The Corgi From Cowboy Bebop: What Makes Corgi’s Great ESAs
- Published on:
- By: ASP Team
If you grew up in the 1990s, you may remember watching the space western anime Cowboy Bebop and falling in love with sweet little Ein. Ein was a Pembroke Welsh corgi who accompanied the Bebop crew on their many adventures. He may even have inspired you to get a corgi of your own – whether your parents let you do so or not.
But did you know the corgi from Cowboy Bebop may have been an amazing emotional support animal? Read on to learn more about Ein and why corgis make such good emotional support animals.
What Is Cowboy Bebop?
Before we talk about what a good boy Ein is, let’s talk some about Cowboy Bebop. This show was an anime that first aired in 1997 and 1998 and ran for two volumes. It was created by Hajime Yatate and was set in the futuristic era of 2071, fifty years after an accident that made Earth uninhabitable.
Cowboy Bebop was a classic space western, featuring Cowboys who could hunt down criminals for bounty payments. The main characters are two characters named Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, Cowboys working on the spaceship Bebop. Later on, they’re also joined by Faye Valentine, Edward, and, best of all, Ein.
Meet Ein
Ein shows up early in Cowboy Bebop, making his first appearance in Episode 2, “Stray Dog Strut.” Far from being just a ship pet, Ein was the subject of a laboratory experiment that enhanced his intelligence. He can communicate with other animals, steer a car, answer a telephone, play shogi, and more.
Ein was one of only two original cast members to have a real-life model. Toshihiro Kawamoto, the show’s character designer, based Ein on a Pembroke Welsh corgi one of his friends owned. Later on, he wound up getting a corgi of his own to use as a model when he was animating Ein.
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Due to the new Department of Transportation (DOT) policy, Emotional Support Animals are NO longer allowed to fly in airplane cabins for free. However, Psychiatric Service Dogs are eligible.
The Corgis Who Played Ein
ast year, Netflix announced that it would be making a live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop, and one of the first questions fans had was who would be playing Ein. There were, in fact, two Pembroke Welsh corgis who played the adorable hyper-intelligent canine. Their names are Charlie and Harry, and they quickly became fan favorites.
Everyone immediately fell in love with Charlie and Harry, including the cast playing the iconic anime characters. Showrunner Andre Nemec told Entertainment Weekly, “They’re the little kings of the set. Everybody wants time with the corgis.”
Actors on Cowboy Bebop talked about how much Charlie and Harry loved food and how much heavier they were than they looked. And both dogs did an amazing job of bringing Ein’s characteristic good nature to life. Their bright eyes, charming smiles, and adorable legs won the hearts of fans around the world.
All About Corgis
We know Ein is a Pembroke Welsh corgi, but what are these dogs really like? Corgis are perhaps best known for their short stature, standing just under a foot tall at the shoulder. But these dense little dogs can weigh up to thirty pounds and usually live between twelve and thirteen years.
Corgis have rounded ears that stand upright and alert expressions that seem to smile at us. They tend to come in red, sable, fawn, or black and tan, and they usually have white markings on their faces, bellies, and rumps. Most of the time, corgis’ tails are docked, leaving them with little nubbins that wiggle frantically when they get excited.
Different Corgi Breeds
There are actually two different types of corgis: Pembroke Welsh corgis and Cardigan Welsh corgis. Cardigan Welsh corgis tend to be a little bigger than Pembroke Welsh corgis and usually have darker coloring. Their faces also tend to be a little longer than their Pembroke cousins, and their tails usually aren’t docked.
Both these breeds originated as cattle-herding dogs, and they both make amazing companions. However, we tend to see Pembroke corgis more commonly than their Cardigan cousins. This may be in part because of their lovable faces and fluffy hindquarters.
Temperament
Corgis tend to be very affectionate, a trait we see in particular in the relationship between Ein and Ed. They tend to get along well with kids and other dogs, although this varies dog-to-dog. They also tend to get along well with strangers, but they can be very vigilant about letting you know when someone new is around.
Corgis are a playful, vocal breed, and your corgi may be prone to barking, especially when playing. They have a history as a working breed, so they’re high-energy and will need a lot of mental stimulation. Corgis can generally adapt well to new situations and make fantastic companion animals.
Trainability
If you’re considering getting a corgi, especially as an emotional support animal, it’s incredibly important that they be well-trained. Your corgi will need to get along well with strange dogs and people, stay quiet in public, and come when you call them. Teaching them to sit, stay, and walk on a leash can also make your life together easier and happier.
Luckily, corgis are tremendously trainable, as they’re very attuned to their people. They’re smart and eager to please, so the main thing you’ll need to figure out is what motivates your corgi. Most of the time, praise and treats are a fantastic way to encourage the behavior you want to see in your dog.
What Are Emotional Support Animals?
We mentioned corgis as emotional support animals, so what are these animals? Emotional support animals help people cope with their mental illnesses and provide companionship and comfort. They can reduce anxiety, improve depression, and encourage social interactions.
