Meet a Local Pet! Ernie the Corgi!
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This week, we chat with Ernie the Corgi and his human Jenn about finding a pet who suits your lifestyle (and adjusting your lifestyle to fit your pet), and learn all about the incredible pet resources that this area has to offer.
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Find Ernie and Jenn here –
Instagram: https://www.
Now, let’s get to the interview!
Transcription:
Laura Wombwell
Hi there, it’s Laura from Laura Wombwell Photography. And joining me today is Jennifer Graham, and we are going to meet her Corgi. Ernie. Hi, Jenn, I’m excited to have you here.
Jennifer Graham
Thank you for having me.
Laura Wombwell
So today’s interview is all about meeting a local pet and getting to know the person that loves them. So I would love to talk a little bit about Ernie. How long have you had him?
Jennifer Graham
I got him like, right from, like eight and a half weeks, and he’s going to be five in June. So he’s been with me pretty much his whole life.
Laura Wombwell
Wonderful. And how did he come to live with you?
Jennifer Graham
Um, well, once I moved to the city, like I always knew I wanted a dog for a while. But in a small town, it was tricky. So once I moved to the city, then I thought I had a stable job. So I thought, that’s the time so I started kind of researching breeds and doing quizzes. And in hindsight, you know, a Corgi like, like, I’m single, and you know, I work full time and everything, so probably was not the best decision. I mean, I mean, he’s like, He’s mine for life. Well, we make it work, and it’s fine now, but the first two years, I’ll admit, were pretty, pretty rough having a little tornado. I don’t know, probably like with any decision, you kind of pay more attention to the stuff that you really like, and you kind of ignore or rationalize away that stuff that might be more problematic until you actually live it. And then it’s like, okay, maybe yeah, he’s a lot.
Basically, I liked that he was very active, but although he ended up being like, really active, and I wouldn’t call myself a low energy person, I’m not exactly a high energy person either. So I kind of had to learn like other ways, like a lot mental stimulation and stuff, not just walks and hikes, because you’ll never tire out, you know, a one year old corgi. That kind of thing.
Yeah. And then if I just started researching breeders once I knew that I wanted a Corgi, and I really liked the breeder that I went with. I went to visit, they had a farm. And when I went there, like all the dogs were outside, and they had beds outside that you went inside and had all their toys and beds and everything. So you can tell they’re really comfortable with their parents and well loved healthy dogs.
Laura Wombwell
Nice. You mentioned when you had decided that you were interested in a Corgi that you needed to do a bit of research to find a breeder that would let you keep the tail intact. Can you tell me about that?
Jennifer Graham
My thoughts are based on my own experience, and I also read that book, can’t remember the title of a couple years ago by I think it was Alexandra Horowitz, she writes a bunch of dog books, and she has a chapter in there going to kind of – you have to be careful with like, just like about this, maybe a Kennel Club maybe is a good place to start. But it’s not really enough, right? You have to do some further research from there. And the other problem is because so many of them are tied to having breed standards. And if you want to keep a tail or you don’t want to crop the ears or something like that, then it can be tricky, right? Because that’s what they’re, you know, I think obligated to do. So my breeder said as long as they weren’t going to be on a farm, then we could keep the tails if we wanted to and said most of her dogs honestly went to condos in Toronto and not in the farm. Because on the farm that like the cattle would pick them up by their tails. So it was like a safety thing. Because they started herding, but they’re still herding dogs, but you know, most of them probably. Ernie will never see a farm his entire life.
So then I just I really liked that when she said her last couple litters, no one has docked the tail. So and I think I think actually in England. I’m not even sure I think it’s actually not even allowed anymore. So it might start to change over here too.
Laura Wombwell
So corgis as you’ve mentioned are a breed that have you know some energy.
Jennifer Graham
Yeah.
Laura Wombwell
What are some things that are challenging about Ernie or his breed?
Jennifer Graham
I think definitely the energy for sure is a challenge because I think I I took me too long to learn this, but I always thought I had to sort of exhaust him. And I’ve learned that, especially with herding breeds working breeds, like they won’t tire like you kind of have to tell them like, no now it’s, you know, like, you know, downtime, right? Because they’ll just go and go and go. And I look back at some of the pictures like it just looks so exhausted. And I think I did like too much with him at the beginning, I was so excited to have him so I like, you know, kind of even kind of overdid it. And I think once I kind of got a little bit more relaxed about it, he kind of settled down, they still need, like, you know, a walk around the block is not gonna cut it for a corgi, they’re not gonna be a lap dog.
