So, our brand new 8-wk old Pembroke Welsh Corgi arrives home in a week! One of our prime reasons for choosing a Corgi was its good reputation with horses, and I have the time now and the wherewithal to train her from day one. I’ve been trying to read up on introducing dogs to horses, but before we get there, I would like some advice on safely bringing a puppy to the barn. My friend and I are leasing a lovely 30-acre property with barn for my two horses and her one horse, and it has been just heaven all around, but I definitely want to do things right for the puppy. She will need to accompany me there every morning for chores and riding. I have an exercise pen for her for the early days, but am wondering how safe it will be for her around various things that could be hazardous, like old ground hog holes, debris she might pick up, wild animal poop, etc. There is even a coyote :-0 that comes around, but obviously I will be watching her too closely for that to be a problem. Any advice from those who have been in a similar situation?
She will have had three sets of vaccinations, with a fourth coming soon. No rabies until four months. I will be asking the vet about this at her first appointment but just looking for people’s experiences.
That’s incredibly, incredibly alarming. There is NO need to administer vaccines prior to 8 weeks of age. 8/12/16 weeks is the standard guidelines. Also, code of ethics for parent club of the breed doesn’t allow puppies home before 10 weeks of age.
I agree that the vaccinations sound wrong; is it possible you are mistaken? Double check with the breeder AND your vet. Get copies of all vaccinations given by the breeder and show to your vet at your 1st appointment, which should be within 1-2 days of picking up the puppy.
Those issues aside, I would consider a few things with young dogs in general. I would not assume that breed traits will simply carry through without training. Corgis may be good around horses but not necessarily by instinct only.
I would probably crate a young dog at a barn (not xpen) for quite some time. Crates are much safer (less chance of escape, being knocked down, or anything else getting in), and exposure to the ground is minimized.
I don’t really know how likely a puppy would be to contract parvo or giardia, for example, at a barn, it would depend on what other animals are there, etc.) But I would be unwilling to let my puppy off a leash and/or only on limited surfaces there until all vaccinations are complete…so usually around 16-20 weeks. During that time, look very carefully around for all danger spots and “puppy proof” them. Puppies are small and fast, so the places they can get into trouble may not really be obvious until it’s too late. I was surprised at the dangers in my own backyard - small gaps in the fencing that a puppy can get through and into horse paddock. A gap in the lattice under my deck where the puppy could fit. Weeds, rocks, hoses, electrical outlets, etc. etc.
The larger the property, the more opportunities for danger - especially without direct supervision. So, crates will be your friend…and then maybe xpens, and then maybe some supervised off-leash opportunities.
In the meantime, I would be socializing and training the puppy in a variety of new places, including within sight of horses, tractors, etc. so that he can smell/see/hear the noises.
UMMMM Corgi’s are herding dogs, horses are herd animals. You will need to do some serious training on your puppy to keep her from wanting to go herd the horses I would think. Why I have no interest in having any herding breed as a personal dog. A friend had both Pembrokes and Welsh Corgis and they were always in the pasture “helping” aka getting in the way trying to herd the horses. One got kicked and had a head injury that thankfully resolved. Addled him for a bit.
As for puppies in general around the horses, I am always careful when puppies are out and about. If pastures are not dog proof start working on your recall asap and keep them leashed until reliable. Though I have to say none of my farm dogs were ever leashed but they have always listened very well with good recalls and not much interest in the horses (except for one who always wanted to go in with the foals, he though listens very well to recall and only out supervised).
Right now I have a litter of lab mix foster puppies who happily wander around the barn area while I supervise. We are always working on their recall (they are pretty good actually) and only have one who is interested in the horses. She is learning not to bother them though. I have horses that will go after dogs, so am always aware of the dangers there.
I think corgi’s make great barn dogs. I haven’t seen one try to herd the horses. Mine is more interested in pestering you to play fetch. I didn’t have her as a puppy and she was already a barn dog when I got her so I am of no help. I would suggest just making sure she isn’t loose when you are busy tacking up or doing chores. Even if you keep her tethered or in the cage where she can still experience the horse life. I wouldn’t let her roam when you aren’t 100% paying attention to her. She will eventually learn like all the others.
