Ariel of Missouri

Ariel came into Whitney H.’s life soon after she lost Jasper. “Even though I was grieving him, I searched Petfinder just to see what options I’d have when I wanted another dog” writes Whitney. “My search brought up not one, but three Corgis at my local shelter. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to adopt yet, but one particularly adorable picture of of “Cheryl” caught my attention.”

“Her face stuck with me. I found myself looking at that picture throughout day, thinking what it would be like to have another dog, and by the next day I had made up my mind. When I went to the shelter, she was the first thing I saw in the small dog area. She was all alone in her cage, leaping up on the bars smiling at me. Of course, I had to go right up to her and pet her through the bars. She had to be the smallest Corgi I’d ever seen. She smiled and licked my hand and looked adorable. It was then that I knew she was going to come home with me. I felt a bit bad about not even giving the other Corgis a chance, so I went looking for them. As soon as I left the room “Cheryl” began to howl. “I’ll be right back!” I yelled back at her. That should have been my first indication that she was a spunky little thing. I never did find the other Corgis, but later learned they went to rescue before I got there.”

“Cheryl” went home with me was soon renamed Ariel. Cheryl just didn’t suit her. I had to take her to the vet almost as soon as I got her home because she had an awful case of kennel cough. By the next day the cough developed into pneumonia, and Ariel was in such bad shape she stopped eating. I had to force her to eat for about a week, but when her health turned around I got to meet the real Ariel.”

“Although she is a tiny Corgi, Ariel has a big personality in a 20 pound body! She likes her way, and if she doesn’t get it she starts to complain. She’ll look at you and give little “woofs” if she’s not getting the treat or the petting she feels she’s entitled to. If this goes on too long the “woofs” get louder, until finally she begins to howl. It’s usually for the best if Ariel gets her way.” 🙂

“She loves following me around and will go out of her way to be near me. When I sit down she’s almost immediately in my lap. If I’m busy or have something else in my lap she lays as close to me as possible, usually resting her little paws in my lap.”

“When I first brought her home, Ariel didn’t really know how to play. She’d steal toys away and destroy them rather than actually play with them. It took a lot of time just sitting on the floor, waiting for her to run my way with toys I threw, before she finally got the idea of ‘fetch.’ Now it’s her favorite game! She’s no longer quite so intent on destroying toys, although I occasionally still find wads of stuffing on the floor.”

“Ariel also didn’t know how to walk on a leash when I brought her home. She’d buck at the leash and try to get away. I signed her up for obedience classes to help. Now she’s an old pro at walking with a leash. She even learned to heel! She loves to go on car rides, especially when she ends up at a park or the pet store to practice her walking. Her favorite spot is nearby Wildcat State Park, although she has yet to see any wildcats.”

“When I leave she waits at the door for me, when I go to bed she’s right at my side. It’s like having a big eared, stubby legged, shadow that follows me everywhere. It is wonderful!”

Loving the snow!

Hanging with bestie Sandy, taking a break from backyard games of tag and roll.

The famous Corgi smile … cheese please!

Be mine, Valentine!

My kind o’ cane 

The ears have it … and plenty of it!

Catching the belly breezes …

 

It’s tough being THIS irresistible.  Oh yeah, you know it!