Dog picture taken by thisisbossi.

This is the new, improved, better version!! Thank you for all your comments and ratings. Enjoy! General information and media about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed collected from websites on the internet. Of course, every dog is unique and may differ from the breed standards. Original here: www.youtube.com *I want to add a note that I have never had a dog of my own, let alone a corgi… I made this while I was going through my dog-fad.**

We begin this article with the basic facts about the breed, then follow up with an in-depth look at their personality.

Group: Herding

Weight: Male: 25-30, Female: 24-28 lbs

Height: Male: 10-12, Female: 10-12 inches

Overview

It is only for 70 years now that the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi have been regarded as separate breeds. There are several theories about the origin of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and many believe that both Corgi breeds are related to the Swedish Vallhunds. These dogs have been brought to Wales by the Vikings during the 800s. Another premise is that the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the older of the two Corgi breeds, and that the Celts brought them to Wales in about 1200 BC. The name “Corgi” is derived from the word “dog” in Celtic. The Corgi has many natural talents that include herding, hunting, and guarding. Seeing that these dogs are fairly low, they manage to move out of the way whenever a cow kicked. These days the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is primarily a companion dog.

Temperament

Cardigan Welsh Corgis are affectionate and caring dogs, and they also possess a high degree of intelligence. They have an open and gentle nature, but they do have a tendency to nip at heels. But because they are so intelligent, they are a pleasure to train. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi will work well for experienced and inexperienced owners. This breed is very brave, and they have lots of energy. Corgis are also very keen, willing and enthusiastic. Cardigan Welsh Corgis is spontaneous but also obedient, and they have a mind of their own.

Care

These dogs should be brushed with a firm hair brush when it is necessary, and they do not have very high maintenance requirements. Corgis should not be bathed excessively, and only when it is deemed necessary. It is important that the Cardigan Welsch Corgi is not fed too much.

Training

In general, the Caridgan Welsch Corgi will get along well with other dogs, but they can however be aggressive at times. Sometimes the Corgis will take on situation that are too big for them too handle, and this often results in them loosing their lives. These dogs also try to herd people by nipping at their heels, but they can be trained to stop doing this. Cardigan Welsch Corgis are good at making alarm, but they can however bark excessively. It is also very common for the males Corgis to be aggressive toward other male dogs, especially when a bitch in the neighbourhood is on heat.

Health problems

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a particularly healthy breed, especially when compared to other dogs. Hip dysplasia is a likely condition, and so are mild eye problems when they get older. The most dangerous health problems these dogs struggle with are degenerative myelopathy, which is a spinal problem that is mostly found in the German Shepherds.

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Dog picture taken by thisisbossi.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi are two separate breeds now but at one time were considered as one breed and in a single litter both types could be born. The Cardigan Welsh differs from the Pembroke in several respects, the major one being that it has a tail. The Pembroke is supposed to be born tail-less but this has not always been the case and the possibility of being born WITH a tail was more prevalent when the two breeds were treated as one, so since 1934 the breeds have been separated. The two breeds are now quite different also in the matter of coat color.

The Cardigan’s colors may be quite varied in nature, with or without white markings. The most favored color for the Cardigan is Blue Merle, which may also include two separate eye colors.

The Pembroke on the other hand must be a shade of red ranging from light honey gold to deep mahogany with white markings. The coat is dense with a thick undercoat and weather resistant outer guard hairs. The Pembroke’s ears are set a bit closer together than in the Cardigan and are a bit sharper at the tip. The head of the Cardigan is somewhat heavier and less refined than the Pembroke, who has a more foxlike appearance to the face.

Both breeds are short, no taller than 10 inches at the shoulder and quite long, nearly a yard long as a matter of fact. Legs are sturdy and slightly bowed in the front. Both breeds also have strong herding instincts and should have fluid movement, covering a lot of ground with one stride. Their length of body and strong rear quarters enable them to do a respectable job of cornering as is required when herding livestock.

The Welsh Corgis are wonderful “kid” dogs, putting up with almost anything from children. They are a bit suspicious of strangers and make good watchdogs. Neither breed is happy for long when left alone and they do not make good kennel dogs. For centuries they have worked in partnership with people, being with their family is necessary for their happiness. Loyal and affectionate, they make good family pets and yet have maintained a strong herding ability through the generations.

However, they are as happy in an apartment as they are on a farm and if exercised daily they will be quite content. They are comical dogs and love to be the center of attention, being a clown is part of their nature. Early obedience is a must however for they do have a strong tendency to believe that they can be the boss, this is no doubt because of their inherited desire to herd anything and everything.

The health of these two breeds is generally strong, except for the Cardigan’s tendency towards obesity. A watchful diet program is essential for he is a real chow hound. Both of these breeds should be checked for hip dysphasia and care must be taken because of the length of the back that they do not pull their backs out by jumping down from heights.

a litter of 6 weeks old corgi puppies running into the kitchen.

3-month-old pembroke welsh corgi walking and playing around. This was her first time walking on a leash =) Music: Maaya Sakamoto – Loop

The origin of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is unclear.It is thought to have lived in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in the 10th century. Its name comes from the Welsh for heeling dog. It might have been bred from the Swedish Valhund and the Welsh Cardigan Corgi. In the year 920 King Hywel Dda of South Wales declared a law that Corgis were not be abused. Another breed introduced to Wales by Flemish weavers in 1107 may have interbred with earlier Corgis. Some experts believe that the breed is descended from the old Shipperke and belongs in the same family as the Keeshond, Pomeranian, Spitz, Samoyed, Chow Chow, and Norwegian Elkhound. One legend has it that the breed was given to the people by fairies, although this story is given little credence.

