Why Corgis on Wheels?
Both Pembroke (bunny butts) and Cardigan (tails) Welsh corgis can sometimes develop disabilities that require them to use a wheeled cart or doggy wheelchair. This page is to introduce you to Corgis on Wheels and to serve as a portal to our Yahoo group called, wait for it!, Corgis on Wheels!
To join Corgis on Wheels go to
Corgis on Wheels
To buy our 2010 Corgis on Wheels Wall Calendar (and other themed gifts) go to http://www.cafepress.com/wheelcorgis
Toys for Disabled dogs
When your dog can no longer run fast and play, you still need to keep his mind busy. Puzzle toys work great for this, and some of our favorites are shown here.
Sports for Disabled Dogs
Wheeldogs CAN compete!
There are a number of dog sports open to Corgis on Wheels and other cart dogs. These include Rally and Obedience where you can earn actual titles, as well as Tracking and Agility just for fun. Below are some links to get you started.
- APDT Rally
- Dogs in carts (and other disabled dogs) can compete for titles and championships in APDT Rally. The handler requests modifications to the exercises, such as no sits for a dog in a cart, and then competes on otherwise equal terms with everyone else.
- C-Wags Rally and Obedience
- C-Wags offers Rally and Obedience open to dogs in carts and other dogs with disabilities. Handlers may request reasonable modifications. C-Wags also offers agility to dogs but does not allow dogs with "Apparent Lameness".
- Clean Roll Yahoo Group
- This is a small group which serves mainly to provide some discussion and information on sports for dogs in carts, including rally and agility. Plans are available for making the teeter and dog walk shown in the videos. At this time no trials are offered but individuals are encouraged to share ideas and successes.
- Mixed Breed Dog Club of America
- The goal of this group is to allow mixed breed dogs to earn titles at matches. Disabled dogs that are not eligible for AKC trials may compete, including purebred dogs.
- CARO (Canadian Rally-O)
- Caro is similar to APDT in their requirements for disabled dogs.
- CDSP, St. Hubert's Dog sports
- St. Hubert's has obedience, agility, and rally. (Not para-agility, but open to other disabled dogs.) New Jersey.
Adopting a Special Needs Corgi (or other dog) on Wheels:
Not as hard as you might think...
If you think that you could give a good home to a wheelchair dog (or other special needs dog), there is probably one available. Dogs of all breeds end up needing carts for various reasons. For that matter, there are always special needs pets of all kinds needing homes.Some places to look for Wheelchair dogs: on the forums at Handicapped Pets, on Petfinder (use advanced search and check special needs), at Pets with Disabilities, and on the Yahoo list Special Needs Rescue Group. You might have to wait awhile for your special pup, but right now there are at least six dogs, complete with cart, looking for that forever home. Is it yours?
Links for special needs adoption
- Handicapped Pets Rescue and Adoption Forum
- A great resource for help with your pet, and occasionally special needs pets are posted for adoption. There is also a forum for you to post your interest in a special pet.
- Pets with Disabilities
- Pets with Disabilities almost always has a cart dog or two on its listing.
- Special Needs Rescue Yahoo Group
- This group works on rescuing special needs pets, but if you let them know what kind of pet you are trying to find, they may be able to keep you in mind.
- Blind dogs adoption board
- There are a number of places where blind dogs for adoption are listed.
- Blind and deaf dogs adoption listings
- More blind and blind-deaf dogs.
- Special Needs Pets adoption listing
- This site has links to the adoption of special needs pets of all kinds.
- Best Friends Adoptable Pets
- A sanctuary for unwanted pets, Best Friends in Utah also usually has animals, including special needs animals, for adoption.
- Rolling Dog Ranch Adoptions
- A sanctuary for special needs pets, some of their listings are on Petfinder but others, not listed, may be available.
- Petfinder
- Click on Special Needs Pets, put in other criteria, and search. There is no specific search for type of disability so you do have to wade through them.
CorgiAid and Carts
CorgiAid: Corgiaid is primarily an organization that provides funds for rescuers to care for corgis that are in rescue, but anyone with a corgi that needs a wheeled cart may be able to borrow one through the CorgiAid cart program. Go to the site, fill out the application with your information and measurements, and we will see if there is a cart available that will fit your corgi.If you have a used cart to donate (corgis only, please) email carts@corgiaid.org
Links
Groups for people with disabled dogsCorgis on Wheels:Corgis on Wheels
Abledogs (for all kinds of dogs with disabilities): Abledogs
Dodgerslist (primarily dogs with IVDD): Dodgerslist
Degenerative Myelopathy: DM Dogs
Carts
CorgiAid cart loans (corgis only): CorgiAid carts
K9Carts West: K9cartsWest
K9carts: K9carts (east)
DoggonWheels: Doggon Wheels
Eddies Wheels: Eddies Wheels
Walkin' Wheels: Walkin'Wheels
Calendars and gifts:
Corgis on Wheels Calendar: Wheelcorgis Cafepress shop
Dogs on Wheels Ornaments: Dogs on Wheels ornaments
More information:
Degenerative Myelopathy Info
Dodgerslist IVDD Info
Amazon
For everything you wanted to know about Corgis, get the book from Amazon or directly from CorgiAid at http://www.corgiaid.org
Incontinence products from Amazon
Why a crate? It opens on the side and with Palace Bedding from Scout's Store over a pee pad, makes a great place for a recovering pet or an immobile one.
