Corgiwyn’n ddirgel -- My Theriotype

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

A short disclaimer on the title - I don't speak welsh, nor to I claim to. I just used a translator to create an appropriate name.

I have always been an animal lover. My mother can tell ridiculous stories about how she cringed when I smothered my face into the goats at a petting zoo; though that’s a bit besides the point. When I was old enough, I started to seriously explore dogs – and when I stumbled upon one breed in particular, it all hit me.

I’m a dog, too.

Well, not really, I suppose. What I mean to say is that I’m connected with dogs in such a deep way (spiritual isn’t exactly it – it’s more of an understanding) that I could be considered a “dog”. I have a little dog inside me that translates all the doggy-ness in my life. Sometimes she comes out more and takes over my personality, sometimes she sleeps a bit. No, I don’t have a split personality, it’s just another aspect of myself that comes in and out of existence, just like the fact that I’m a musician or that I like to draw. That doesn’t define me – it’s just a part of me. And one of those parts that defines me is dog.

And I’m fairly sure in saying it’s a specific kind of dog. I’m a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. I’m a big dog in a little package, aloof, distractible, hyper, and rather comical. It’s not just that I match up on the personality of a dog either I feel it in who I am. I have phantom ears – Not your average canine phantom ears, mind you. I have a radar kit on my head. Corgi Ears. And once you understand the point that it’s corgi – there are two possibilities (removing mutt) Cardigan or Pembroke. I’m a Cardigan, as I align more with them, and I have a phantom tail on occasion. (I can actually wag my physical tailbone a bit – but that’s just trivia)

So; as many therians do – I’m going to write what it’s like to be a dog. To be a corgi. To be me.

The first thing I feel is my ears – they’re huge, after all – they twitch and rotate, they know what’s going on. They’re how I express myself too. I need to know what’s up – in order to protect myself. Corgi eavesdrops. Corgi dodges being kicked because he listens. So, being a Corgi is about listening.

Corgi seems inventive. And it is – I dodge and twist the challenge of everyday life, ducking mere fractions of a second before a hoof rushes over my head. This is not all because of inventiveness, though. Corgi think three steps ahead. They study things before rushing headlong into them. A corgi has to know how things will move in response, and how to get there. So what seems like ability to think on the spot is really because I’ve been secretly pondering it for a long while. My head’s always a bit ahead of something, so don’t take offense if my head seems off in a distant land.

It’s also the shape of my body that defines me – my driving shoulders, snug against my chest – the short, efficient stride. I feel such odd physical dysphoria sometimes – I have long limbs, when I sometimes feel I should have short. I’m a worker – I move for a living, and I need to be tireless and effective. It’s also my protection against being kicked and injured. When I lie down I feel like my chin should rest on my hands, and I tuck my elbows under me so I can feel a bit better. My legs are too long – my shoulders are built wrong. I often wear chokers – if only because it feels like a collar. Not wearing one feels wrong, empty.

I’m not a collie. I work independently. I don’t need instruction most of the time, nor do I really want it. Teach me the principle, and I’ll evolve it to my standards. As a shepherd, you can tell me what you want me to do; but as a corgi, I’ll decide how I do it. I’m obedient, yes, like all dogs. But I want to improve on your methods. I want to make it better. Funner. More.

I stare down cattle. I even stood face to face with a wild bison for three or four minutes (Not smart, mind you – it could have charged me) and I stood there, trying to figure it out and how it would move. How I could move it. As a pastoral dog, I hunt alone. I am one dog trying to be five wolves – moving the herd all at once. I drive them away – I pull them back. I may be small, but I’m not afraid to stand up to the big man.

As a dog, I’m affectionate. I thrive off attention. I need it. I need reassurance that I’m as good as I am – though my self-esteem is not poor. I am a one-man dog. I make friends, yes, but I attach myself to my alpha, and I love them dearly. Over time, it may change, but I still love my person with all my heart. They understand me, and I understand them – because I am a dog – and I know these things. When somebody needs a leg-up, I’ll be there. If they’re sick, I’m checking in. Because that’s what dogs do. I’m loyal to the core. My pack is my herd, my herd is my pack. I guide them and try to help, but I rely on them for support, because even though I am the Corgi, I need my Cattle, who are also my Pack. It’s a complicated thing.

Corgi is a worker. I drive people. I show them how to move. Corgi walks behind their friends, supporting them when they go the right way, and showing them the right way when they go wrong. This is not to say that a corgi is a perfect example. I have plenty of my own faults, yet I focus on others, because for corgi, the herd comes first, even when they’re fighting being guided.

Corgi aware of it’s faults, and it mocks them in order to make them go away. They do not, like smaller dogs, cower or snap in fear of a big dog. Nor do they become overly curious when encountering smaller dogs. Corgi is happy with itself, and so it creates humor in order to please those around it. You only need to talk to a breeder or two to know that Corgwyn (Plural Corgi) are Clowns.

Corgi are quirky, and Cardigans are strange because they are very wary. Not a nervous dog, but very skeptical. A corgi, when encountered with a cord taped to the floor, will skip over it instead of stepping on it. A corgi will shy away at a dark opening, threatening it perhaps – but this is just because a Cardigan is wary of it’s surroundings; and it’s eyes, ears and nose that keep them aware. I myself sit up tall when I hear something – and if I’m not certain of the outcome of something, I’ll stray away from it. I can be interpreted as shy sometimes, like Corgi, but in reality, I’m just wary of the unknown – because it may or may not kick me.

