So, the family decided we needed a furry addition, and somehow, everyone landed on wanting a Corgi. Cute, right? But finding one, especially here in Ohio, turned into a whole thing. Wasn’t as simple as just picking one up.
First thing I did, obviously, was hit the web. Typed in the usual stuff, you know, “corgi puppies ohio”, “corgi breeders near me”. Man, the results were overwhelming. Tons of sites, some looking slick, others kinda sketchy. Lots of pictures of adorable puppies, naturally. That’s how they get you.
The Initial Mess
Right off the bat, I saw a bunch of places offering to ship puppies. Red flag number one for me. I wanted to see where the puppy came from, meet the parents if possible, talk to the person raising them. Shipping felt too impersonal, too much like buying a product, not adopting a living creature. Plus, you hear horror stories.
Then there were the prices. All over the place. Some seemed way too cheap – another red flag, probably puppy mills or scams. Others were asking for amounts that made my eyes water. Felt like you needed a second mortgage.
Digging Deeper in Ohio
Okay, so random websites were out. I decided to focus locally. Looked for Ohio-specific breeder directories, maybe kennel club listings? That helped narrow things down a bit. Started making a list of breeders within a reasonable driving distance. Cleveland area, Columbus, down towards Cincinnati, even checked out some more rural spots.
My process became:
- Find a potential breeder based in Ohio.
- Look for reviews or mentions anywhere else online (forums, social media groups – carefully, lots of opinions there).
- Check their website (if they had one) for info on parents, health testing, their process.
- Contact them directly. Email first, then maybe a phone call.
Talking to People
This was the most important part. You can tell a lot from a conversation. I asked tons of questions:
- How long have you been breeding Corgis?
- Do you do health testing on the parent dogs? What kind? (Learned about DM, vWD, EIC – had to look those up).
- Can I see where the puppies are raised?
- Can I meet the mother (and father if possible)?
- What socialization do the puppies get?
- Do you offer a health guarantee?
- What’s your application process like?
Some folks were super transparent, happy to chat, sent pictures, invited me out. Others were cagey, didn’t want visitors, or communication was just… bad. Easy to cross those off the list. I physically went to visit a couple of places. Seeing the environment, the adult dogs, how the puppies interacted – that told me more than any website could.
Also looked into Corgi rescues in and around Ohio. Didn’t find many puppies available, mostly older dogs, which is a great option, but the family had their hearts set on raising a puppy this time. Still, worth checking for anyone looking.
Finding the Right Fit
After weeks of searching, emails, calls, and a couple of visits, I finally found a breeder near the central Ohio area that just felt right. Small operation, clearly loved their dogs, did all the health checks, asked me questions too (which is a good sign), and the place was clean and the dogs seemed happy and well-cared-for.
Went through their application, got approved, and eventually, we picked out our little guy. It was a process, definitely more involved than I initially thought. You gotta do your homework, trust your gut, and be patient. Lots of not-so-great options out there, but dedicated, responsible breeders exist here in Ohio too. You just have to put in the effort to find them.
