Kristi M. of Colorado wrote to The Daily Corgi about Bridget, a very special Cardigan with her own story to tell.
“In the summer of 2003 we lost Lightning, our beloved huge long-haired white German Shepherd. After a few months of grieving, our family needed a new dog.”
“Our two teenage sons had become transfixed by Ein, a Corgi on the animated Japanese cartoon Cowboy Bebop. When Nick said we should get a Corgi, I told him I didn’t want one of those “silly looking dogs with short legs and big ears.”
“I was a German Shepherd type of dog person, but the boys persisted. “Mom, Corgis are really great dogs and really smart” they said, as I watched Ein move across the TV screen. I reluctantly googled “Corgi in Colorado”, and thus began our love affair with Bridget.”
“The local breeders in the search results just happened to have a fresh litter. We excitedly drove to see the puppies for our interview, not knowing there were two kinds of Corgis. The litter was bunch of burly males that the boys thought were perfect and one small female. I emphasized our desire for an outdoor dog to run in the snowy mountains with the boys. (Our Lightning had been tough enough to stand down the mountain lions, bears or coyote that frequent our neck of the woods).”
“Let’s just say that we totally lucked out; the owner knew her puppies and customers when she chose the little girl for us. Bridget was born in November 2003, of fine pedigree. She is an Olynmawr Cardigan Welsh Corgi, her sire is Ch Reese’s Bold As Brass (a 2003 Eukanuba winner) and her dam is Ch Nanertak Suncliffe Cayenne of Colorado.”
“A few weeks later we brought Bridget home, the sweetest diggety dang dog ever.”
Bridget at four months old. Watercolor portrait by Alice Carol.
“When we first got her, my husband said she looked like a Picasso painting, with strange exaggerated characteristics like huge ears, short legs, big tail, and long body. When put together right, however, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a masterpiece. We loved Bridget in all her quirkiness, and she soon became one of the pack in our house.”
“She endeared herself to all of us and quickly took to filling Lightning’s shoes (paws). Bridget stole our hearts with her looks, eager companionship and fast learning. She loved to carpool to school and ice hockey. Her first weekend with us we took her to a hockey tournament in Colorado Springs where every spectator and player wanted a peek at the tiny big eared creature I held inside my fluffy coat.”
Sniffing the first-day-of-school new shoes.
“I am fortunate to work at art galleries where Bridget is accepted. With her water bowl, bed and treats, she’s grown up a true gallery dog, with the freedom to scamper in the wide open spaces of a carpeted gallery or roam the workshop area where fine artists and visitors bring treats and even paint her. Bridget is pampered by art, artists and aficionados.”
“When exhibitions change, Bridget stays for the long nights, bringing joy and smiles to those of us working late. If anyone hugs me in an embrace of shared happiness or exhaustion, Bridget delights in barking jealously. Only she gets my hugs!”
“One of the great things about a Cardigan Corgi is that they are outdoor dogs, bred to run in the highlands.”
Bridget telling us how proud she is of this perch she found on a walk in the mountains. She is very vocal.
“Bridget enjoys sniffing out interesting nooks, squirrels, and people on our walks in the Rocky Mountains. She is the sharp-eyed Sheriff of Squirreltown! She draws a lot of attention, especially with her fox-like tail.”
“Her favorite munches include grass and flowers in the Springtime, cucumbers and apples anytime of the year.”
“Bridget runs with the big dogs. Her best friends are monstrous Labs who accompany us on hours-long hikes, led by Bridget, of course. She recently ran alongside me during the 5 km segment of a triathlon.”
“In the deep snow she relishes, Bridget’s graceful movements resemble a dolphin’s undulations. She is a formidable partner for a cross-country or snow shoeing session.”
Frolics with best friend Sassy.
Putting a potential suitor in his place.
“Another aspect of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed is their working dog’s fondness for chores. Bridget has two favorite chores, one of which is Friday morning trash day. Living in the mountains, that means alpha male dragging cans and boxes to the end of a long dirt driveway. Bridget yaps and herds the alpha male outdoors as soon as she sees him putting on his shoes and socks.”
“To assist alpha girl, Bridget’s favorite chore is BBQ-ing. Using the foolproof timer method, I set the buzzer for four minutes to heat the grill. When the timer goes off — bark bark! — Bridget runs to the door, the meat goes on, the buzzer sounds again in five minutes, and the giant ears of the Cardigan Corgi go to work: run to door, door opens, out to BBQ on deck … hmmm, elk or deer in yard to chase … and finally time to bring in the meat! It goes without saying that Bridget’s hard work is rewarded with a few scrumptious morsels.”
“Almost seven years have passed since Bridget was born. My boys are grown now and live in different towns. When the youngest left for college, he said he felt sorry for Bridget because not only would she be spoiled, she would truly become my daughter. “
“We were expressly forbidden to dress her in dog clothes.”
“Bridget and I did get lonely in our empty house, and we bonded even more. Sleeping on our legs at night, her following our every steps even closer. My husband also needed her companionship more, and Bridget eagerly obliged.”
“Let’s cuddle up on the couch together and feel better.”
Is it time for work? Time to get in the car? How about a hike in Red Rocks park, herding the cats, or a swim in Echo Lake at Mount Evans?
“Bridget is everything the boys said she would be: smart, a good companion, and an athlete. Lightning and Bridget would have been great hiking partners.”
Hey, forget the photo op — let’s get going!
“She deeply enjoys life and her family, and we hope our love affair with Bridget endures for many more years.”
Bridget on duty, giving an Elk the business!
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Welcome to The Daily Corgi, Bridget!
You absolutely radiate Corgi Power — love and biskies to you!
This post originally appeared on The Daily Corgi in October, 2010.
I really enjoyed reading about Bridget! Thanks for sharing her.
What a wonderful Corgi story! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Truly a wonderful story, very happy to know about Bridget. Corgis are exceptional dogs for you, we just found out about those couple months ago and deeply fell in love with our pembroke Corgi, Sami. We will be getting her sister for him to have company and we know the love will double in our house for this little girl to come. Thanks for sharing!
I appreciate what Laurie does with The Daily Corgi – bringing smiles to us every day with these adorable critters.