Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is one of two types of corgis, the other being the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. The Corgi was originally developed to be a versatile herding dog, and is still considered a good quality working dog today. This is the smallest of the herding breeds. The Corgi has a heeler style of herding, nipping at the heels and working the livestock from behind. Fearless when working, it is suited for work on any livestock including large animals such as cattle and horses. Its short legs keep it low to the ground, where the kick of the cow passes safely over its head. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is also known to roll on the ground to avoid a kick, and can even quickly change direction while rolling. The Corgi is believed by canine experts to be one of the most intelligent breeds. The Corgi shares the self-possession and confident attitude of larger herding breeds. This, combined with the sturdy build and disproportionately short legs, causes it to give the impression of a big dog in a small body. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is compact and stocky, with a very muscular and sturdy frame. Its legs are short and stocky, its back is long. It has an alert expression and prick ears. Its tail may be naturally short or docked at birth. The Corgi stands 10 to 12 inches tall. Its coat is double, consisting of a dense woolly undercoat and a coarser top coat. Coat color may be fawn, sable, red or tricolored, with or without white markings in various places on the body. Some Pembroke Welsh Corgis have medium length fur: these are referred to as "fluffies"�. This coat is not acceptable for show. The difference between the two types of Corgi are greater than what first glance would suggest. It is believed that the Cardigan is the older of the breeds, and the Pembroke may have been bred by crossing the Cardigan with other breeds. The Pembroke has a shorter back, and shorter and finer-boned legs. The coat of the Pembroke is finer and shorter. Its ears are sharply pointed, while those of the Cardigan are not. And of course the tail of the Cardigan is long. Fanciers of the breeds suggest that there are also marked differences in temperaments. It is thought that the breeds were very different up until the mid-19th century, when they were crossed and became more similar. In modern times they were considered to be the same breed, until they were declared separate breeds in the 1930's. The Corgi is believed to have originated with the Swedish Valhund type dogs brought by Vikings to Wales in the 9th century. These dogs were used to work livestock and as watchdogs. It is known that Flemish settlers moved across the channel in the year 1107 to live in the Pembroke area of Wales; they brought with them dogs that were crossbred with the Swedish Valhund types to begin the development of the modern Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Many canine historians believe that the Pembroke also carries bloodlines from the northern Spitz type breeds, such as the Pomeranian or the Schipperke. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was first shown publicly in 1926. It has gained popularity since that time, most markedly when Queen Elizabeth II began to collect them. It is reported that at one point she owned sixteen. The Pembroke was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1934. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi requires attention to its coat to minimize shedding. Its undercoat sheds steadily year round, and its top coat will be shed heavily twice a year. Regular brushing will remove excess fur and keep the coat clean and the skin conditioned. The Corgi is an intelligent working dog by nature, and needs to have physical and mental stimulation to remain balanced. Daily exercise is necessary. But given that its physical needs are met, the Corgi makes an excellent house pet. The owner should take care not to overfeed the Corgi. The length of its back predisposes it to severe and even life-threatening back problems if excess weight is allowed to accumulate on the abdomen. Obesity will also affect the health of the legs, and can encourage heart disease and diabetes. Hip dysplasia can present in this breed. Any early signs of hip or back pain should be investigated by a veterinarian to stem the likelihood of its worsening. The Corgi occasionally has eye issues such as glaucoma and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Very occasionally, this breed has Von Willibrands Disease or epilepsy. Most of these conditions can be avoided or eliminated with selective and careful breeding. The prospective owner should check to see whether the breeder has had bloodlines and individuals cleared for these specific medical problems.The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is generally a very friendly, outgoing breed. It will usually play very well with children and with other pets in the household, although it may tend to herd them. The prospective owner must keep in mind that this breed has strong inherent herding instincts. Children should be taught not to run away from the dog, or even run in its vicinity, because it is natural for this breed to react by nipping at heels. The Corgi is territorial by nature, having been bred for centuries to be a watchdog as well as an all-around farm dog. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi will tend to bark to alert the household to visitors. This breed can show suspicion toward strangers. Obsessive barking can be avoided with adequate mental and physical stimulation. The Corgi is fearless and can be quite head-strong. This dog will do best with early training and a strong leader, or it may make it its job to run the household. Although Corgis are rarely used solely as working dogs in the modern world, their herding instincts remain strong, and they can excel in herding trials. Their intelligence and eagerness to learn prepares them to do well in obedience trials as well.

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