It is important to note that, from a legal perspective, emotional support animals are pets, not service animals. As we’ll discuss more later, ESAs aren’t allowed to go all the same places service dogs are, and the two have different sets of rights. However, ESAs do serve a more dedicated purpose than normal pets.
Benefits of Having an ESA
Having an emotional support animal around can provide a number of different benefits. Many people who live with anxiety find having an emotional support dog by their side helps to calm their symptoms. Petting a dog can lower cortisol levels, regulate heart rate, lower blood pressure, and make us feel less stressed.
Many people who live alone also find emotional support animals improve their quality of life. For one thing, these animals act as companions to their humans, but they also encourage social interactions with other people. Having an emotional support animal may even help people with chronic pain to better manage their condition.
Do Corgis Make Good ESAs?
Now that we know a little more about emotional support animals, we come to the golden question: do corgis make good ESAs? In general, these little dogs are a fantastic option for an emotional support animal. Their affectionate tendencies make them a wonderful companion for anyone who needs a little more love.
Corgis’ social nature can also bring people who are lonely or fighting social anxiety out of their shells. A corgi rarely meets a stranger, and they can be a great conversation starter. Their high energy levels can also encourage their people to go on walks and get exercise, which benefits both the dog and the human.
Where You Can Have an ESA?
We all know that service animals are allowed to accompany their owners into spaces pets aren’t allowed to go. However, emotional support animals do not have these same rights, since they aren’t legally service animals. The Department of Transportation defines a service animal as one that has been trained to perform a specific task to help its owner.
Emotional support animals may not be allowed to fly on planes or ride on public transport, and restaurant and store owners may have the right to refuse them entry. In many cases, having an official letter for your emotional support animal can get you the right to have them in housing that’s not normally pet-friendly. It’s important to know the laws about ESAs and where you can and can’t take your corgi.
Importance of Training Your ESA
We mentioned earlier that it’s incredibly important to train your corgi if you plan on using them as an emotional support animal. Most ESAs tend to spend a lot of time in public as they accompany you throughout your life. This means that they’ll need to be able to behave well and get along with strange people and animals.
You’ll need to spend a lot of time socializing your ESA puppy from an early age. They’ll have to cope well with loud noises, unfamiliar situations, crowds, and strange smells. All the while, they’ll need to remain calm, quiet, and obedient any time you’re out in public with them.
How to Train Your Corgi ESA
One of the best things you can do when you’re training your emotional support dog is to take it with you everywhere you can. The more time your dog spends with you, the more they’ll get to know your routine and behavioral cues. They’ll also get exposed to a wide variety of different people, animals, and situations as you go about your life.
It’s important that you spend time every day training your ESA. The basics like “sit,” “stay,” and “heel” will come in handy when you’re out in public with your dog. And be sure to set up plenty of playdates with other people and dogs (especially larger dogs) so your puppy learns early that these situations are nothing to be afraid of.
Taking Care of Your Corgi
In general, corgis are relatively easy to care for and keep in good health. As with all dogs, it’s a good idea to brush their teeth regularly and make sure they stay up to date on all their vaccinations and dewormers. Talk to your vet about how much and how often to feed your corgi, and make sure they get plenty of exercise.
Most corgis don’t shed too much, but they do have a double coat – a coarser outer coat that covers a softer undercoat. During the spring and early summer months, they lose their winter undercoat, and you’ll notice a lot more shedding. Brushing them every day and bathing them on a regular basis can help to keep the shedding under control.
Was Ein an ESA?
Now that we know a little more about emotional support animals, Cowboy Bebop fans may be wondering if Ein would qualify as an ESA. We saw Ein accompany the Bebop crew almost everywhere, and he seemed to provide comfort and aid when it was needed. Ein also formed a strong emotional bond with Ed and even chose to go with her when she left the ship.
By these definitions, we’d consider Ein an emotional service dog for Ed and the rest of the Bebop crew!
Learn More About the Corgi from Cowboy Bebop
Ein captured the hearts of Cowboy Bebop viewers when the show first aired in the 1990s, and the live-action reboot was no different. Ein showed viewers the affectionate, energetic, and clever nature of corgis, although we wouldn’t expect your corgi to start answering phones anytime soon. But a corgi can be an amazing choice for an emotional support animal as long as you train them well.
If you’d like to get an ESA like the corgi from Cowboy Bebop, check out the rest of our site at American Service Pets. We are the nation’s leading all-in-one solution for approving emotional support animals for housing and psychiatric service animals for transportation. See if you qualify for free today and get your official letter accepted nationwide.
The benefits of an Emotional Support Animal certification and a Psychiatric Service Dog certification are drastically different. Fortunately for you, American Service Pets’ network of active board certified doctors can help you find the right path to certification. To find out whether you need an ESA or PSD letter, take our easy, three-step Pet Owner Survey!
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