never make any payment in advance of seeing, or meeting, their new pet
Pitfalls can be avoided by not rushing into purchasing a puppy, so potential dog owners aren’t ‘dogfished’. Always ask to see puppy and mum together at their home, even if its via video call due to coronavirus restrictions
Ask lots of questions. A good breeder will ask you lots of questions too and will want to know where the puppy is going (if they don’t, that’s another warning sign)
All puppies should be microchipped at eight weeks old and registered to a breeder. Potential owners should be able to check whether paperwork such as pedigree papers, microchipping, proof of vet checks and vaccinations, all match
If you are choosing to purchase a puppy, then do so from a registered breeder. However, owners can always consider adopting a rescue dog too
Further advice can be found through the Government’s Get Your Pet Safely campaign. And remember folks, dogs are forever, not just for a trend!
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