Corgis were bred for herding cattle, sheep and Welsh ponies. Their low stature made it possible for them to herd chasing larger animals and nipping their heels while being too low to the ground for the herd animals to kick. If an animal were to try to turn around, the Corgi would nip its nose. The dogs were also used for guarding children and for family pets, as they are today.

Corgis were first shown in the ring in 1925 in Wales. Since Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire are only a few miles apart, there was a great deal of interbreeding between Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Cardigan Welsh Corgis until 1934 when the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom established them as two separate dog breeds, to be shown separately.

At about that time the Duke of York gave Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies to his daughters, Elizabeth, later to become Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and Margaret Rose. Her Majesty still keeps a pack of the little dogs.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis continue to serve as cattle herding dogs on farms in Wales and as pets in many parts of the United Kingdom and the United States.

Missy the Silly Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgis come from a long lineage of herding dogs, but today they are more known for being great companion dogs. The claim to fame of this breed is that they became favorites of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II of England during their time. With their endearing appearance, perhaps what a lot of people don’t realize is that Welsh Corgis are also extremely prone to obesity.

Obesity is one of the most common health conditions in dogs.

In fact, about 25-40% of Dogs today suffer from excessive accumulation of body fat. However, it is the Welsh Corgi genetic makeup and basic temperament that makes them most vulnerable to this nutrition-related health condition. Welsh Corgis are known for their exceptionally unique appearance. They often have stocky, elongated bodies but are paired with extremely short legs. Interestingly enough, their name attests to this fact. The name “Corgi” translates to “dwarf dog” in Welsh. An average Welsh Corgi stands 10-12 inches high and weighs approximately 25-30 pounds.

Welsh Corgis are extremely intelligent. This makes them easy to train but they can also be quite selective of the commands they obey. Just like any other dog, they need ample exercise and mental stimulation, or else they may develop a tendency to become lazy and disengaged. You must know that the primary causes of obesity are overeating and lack of exercise. When your Welsh Corgi ends up consuming more calories than it burns, obesity becomes a problem.

Obesity in Welsh Corgis can create a chain reaction of health problems.

Generally, obese dogs experience difficulties in breathing and walking, which in turn makes them unable to tolerate exercise, especially during days with warm weather. And because Welsh Corgis have relatively large bodies for such small legs, excessive body weight can cause strain on their spine to create even more health problems such as arthritis.

Of course, there may be other medical reasons for causing obesity in dogs such as diabetes and Cushing’s disease. When obese dogs become insulin resistant, they may end up overeating and drinking in excessive amounts. On the other hand, Cushing’s disease, in which the dog’s adrenal glands produce excessive amounts of hormones, makes them gain weight and experience fat-redistribution.

The best way to keep this problem in check is to pay proper attention to your Welsh Corgi and take it for regular check-ups to the vet.

Whatever the cause of obesity is, remember that with enough patience and proper medical attention, health conditions can be conveniently addressed. However, bear in mind that prevention is always better than treatment. Keep your Welsh Corgi active and make sure that it gets the daily exercise that it needs. It would also be helpful to stick to a timetable and diet when it comes to your dog’s nutritional needs. With a little help and encouragement, Welsh Corgis can live long and healthy lives.

Dog picture taken by thisisbossi.

Bringing 10 week old Yumi home for the first time from the airport, our baby Pembroke Welsh Corgi girl born in Missouri. Her first steps around her new home in Seattle.

Dog picture taken by thisisbossi.

Our Pembroke Welsh Corgi “Kramer” on the air slide with the kids.

Belle – Our Pembroke Welsh Corgi Puppy

(8 weeks old)@11,25,2008 Pembroke Welsh Corgi Puppy named Leela? or Pepsi? Just got her today!

There are a number of differences between these two breeds starting from the early beginnings where some people have said that the older Cardigan Welsh Corgi’s were from Cardiganshire, possibly brought there by the Celts in 1200BC. While the Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s ancestors were thought to be introduced by Flemish weavers to the Celts in the 1100BC.

Either way they were interbred and considered the same breed until 1934 where the two different breeds were identified and separated from then on.

The most obvious distinction between the two breeds is that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a natural bob tail (short tail) or sometimes born without a tail. They also have straighter legs due to the shorter body length. Their head is generally in a wedge- shape with smaller ears that are situated close together as well as they tend to be the lightest breed between the two. They have been known to have a higher risk for hip dysplasia.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi’s tend to me more active than their counter-part and need regular exercises. They are also slightly larger in size but have shorter legs and have their full tail. There are more colors and patterns in this breed as well as being the less common breed between the two. Their coat is generally a bit wiry in comparison, but both breeds have a double coat fur for weather resistance. With much shorter legs than the Pembroke, this helps them when they role away from the dangers of kicking cows.

Their personalities may differ slightly as the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is said to be more reserved, although both are quite stubborn, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi tends to be more tolerant of other non-canine animals in the household.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgis are also the favorite breed of Queen Elizabeth II who owns quite a few; they have been favored for over seventy years within the British Royalty. At last count she owned 16 of them.

As part of the history between these two breeds there are two theories in regards to their origin:
That some Cardi’s were cross bred with the Swedish Vallhund Dogs, or some of the orginial Pem’s evolved from the Cardi’s and other dogs, including Pomeranian, Schipperke and other Spitz-type dogs.

In general these two lovable breeds are extremely similar in looks; intelligence and temperament, but still have their slight individualisms and traits that stand them apart.

Dog picture taken by thisisbossi.

Dog picture taken by mikebaird.