And I had a great trainer was like, you know, you don’t, you’re not gonna have enough energy to keep up with a corgi. You see have to do some other things. So we started like, agility, scent detection has been amazing for him, really tires him out. Just like things like that. Just a lot of mental stimulation, not just the physical because he is so smart. So that’s kind of a double edged sword, I guess another one of the challenges. And it’s also a positive, he was very easy to train. But he also needs a lot of, you know, keeping busy and activities, things like that. So and barking barking is one too. But actually paid for a private lesson with Impressive Canines here in KW, and we just worked on that. And it’s actually to kind of become like muscle memory for him now because we did it when he was so young. So he’ll still bark, like, you know, if somebody like the our neighbor’s dogs walk by or something. But he’s generally like pretty quiet, with like thunder, you know, anything like he won’t just, you know, bark at the drop of a hat for sure. Like, which I heard can be an issue with some Corgis. So you can work through some of the challenges with the training for sure.
Laura Wombwell
Well, and I think that’s where breed research is so important, because especially with small dogs, I think people are like, oh, they’re small. They’re not going to need that much stimulation. But we forget that some of the smaller breeds are working dogs, right.
Jennifer Graham
Exactly. Yeah.
Laura Wombwell
So speaking of working, what does he like to do best? Does he love agility? Does he love scent work? What’s his favorite thing to do?
Jennifer Graham
He loves agility. We did agility for a number of years and then took a break to try some other things. And I recently had him in a tricks class and the agility equipment was on the other side. And it made me realize like how much he missed it because that’s all he wanted to do. So I said as soon as the shutdown, lockdown is over, then we’ll definitely restart that again. He loves trick training, scent detection. Like going for a trail and as soon as we get to a trail he’ll walk where it’s going around the block, you’re going to kind of have to like bribe him with half of his dinner to make him move like he’s just not as interested.
But he definitely likes it more if a walk with like some parkour or some games or something in it right? Not just like going for a walk for exercise, which I kind of like, but he doesn’t.
Laura Wombwell
So what is your very favorite thing about Ernie? How does he make you smile?
Jennifer Graham
Um, oh, there’s so many things. my very favorite thing? It’s a really hard question. Um, I think my very favorite thing, I think maybe, is that he’s just like a little bit fearless. And I’m kind of an introvert. So I think that’s really helped me, you know, kind of take more risks and try new things with him, too, that I wouldn’t normally do. He kind of gives me a little bit of courage, I think. So. Maybe that I don’t know, there’s so many like, he’s just, you know, really sweet and cute and just kind of fun to have around for sure. Right? Like, you know, it’s just an easy way to meet people. Anytime I take him somewhere. He just, you know, makes everything better. Usually. I mean, he has his days.
Laura Wombwell
I think that’s so true of all of our pets. Right. They bring us out of ourselves. And it yeah, it makes it so much easier to interact with other people when you have that, you know, cute intermediary there.
Jennifer Graham
Yeah, I think it’s also I was thinking about this the other day to make me a better steward of the environment. Like, I think before, you know, I like I always, you know, cared about it, but not I don’t, I don’t think as much until I got Ernie and just realized, like, he got me seeing a lot more places. It made me more appreciative of nature. It made me see more of the connection between the wildlife and all the animals and everything. And I think that’s really changed in my life that I’m much more conscious and action based on that compared to what I used to be. So maybe it would have come about anyway, but I definitely think he helped.
Laura Wombwell
Wonderful. Speaking of nature, are there any favorite places that you have here in southwestern Ontario that you and Ernie like to visit?
Jennifer Graham
We love Crawford Lake. I love the big boardwalk there and all the trails and the look out part especially in the fall with the trees, it’s just magic. Valens for sure. They have a dog beach, which is great. And another lovely trail and you can rent boats Not right now but other times and they’re dog friendly to go on the boats. With that’s a favorite. I’m in my own city. I like Monarch Woods, Stekel Park and Huron natural area of course. But it’s quite busy. I like Christie Lake. Dundas Valley. Those trails like it I probably would never have experienced those without already and I just walk into some of these places. I’m like wow, like we have this here, like amazing.
Laura Wombwell
And are there any local businesses that you and Ernie really like to visit?
Jennifer Graham
Yes, we love the Healthy Barker, that’s where I get his cooked food. When he was a puppy, actually up to about like one and a half and I think this is common with corgis because I’m in a corgi group too. They just like he would stop eating you know kibble I’d buy something else and he’d be like really excited but then like, you know, with a second scoop he’d be like meh, and I was like this is going to be expensive so we found the Healthy Barker. Martina’s great. You know, she’ll answer any questions. Not pushy whatsoever. Just gave me a free sample. He loved it and like let’s see if he still loves it. But you know, three years later, he’s loves it. So yeah, the pet stores I don’t really have a favorite we go to them all. We go to Impressive Canines for our scent detection, tricks, agility. Things like that. Oh, Finnegan’s Deli. Love them for treats Love, love, love. And that snuffle mix has saved my life during the pandemic because I teach right now from home so he loves that it keeps him busy for a long time. And that scent really tires him out. I think he must really have to work hard for any kind of sent based thing so that’s amazing. Oh, Pipers Pillows, like that’s where he spends his whole day on. On his pillow. And he does I don’t have a place like that he has to go to but he just goes there voluntarily and curls up and I love it.
