Don’t delay! Be the first on your block to own the next generation of canine companion. It’s Nibble Me Nia, the mechanical Welsh Corgi dogbot designed to melt your heart without staining your carpets!
Overview
Out of all the dog breeds in the world, why a Welsh Corgi, you wonder?
- Low to the ground for smooth navigation of furniture, tykes, and bigger, clumsier dogs.
- Bred for herding cattle and sheep in Wales, Corgis are renowned for keeping your family in order with a simple poke of their nose on the backs of your ankles.
- Big dog personality in a little dog’s body makes for a cuddly—but not wimpy—lap dog.
- It’s the unofficial Year of the Corgi—now that Sutter Brown is the first dog of California Governor Jerry Brown, and Corgis were prominently featured in The King’s Speech, the 2010 Best Picture Oscar winner, Corgis are the rage.
- Pembroke Welsh Corgis are ranked #11 out of more than 80 breeds for intelligence.
Good Corgis, however, are hard to find, and when you do find one, they can cost $1,000 or more. I own a top-of-the-line purebred Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Nia, and so have used my good fortune to model a dogbot after my Nia that the whole world can enjoy for just $992 (shipping, batteries, and eKibble not included).
Breed History
There are two breeds of Corgis: Cardigan and Pembroke. The two breeds used to be combined into one classification, but in 1934 the Kennel Club recognized them as separate breeds. The Pembroke breed, native to South Wales, is thought to be related to the Spitz breed, which includes Pomeranians. The Cardigan breed native to North Wales is believed to have evolved from the Dachshund or Tekel class, which includes short-legged, long-bodied breeds like the Dachshund and Bassett Hound. Nia is a Pembroke Corgi so I’ll dispense with further discussion of the Cardigan, precious as they may be to their owners (who are welcome to market their own dogbot—and good luck with that as Pembrokes are the iPads of Corgis).
The origin of the name “Corgi” has several possibilities so take your pick. Some say it derives from “cur,” meaning “to watch over.” “Cur” is the term recorded in ancient Welsh laws to describe task-specific house curs, watch curs, and shepherd’s curs. So “corgi” or “curgi” could mean “cur dog.” Others say the Welsh word for “dwarf” is “cor,” and “gi” is a form of the Welsh word “ci” meaning “dog,” so “corgi” stands for “dwarf dog” and “dog of the dwarf.” (Legends say that magical fairies or dwarfs used to ride the Corgi like a horse.) The British used to call both breeds of Corgis the Heeler breed and included the Heeler class in dog shows. Nowadays, Corgis are classified as Herding dogs by Kennel Clubs and dog shows.
Corgis, abundant in their native Wales, next became popular in England and have been favorites with British royalty since Queen Elizabeth II was a child. Corgis weren’t introduced in the United States until 1934. Of the Pembroke Corgi imports, the first one of renown was Sierra Bowhit Pivot, the first Pembroke Corgi best-in-show winner in Britain. Purchased by Mr. E. M. Tidd of Oakland, CA (which is also home to the Nia prototype), Bowhit Pivot went on to become the first American Pembroke champion. Pivot was busy outside of the competition ring also; two of his offspring rose to become show champions in 1937. Given the storied pedigree of U.S.-bred Pembroke Corgis, suffice it to say that Nia undoubtedly has championship DNA. Tracking that lineage, however, would likely cause family-tree software to crash.
Specifications
- Large, erect, triangular ears. Described as bat- or fox-like by frightened children.
- Short legs capable of tucking under the body while reclined. Also makes balancing for long periods on their backs, tummies exposed, a snap.
- Long body that can become quite plump and barrel-chested if not kept on a restricted diet. Nibble Me Nia’s slender, 28-pound figure is ideal and a role-model, if not a prize-winner, for the breed.
- Its attractive all-weather smooth coat is resistant to water. Comes with standard red and white (see Photo Gallery) or optional tri-color or sable. While a real Corgi has a thick undercoat that sheds prodigiously, Nibble Me Nia retains her coat except from normal wear and tear.
- “Nia” is Welsh for bright-eyed, lustrous. Note the permanent black eyeliner that really makes her eyes pop.
- Dogs communicate in several ways such as tail-wagging, licking, vocalizing, and eye-widening. Nibble Me Nia is no exception except that, like most Corgis, its tail is missing, having been docked in early models of the breed, so the wagging/wiggling of her tail-less rump can be so subtle as to be unnoticeable.
- Nibble Me Nia‘s favorite mode of communication, therefore, is nibbling. Having mastered the soft bite, she uses her mouth and tiny front teeth to affectionately nibble fingers, legs, and toes, as if she were quickly eating an ear of corn. (In fact, this feature can be utilized in the kitchen for removing corn from the cob—must disable the gobble and swallow features first.) While in “crazy mode” (see video!) everything is fair game to be nibbled: pillows, furniture edges, blankets, and plant leaves.
Choose from several modes of operations:
- Waiting – Sullen and immobile. If eyes detect a significant turn of events, NMN automatically goes from “standby” to “engaged.”
- Needy – Whether it’s exercise, affection, or fuel, NMN will let you know when she’s ready for some give-n-take.
- Crazy (see video!) – Overloaded circuits spike NMN into crazy mode, in which she runs at break neck speed in circles, nipping at plants, furniture, and bedspreads in her path.
- Dreamy – Prepare to be entranced when NMN hops into your lap, stretches out with her head on your chest, and gazes dreamily into your eyes.
- Happy – NMN is designed specifically to make you feel good about yourself, and you will when she greets you with a toothy grin modeled after Julia Roberts.
- Fetch – Hold up a rubber ball and all systems are go for a rousing game of throw and fetch. Quick and agile, NMN can retrieve thrown objects in seconds, over and over and over. Your arm is guaranteed to fatigue before NMN ever does.
- Holy S**t! – Sudden unfamiliar noises such as thunder, doorbells, spoons clinking, and UPS person footsteps cause NMN to jump to attention, either with a look of dread that cues you to impending danger or with sudden ear-splitting barking.
Photo Gallery
User Reviews
“I’ve tried cats, birds, fishes, and snakes, but NMN is the best companion ever! Always there when I need her, for whatever reason. She does everything I tell her to do, and doesn’t have to be told twice. Cancel your eHarmony account, and get NMN instead.” Anonymous
“I was surprised at how unbelievably cuddly NMN is for a mechanical dogbot. NMN lives up to the hype and is not yippy at all like many dogs her size. Hint for next upgrade: I wish there was a volume adjustment for the bark.” EarlyAdopter@gmail.com
“Nibble Me Nia satisfies when nothing else does.” Charlie Sheen
So what are you waiting for? Did you see the VIDEO???
Order your own Nibble Me Nia today!
