The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is just the sweetest most adorable dog with its sturdy body and short legs.
This breed is an ultimate favorite of Queen Elizabeth II, who has owned over thirty Corgis since becoming Queen of England in 1952.
In 1933, a breeder showed a litter of puppies to the Duke of York and his family. The Duke was Princess Elizabeth’s father who had not yet become King.
The family kept a Corgi from the litter, naming him Dookie, and later they acquired Jane, who with Dookie had a Corgi puppy named Crackers. And so it began…
For her eighteenth birthday, the Queen, who was then Princess Elizabeth, received a Corgi of her very own named Susan, of who most of the Queen’s Corgis in later years were descendants.
Today the Queen has two “Dorgis,” Candy and Vulcan, who is the result of a breeding between one of Princess Margaret’s dachshunds and Queen Elizabeth’s Corgi.
The Queen no longer breeds Corgis because she doesn’t want any young dogs left behind. The Queen is 95.
If you are considering adding a Pembroke Welsh Corgi to your family, you are in “royal” good company and it’s also an excellent choice!
In the following post, I will give you relevant information on the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Also included will be Pembroke Welsh Corgi temperament information and I will answer the question, “Are Pembroke Welsh Corgis good family dogs?”
For your dog’s vitamin supplement, foods, toys, or other dogs product please visit the Health Extension website.
History of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales around the 12th century and may be one of the oldest breeds used for herding.
Many believe that Flemish weavers, native to Flanders, Belgium, brought along these dogs when they traveled to reside in Wales.
The Corgi was possibly derived from the Swedish Vallhund, keeshond, schipperke, and the Pomeranian.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a fiercely hard-working herder and was and still is used for herding cattle. Watching them at work is truly amazing, witnessing this little sprite at work!
There are two breeds of Welsh Corgis, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, which is the oldest of the two.
The Pembroke and the Cardigan were shown together in 1925 by the kennel Club of England and were then referred to as Welsh Corgis until 1934 when they were recognized as two distinct and separate breeds.
Today, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is increasingly popular, but in the UK, a lack of breeders has made them a bit difficult to come by.
In the United States, they’re 11th in popularity rating of breeds in the American Kennel Club. This increased popularity is partly due to the well-liked Netflix series The Crown about the Royal Family, which features the Queen’s Pembroke Welsh Corgis.
The appearance of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a sturdy, but short in stature, small to medium herding dog. They have little short legs which are referred to as achondroplastic dwarfism.
Corgi actually means “dwarf dog” in Welsh! These dogs were bred to be short and low to the ground for herding cattle.
They could “fly under the radar” so to speak, by keeping large cows where they should be but escaping injury with their speed as well.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi grow from 1o to 12 inches in height as an adult and weigh in between 24lbs to 30lbs. Their life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.
The Welsh Corgi has a fox-like appearance but with rounded stand-up ears. Their colors can be sable, fawn, red, or black and tan and any markings will be white. They also have a double coat of medium length that does shed quite a bit, especially during shedding seasons in spring and fall.
There is a legend in Wales that tells how fairies used the Corgi for working “fairy” cattle and for pulling coaches driven by fairies.
They were also allegedly used like horses when fairies went into battle. Today you will see on their shoulder, marks from the “fairy saddle.” It sounds quite magical!
To check your Pembroke Welsh Corgis’ health status or their DNA checks, please visit the Embark vet website for all the help you may need.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Temperament
Anyone who can look at a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and not suffer from “love at first sight” must be heartless! They are just adorable with their cute but odd little bodies and their animated faces.
Just as in other dogs and even humans, personalities can vary in Corgis, but basically, most are outgoing, welcoming, and cheerful. Below are some important traits of their temperament.
Intelligence
The Corgi is highly intelligent, sometimes too much for their own good! This can lead them to be stubborn and willful at times, without proper training. They understand exactly what you are asking them to do, but they may want to do it on their own terms and own time.
They can also become destructive if bored. They like to have a job. Corgis need a firm owner who is the person in charge.
They can pick up commands quite easily but do need training and plenty of exercises to keep their little minds stimulated, both mentally and physically.
Barking
Corgis will bark. This is in their blood to keep cattle in line and to protect them. This is a protective dog and though small, they are excellent watchdogs. Training them out of barking, when young can be accomplished but may pose a challenge.
They are Enamored with their family
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi just loves their family and wants to spend time with them playing, running, or just chilling.
Use caution around children
Although Corgis just love children, their instinctual herding nature may kick in and use these traits to round up children by nipping at their heels and barking.
This is not aggression and they are just doing their job and what is natural to them. They won’t hurt children but they may scare them.
Supervision is needed around toddlers and your Corgi needs to know this behavior is unacceptable.
Try using these excellent herding abilities by tiring them out in agility competitions or running obstacle courses.
This can satisfy that herding urge and give both your Corgi and you some great exercise. These dogs love speed!
Outgoing and Friendly
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is outgoing and friendly, but often is a little reserved with strangers until they become familiar with them. After that, they’ll have a new BFF!
- Playful
The Corgi loves to play and be in the fray of a game of frisbee, ball chasing, and anything that involves running. They are great playmates for everyone.
- Bold and Brave
For centuries the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has guarded livestock, so they can get a little bold with any dogs or cats you may run into outside the home.
They want to guard you against them They are quite brave; “small but mighty.” They will not however be doing much guarding of your home; just you and your family. Hide the silver!
- Independent
Because they are whip-smart and accustomed to using their own brain for herding, the Corgi can be quite independent. Again, training will be necessary and an Alpha leader in the household is imperative.
Are Pembroke Welsh Corgis Good Family Dogs?
Without a doubt, with proper socialization and training, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi makes an excellent family dog that your family will be able to have a lot of fun and laugh with.
They love family, and children and are in the mix with their energetic and playful attitude. Because they are smaller dogs, they can even do well in a small house or apartment, but that is if they do get plenty of exercise.
They love to speed around, run and race, so they may be small but they’re no couch potato, being better suited for an active single, couple, or family.
With an owner who is a true leader and Alpha of the “pack,” the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a very loyal and loving comrade that doesn’t hesitate to follow directions and enjoy the adventure.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a fun-loving and adorably sweet pooch. They are high-spirited pups with a spunky attitude, but with the right training and exercise, they can be just the right family pet for you. You too can be Royal with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi!