Laura Wombwell
It’s so funny. I hadn’t even like heard of snuffle mats before the pandemic and now everyone has one. I have one.
Jennifer Graham
They’re fantastic. Like where’s this been my whole life. You want to put it down before you like go for groceries or something like he never even looks at me. He’s like, oh my snuffle mat like yeah, see you later.
Laura Wombwell
Are there you know, you travel a fair bit around with Ernie, are there any dog friendly you know, venues places that we don’t have here in southwestern Ontario that you would like to see any resources that you think we could use more of?
Jennifer Graham
I wish to like dog park like Crane Park is kind of a good example. And well I do like Crane Park because it’s like it’s an off leash dog park but it’s not just like a patch of grass. Right like you’re you’re kind of just other people going up and walking around with their families and you can go for a swim and go to the forest and around. I’ve seen like in other places too, they have dog parks, but there’s like in part of a forest or they have like some like just wooden agility equipment and things like that but the other dogs can play on and I think especially as dogs get older that’s a lot more fun for them than just like a patch of grass, kind of run around with with other dogs like he doesn’t really know what do there so we don’t really go anymore. Whereas when he was young, I think that was probably, um, funny you had to be careful to but if you, you know, the small ones in Kiwanis Park, you’d have like, you know, two or three dogs. I mean, that’s perfect. But I wish yeah, we had a little bit more of that kind of thing. It would be nice if we had more of a water area, I think it was on somebody’s Instagram. And I think it was in Texas. And they had like, a whole splash pad like we have for kids here for dogs, like, you know, and I do think that’s probably coming. Like, I think I read somewhere that there’s a couple cities that you know, dogs outnumber kids. And I think, you know, it’s, it’s getting expensive. You know, for housing, daycare, all those things, you know, and just our lifestyles are changing, too. I think. Maybe those things are will come but I don’t know, would it be nice to have maybe a little bit more variety not all dogs gonna like that. But water, more water would be great. Even the dog beach at Valens is pretty small. So it’d be nice to have a bigger area, I guess.
Laura Wombwell
I love that answer. I think so many of the dog parks around here they are they’re just a you know, big fenced open field and, and having enrichment where your dogs can interact with things as well as with other dogs. Yeah, great.
Jennifer Graham
Yeah. And I’ve never ever had an issue at Crane Park. I mean, knock on wood. I said, that’ll happen next week. But over the years, we’ve been there, like, you know, how many, you know, times and nothing. And I think that’s part of the reason, right? It’s like, you know, they, you know, they’re coming up and meeting other dogs all the time. But then they walk off and they go sniff in the forest. They go for a swim, right? It’s not just you know, what do I do with dogs coming out, right, like you meet, say hello, and you’re off doing your thing running in the fields. Like I think it’s great.
Laura Wombwell
Perfect. Aw, there he is. Hi, Ernie. Nice to have Ernie joining us here. He’s like the just smilyest Corgi that I’ve ever met. I love it.
Jennifer Graham
Are you smiley. He was such a serious puppy. I don’t have many smiling pictures of a puppy. But since then, oh, wait, he may not visit for long.
Laura Wombwell
I won’t take up too much of Ernie’s time because I know he’s a very important Corgi. But, but before we end off, I have some quickfire questions for you.
Jennifer Graham
Okay.
Laura Wombwell
All right. So, cat or dog,
Jennifer Graham
Dog.
Laura Wombwell
Favorite breed?
Jennifer Graham
Corgi.
Laura Wombwell
What is Ernie his favorite treat?
Jennifer Graham
Liver.
Laura Wombwell
Is Ernie full of beans full of something entirely different?
Jennifer Graham
With beans.
Laura Wombwell
If Ernie were to be played by a human Actor in a movie, who would play him?
Jennifer Graham
Think of somebody derpy. Maybe Owen Wilson.
Laura Wombwell
Also has an excellent smile. Finally, if money were no object, what is one incredible thing that you would do to spoil Ernie?
Jennifer Graham
Oh, I would get an Airstream and just like go everywhere. I think we just go and explore different places all over the place. Just yeah. It would be nice to have a campfire and then the next day find another trail and yeah.
Laura Wombwell
I love that he is an adventure dog.
Jennifer Graham
Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, he loves that.
Laura Wombwell
Excellent. Well, thank you so much for sharing some of your time and letting us get to know Ernie. Before we end off, if Ernie could say one thing to this Southwestern Pet Community. What would he say?
Jennifer Graham
Ah, what are you gonna say, Erns? Oh, life is short, spoil your dog I think.
Laura Wombwell
Perfect. Well, thank you so much, Jenn.
Jennifer Graham
Thank you.
Laura Wombwell
It has absolute pleasure chatting with you.
Jennifer Graham
You too.
Laura Wombwell
And this is Laura from Laura Wombwell Photography. I’m here with Jenn Graham and her amazing Corgi Ernie and we both hope that you and your pets have an awesome day. Bye!
Do you want to be the next interview? We’d love that!
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