The Candy Man
Profile of a Corgi on Wheels
Candy is an 8 1/2 year old Pembroke Welsh corgi with wheels. When he was 4, a disk in Candy's back ruptured spontaneously. This is called IVDD and while not common in corgis, is known to exist. Candy had immediate surgery but did not recover any feeling or use of his body below the waist, leaving him paraplegic. Candy's owner got him a cart.
Today Candy is an active, healthy, and very happy dog.
Today Candy is an active, healthy, and very happy dog.
YouTube vids
Looking for a Corgi puppy or a corgi breeder?
Make sure the breeder is testing for DM!
You can find lists of corgi breeders all over the internet, but finding a healthy, well-socialized puppy from a respectable breeder is much harder. The first place to start is with the Pembroke or Cardigan Welsh corgi club in your area. Clubs have lists of members who are breeders, and this will let you know what breeders are near you.
Not all of these breeders are the right ones, though. The test for DM is very new, and many breeders are resisting testing, insisting that the test is too new, or there is no DM in their lines. Don't buy this argument, and don't buy their puppies! The test IS new, but every corgi that has confirmed DM that has been tested with the OFA DNA test shows "At Risk" for DM." This means that if your puppy has Carrier or Clear status he CANNOT get DM in later middle age.
Some breeders ARE testing, and these are the ones you want to buy a puppy from, even if you do opt to take an AT Risk puppy. Currently, because of the prevalence of DM in Pembrokes, a Carrier to Carrier breeding will lower the incidence of At Risk puppies, but will still, on average, produce 25% At Risk. These puppies will still be wonderful dogs, but the chance does exist that in later years they will become disabled and possibly have a shortened life span due to DM. However, it is also possible that before your puppy gets to 8 or 9 some prevention for DM may be known, and the breeder knowledgeably doing a carrier to carrier breeding may still be improving the breed.
The breeders to avoid are the ones that do not test (or at least do not disclose the negative results they've received) and the ones that try to tell you the test is too new or not necessary. 8-12 years from now, when your puppy reaches the age of onset of DM, the test will no longer be new, but because the majority of breeders aren't testing, DM will be just as, or more, prevalent!
Not all of these breeders are the right ones, though. The test for DM is very new, and many breeders are resisting testing, insisting that the test is too new, or there is no DM in their lines. Don't buy this argument, and don't buy their puppies! The test IS new, but every corgi that has confirmed DM that has been tested with the OFA DNA test shows "At Risk" for DM." This means that if your puppy has Carrier or Clear status he CANNOT get DM in later middle age.
Some breeders ARE testing, and these are the ones you want to buy a puppy from, even if you do opt to take an AT Risk puppy. Currently, because of the prevalence of DM in Pembrokes, a Carrier to Carrier breeding will lower the incidence of At Risk puppies, but will still, on average, produce 25% At Risk. These puppies will still be wonderful dogs, but the chance does exist that in later years they will become disabled and possibly have a shortened life span due to DM. However, it is also possible that before your puppy gets to 8 or 9 some prevention for DM may be known, and the breeder knowledgeably doing a carrier to carrier breeding may still be improving the breed.
The breeders to avoid are the ones that do not test (or at least do not disclose the negative results they've received) and the ones that try to tell you the test is too new or not necessary. 8-12 years from now, when your puppy reaches the age of onset of DM, the test will no longer be new, but because the majority of breeders aren't testing, DM will be just as, or more, prevalent!
Reader Feedback
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SusanAlisonArt
Apr 17, 2011 @ 5:20 pm | delete
- It's great to know there's support out there. Keep up the good work!
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Lynne
Dec 13, 2008 @ 10:20 pm | delete
- This is a very good site. Good work. It shows that these dogs can and do enjoy life. Lots of good, informative links. I'm learning lots.
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Kathleen
Dec 8, 2008 @ 1:01 am | delete
- Great job, Bobbie! It is so important to reach as many as we can. People must know that these dogs are only handicapped, not helpless. They can continue to enjoy life!
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Christine
Dec 7, 2008 @ 8:01 pm | delete
- Great job on this new site! I know you will be helping many with it. Good luck.
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by Abbydabby
Abbydabby
I am the owner of two disabled corgis, one with IVDD and one with DM.
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