In lieu of differentiating between Corgi breeds, there are several articles on difference in temperament. A Cardigan is the calmer one. The rational, quirky, best-friend type. A Pembroke bounces around and is distractable – an ADHD sort of dog.

The Pem says: "Hey, glad to meet you! What's up? Let's go out and have a beer!"

The Cardi says: "How do you do, very nice to meet you. Can I get you something to drink?"

A breeder compares the two: “...Once having gained the confidence of a Cardigan you have a friend for life. They are certainly not so effusive as the Pembroke, but maybe their devotion goes deeper. I know my Cardigans would have defended me with their life. I do not know if I could say the same for the Pembroke. I feel they would be too busy showing the intruder "around the place".

Cardigans are forgiving. A Cardi may be stepped on, or perhaps snapped at, but they are willing to forgive and forget in most cases.

"This breed is endowed with quite extraordinary intelligence. While they are cattle dogs by design, through instinct heeling up rough steers and, if required, mountain ponies, the breed adapts itself to modern times. Cardigans love to work, and will rapidly learn obedience competition exercises, or, in the home, enjoy performing all manner of tricks both useful and amusing.

Amusing is a good word to use because the "Cardie" has a remarkable sense of humour. On the whole, I would not say that this is a marked characteristic of his Pembrokeshire relation, and it is one thing that separates the two types. The Cardie has a real sense of fun. You can laugh at him, or with him, and he will join with you. A Pembroke Corgi can feel hurt and will slink away in high dudgeon in a situation during which a Cardigan will behave like a clown."

As a dog, I understand my fellow canines. My “alpha“ or best friend, whom I haven’t mentioned therianthropy to, has commented on how interesting and entertaining it is to hear me translate dogs for her. I describe what they say, why they move the way they do, and why. It’s just normal for me, being a dog on the inside myself, as well as having worked with dogs for years. I know, because of Corgi traits, what they’re going to do before they do it. And I guess that makes me a bit of a dog whisperer – but it’s all Corgi. I just translate.

All this describes me and more. It’s not that I like Corgi more or less than any other dog – it’s just the one that I am. Only by seeing it did I realize that I was animal, and It’s was because I felt like one – even though I had never had a phantom limb or anything before. As I read up and began to understand both dogs in general and this specific breed, I’ve become relatively certain that this is what I am. I am Corgi.

 

I know I just joined like half an hour ago, but I'm posting my essay on my theriotype and how I see myself. It's not really polished - but you should understand the jist of it. If you have any suggestions, fire away!

Comments

[paleo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the interesting look at Corgi! I adore herding breeds, having most experience with German Sheps, though. There is a very good chance that in a few years, I will be adding a dog to our family and have researched corgis quiet a bit. I have to admit that the short legs is one of the reasons because we have a cat and feel she would be more secure if she had a strong veritcal advantage on her canine sibling. It will probably be a Pembroke as they are said to be better with cats than Cardies who tend to like bully-herding cats a bit more if given the chance.
I look forward to any more insights you care to share about being corgi.

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading it! I've always found myself drawn towards the Herding breeds - I have a certain virtue thing I'll write more on later that has to do with it.

Yeah, Pembrokes are a bit more... predictable? Cardigans have more instinct because they're less refined by breeding than Pems are. Pems are also a bit smaller and more cat-like. Cleaner dogs, I think.

Anyhow - I'm glad you liked it!

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

It's totally okay to post writings just after intros. :3 After all that's what this place is for. This was an interesting read; there aren't that many canines really writing essays, let alone dog-types of people - and being a Corgy sounds fascinating. I love reading about people's experience of a specific animal and how it makes sense to them, in who they are, in their life and such as. You expressed it wonderfully and I look forward reading more in the future when you feel inspired.

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I have a rather interesting take on life, methinks.

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. I had fun writing it, and I'll be sure to put more up in the future. It's fun to do.

And I guess it makes sense to me that there are fewer dog-people writing. Dogs are more of a "doing" kind of thing. It's a matter of having so many friends and stuff that they're constantly on the go. Cats and things are more sedated, you know?

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting take on "why cats seem to write more". I do classify writing as "doing", though, but maybe that's another cat-thing. ;P

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

I guess writing isn't stimulating enough for canines, I think. Dogs prefer to be doing something as opposed to thinking on it. Live in the moment sort of thing.

[fleetfoot77.livejournal.com]

Very interesting read, and I especially enjoyed the mentions of "dog whispering". Is it only with canines? I've never quite seen the concept put into words, even though I myself read animals frequently.

Really interesting that most of the time when I read or "translate" an animal it's more of a "duh he's saying that" thing to me, and I usually don't realize that right away it's not as obvious at all to others.

Very different point of view than (as you've mentioned) the feline take on writing. Thumbs up

[krypticklaws.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Heh - yeah. It's a different thing - I'm a lot less eloquent than most, for one.

Well, it's mostly just dogs and other things - my pet rabbit's mostly unpredictable in my mind, as is a hamster. Cats are right out, for the most part. It's sort of a scale. I can understand most animals to a certain point, but dogs are easy to read. Yeah, I tend to speak for my dog a lot when I'm not really realizing it. My mom's used to it, though, I think.

Large game, cattle, sheep, horses are easy, too. But that's more of I know how they're going to move; and that's a corgi thing. It's also probably because I rode horses before and have herded before - it's interesting.