Shimmy Shimmy Coco Posh: Westminster Wonder!

She was a force of nature from the very beginning. The will of a giant in the body of a pup.

Born Riverside Telltail Coco Posh to a dam and sire from champion lines in 2008, she had the mojo of a winner. For this Cardigan Welsh Corgi, however, Westminster wins would have to wait a few years. With ropes to learn, laps to warm, and a lodge to supervise, our girl would be plenty busy!

Now a busy puppy is one thing. A busy Corgi puppy is another thing entirely. Part Mack truck, part teddy bear, all curiosity. Endlessly and exhaustively adorable. If the dog is the god of frolic, a Corgi is closest to heaven.

Owner Julie Divens knew what she was in for. A succession of show champion Pembrokes had already carved out the distinctively Corgi-shaped place in her heart, as one by one they joined her household to live out their happy retirements. Of course, no Corgi ever actually retires from anything. There is always work to be done, even if that work happens to be play. And play, as we all know, is serious work for a puppy! 

Little Coco Posh was no exception.

As one of a litter of seven Cardigans from breeding arranged by Cindy Bossi (Telltail Cardigans of Wilmington, North Carolina) and Julie’s sister Deb Shindle (Riverside Pembroke Welsh Corgis of Vero Beach, Florida), Coco was all aces in the genes department. Together with “stunning hunk of love” Dickens (GCH CH Twinroc Santa Paws), her mother Lola (CH Telltails Showgirl) made beautiful music. And babies. Lovely and amazing babies.
 
Heedless of her history and natural good looks, bright-eyed Coco simply set her sights set on the work of puppyhood. Growing into those big ears, big feet and big brains. A job for the stout of heart! Julie knew she had a real worker on her hands the day she fetched her from the Sacramento airport. From first glimpse, the busy charmer made it clear she was playing for keeps. Julie knew better than to resist. “I can only say I was in love immediately with this darling creature” she recalls. “From her funny, slightly out-of-proportion ears to her snout-to-tail ratio, I never wanted to let her off my lap.”

Coco was everything a Corgi lover hopes for. Although the differences between Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis run deeper than looks, both breeds are generally good natured, intelligent, and playful. Bold but friendly, with family always first. Julie’s new charge made herself right at home next to her mother Lola, the resident grand dame, overseeing the installation of hardwood flooring while they watched and waited for any opportunity to be of help. Or play. Coco made quick work of it, shimmying up to her people with a piece of wood in her tiny jaws, bushy tail waving, an open invitation to merriment.

And maybe a side of mischief.

Such was the beginning of Julie’s life with the Cardigan pup who would go on to win Best of Breed and make history as Best of Herding Group at Westminster in 2014. With her route to fame fairly roundabout, the story of Coco Posh’s life and unanticipated victory is all the more remarkable. She is quite a girl!

As Julie puts it, “Our love affair has never ended, though her life today is vastly different than it was when she came to live with me. But that will be another story for another day!”

Indeed it will. Future installments on The Daily Corgi of Coco Posh’s biography are in the works. Don’t miss ’em!