I agree with making sure she learns to listen to come to you. This is the most important thing around horses.
Congrats on the new corgi! and good luck the girls are bossy (ask me how I know?) :lol:
I’ve been taking mine to the barn with me since she was about 9 weeks old, she has never tried to herd the horses, but I also don’t allow her off leash if they are out in the pastures.
Definitely set boundaries from day 1, corgi’s are great little dogs but if you’re not careful they will train you instead of the other way around! I did a puppy obedience class with mine, and I’ve had her in agility classes for about a year. I really like the agility classes, the dog loves it, and she is continuing to become a more obedient dog as we progress.
Good luck, and have fun, nothing cuter than a corgi puppy!! 
Thanks for all the advice. I am definitely rolling up my sleeves for intensive puppy training. Sit, stay and recall to start (with house training of course), and then on from there. I’m retired now and have the time.
I was thinking that I would erect the pen in a grassy area on top of an old horse blanket in a spot where I could keep an eye on her while riding, and have her in a crate in the barn for grooming and chores. Good heads up on possible unforeseen dangers for small puppies. We are in a very rural area, and I’ve seen everything from rabbits to ground hogs to raccoons in the barn, and am concerned about diseases they might carry. A puppy will snuffle into and pick up anything, so I will keep her in a crate or on a horse blanket in the grass until shots are complete.
Agreed that any breed, herding or not, needs a solid recall. I hope that using the farm as a training ground will help install all the good manners, and gradually accustom the puppy (Ivy, by name) to horses.
Thanks for the input!
This…
vaccines at too young of an age, are not effective due to mom’s immunity for nursing pups. Earliest I’ve seen the 1st shot safely given by reputable vets is 6/7 weeks, then 3 weeks apart for remaining 2. Then rabies at 4 mo.
OP…there is no way your 9 week old puppy will have the needed immunity, especially not in an environment where stray/wild animals that carry distemper ard likely.
Thanks to those who gave vaccination input. I pick up the puppy in a few days, and most of the shots in question have already been given. I have an appointment right after Ivy comes home with a trusted vet, and I will have this discussion with him.
What I was thinking.
A friend had both Pembrokes and Welsh Corgis and they were always in the pasture “helping” aka getting in the way trying to herd the horses.
A Pembroke IS a Welsh Corgi. It is one breed. The other is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
OP, what about your barn cats? How will you introduce those? 
OP 
This, combined with sending puppy home at an age younger than allowed by the parent club for the breeder should be raising some questions on your part.
OP, are you certain they said three sets of vaccines and not just three vaccines? Distemper, measles and parainfluenza are recommended at 8 wks and I know mine got bordetella at that time as well.
Is she 8 wks now or will she be 8 wks when you get her?
I would vote no go to the barn until she gets the vaccine that includes parvo. Parvo sucks. Not that the other diseases are a picnic, but parvo is just awful.
I boarded once where the barn owner got two Corgi’s. They were awful about chasing the horses. They weren’t chasing HER horses so she didn’t do much to stop them. My horse was not there long so they didn’t bother him but one owner ended up with her horse’s shoulder broken. So Corgi’s may be good with horses after they are trained to be good with horses.
Someone willing to vaccinate puppies at a dangerously early age either (a) is ignorant or (b) does not care about the welfare of the puppies they produce. Similarly, they are sending a puppy home at an unnecessarily early age.
Things to think about: Were the parents health tested? Did she provide you with copies of OFA results? CERF done within the allowed timeframe? Parents proved to be useful in the field and or ring? What is her standing with the breed club? Are puppies raised and socialized in the home or in a back kennel or garage? How many litters is she producing per year? What do people who have adult puppies from this breeder say about the disposition of their dog?
If your driving factor for a specific breed is to get a specific disposition you will likely not have an ideal experience by working with a sub par breeder.
My mother in law got a backyard bred corgi. He is now two and has horrible hip dysplasia and has a disposition that is in no way typical for the breed (snappy, reactive, timid) despite good socialization. She was so wrapped up in the idea of having a puppy she didn’t care about the breeder who produced him. He will never be a farm safe dog. He’s not even house safe and I have to exercise extreme care when my personal dog is around him.
