Meet Rory, the Corgi

We finally took the plunge and have added a dog to our family.  It's been something we have talked about on and off for a few years now, but it never seemed like the right time.  Now that our kids are no longer really little, and our other pets have passed on, adding a new level of crazy seemed like a good idea.  After much deliberating over what would be the "right" kind of dog for our family, we settled on getting a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.  What's not to like?  Sturdy, good temperament, too short to counter surf, and no tail to knock things off low tables.  OK, so they shed like crazy, bark, and herd things.  We will have to do a lot of brushing and training to keep those under control.

Anyway, here is our newest addition:

 Meet Rory.  This was taken right after we got home from the breeder's; he hadn't even been in the house yet. 

We didn't name him right away.  I had originally thought we would name a red male Corgi Rory.  If he had been a tri-colored one, Ianto.  Then I wasn't sure if Rory really "fit," so we tried out a bunch of other names, like Toby and Cisco.  Rory seemed to fit the best, so that's what we went with, even though both kids seem to have trouble pronouncing it.  Unfortunately, I keep slipping up and calling him Fiyero, the name of our rabbit who passed away earlier this month.  I'll break the habit and get it right soon.  Then I'll probably start mixing up the kids' and dog's names.

 He's very handsome and regal.  We don't know yet if he will be sable or red and white in color.  In the sun, he looks really red, but it's too soon to know.  It will be interesting to see his adult coat come in.

 This is us at the breeder's, before taking him home. 

 Kevin and the kids got to play outside with Rory and two of his sisters while I went over the paperwork inside.  They all (human and canine) had a great time.  It was a real treat to get to play with three puppies at once.

 That face!  Rory has a lot to learn, but it's hard to be upset with him.  He's doing well on his potty training.  Luckily, he isn't interested in chasing down critters in the yard; yet.  Kevin took him out early one morning, and they encountered the neighborhood skunk.  The skunk was disinterested in them, so all was well.  He didn't flinch at the squirrels or the rabbit we scared up when I took him out either. 

 Rory loves toys!  The kids really get a kick out of watching him play with the toys they picked out for him.  I took them to the pet store before he came home, and they each picked out a few things for the puppy to play with.  They are a little wary of his nipping, but we are working with him on chewing on toys, not people.  He's very smart and picking up on things quickly.  Dorothy can't seem to help herself with squealing and pulling her hand back, which just makes him more excited.  She can help with the more calm moments, but prefers to watch from behind the baby gate during the energy expending play times.

Right now, he mostly hands out in the kitchen.  It's easy to gate off the rest of the house, and since the kitchen is ridiculously large, there's plenty of room to run.  As he learns the house rules, he'll get to explore more.

He had a great time at the vet on Monday, and had a wonderful check-up.  All the workers loved on him, and he came home very tired out. 

He's a lot of work, but very fun and silly.  Here's to a long and happy time with our family, Rory!