Dog Breeds: Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is definitely one of my favorite dog breeds. I had wanted one for a long time and when I finally got her - I was in for a surprise! She has A LOT of personality for such a small dog.

This is a breed that is gaining in popularity. They are small in size; meaning that they don't have to have a lot of space to live in. The coat is relatively easy to maintain. Corgis are always ready to please. So do you think it might be a breed for you? Here are some basics and a little history on the Corgi.

Early history of the breed can be traced back to the 800's. It is believed that they are descendents of the Swedish Vallhunds brought to Wales by Vikings. They could also have been introduced to Wales by Flemish weavers in the 1100's. It's very hard to pin down the exact history of the Corgi, but it is known that they were developed into the breed that they are today in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The short stature, quick reactions and nippiness the breed has, helps it in herding cattle. If the cow kicks, the Corgi is quick to roll out of the way. The dog tends to be so bossy, that the cattle would gladly oblige instead of being nipped on the heels.

In the 1930's, Queen Elizabeth II brought recognition to the Corgi by choosing it as her favorite breed. Whether or not this caused more of a spotlight on the breed isn't certain, because the personality is enough to get all the attention it deserves.

There is a breed closely related to the Corgi: the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. They were interbred until the 1930's, when they were recognized as two seperate breeds. The biggest and most obvious difference between the two is the tail. Cardigans have one while the Pembroke doesn't. But upon closer inspection, you'll see more differences. The Pembroke's body is not quite as long as the Cardigan's; the legs are more straight on the Pembroke; and the head is more wedge-shaped with the ears slightly smaller and closer together on the Pembroke. Both are beautiful dogs, though, and it just depends upon your personal taste as to which one you would prefer.

The Pembroke has a very strong personality. Out of our three dogs, our Corgi is the smallest and the bossiest! Her herding instincts are still very strong, even though we've never used her as a herding dog. She nips and yaps at us, the other dogs and the cat, as if she were herding us. Our Sheltie, which is also in the herding group, is very intimidated by our Corgi. When the dogs are going outside, Triscuit (our Corgi) waits for Denver (our Sheltie) to come out the door. When he does, she proceeds to nip at his heels. He really hates this and sometimes refuses to go out if she's standing at the door.

The Corgi is a very intelligent, loyal and obedient dog. They need to be socialized starting at a young age, but are usually really good with strangers. They are also protective, so if there is a threat to the family, the dog will sound the alert and do what it feels necessary to protect them. The Corgi tends to forget that it is a small dog, and may not be able to defend itself or it's family as well as it would like to. So don't depend upon it entirely. You must also look out for it.

These are highly active dogs and are great playmates for children. They love to play chase! Exercise is very important to the breed's well-being. If it stays cooped up in a small apartment, it won't be healthy or happy. But if you take it outside for regular exercise, apartment living would be fine.

We have a fairly large backyard that Triscuit loves to run around in. We do have to watch her around our pool, though. She's not afraid of the water and walks right along the edge. She can swim, but not for long periods of time. The Corgi's body is so long and the legs are so short, swimming isn't the best sport for them unless they have on a life jacket. When Triscuit was a puppy, she jumped off of our boat. She soon realized that she couldn't stay afloat for long and we were able to get her back into the boat before any trouble occurred. She must have learned her lesson, because she hasn't jumped off of it again. She does love to be on the boat with us and is the happiest when we let her tag along, whether it's on the boat or into town. Corgi's love their humans very strongly and want to stay close to them.

With a Corgi, there are a few health issues. Glaucoma and back problems are two of them. The one we have the most difficulty with is weight. Triscuit hoards the food in the family. She'll even fight our Anatolian Shepherd over food. That is one battle she usually loses, though. She is over weight regardless of who wins, though. It's not good for her back or her heart. So weight conscious food and lots of exercise tend to help keep it under control. Her ideal weight is 24 - 28 pounds, while the male's ideal weight is 25 - 30 pounds.

This is an excellent breed of dog. They love to be outside, inside, or anywhere you are. They'll run next to you while you jog or curl up in your lap while you read. Corgi's definitely bring a smile to anyone's face: young or old. Even with the over-powering personality, the bossiness and nippiness, anyone can learn to adore this breed.

Resources:
www.dogbreedinfo.com/pembrokecorgi.htm