Corgi

There are two different types of Welsh Corgi. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, they were originally one breed but they separated the breeds in the 1930’s. These dogs originate in the British Isles and date back more than 3000 years. They are a royal dog, Queen Elizabeth II of England keeps many of them and they often appear in pictures with her. 

Corgis are part of the herding group and therefore considered a working dog. They were bred to  nip at cattle’s heels to move them out into fields, unlike most other herding breeds that are meant to bring the livestock close in. Corgis are wonderful little workers that are deceptively fast.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is one of the first breeds in Britain. They have a long tail almost reaching the ground. In the US most Pembroke Welsh Corgis have their tails docked very short which can help you tell them apart. Pembroke are usually under 30lbs and no more than 10 inches tall while Cardigan are a bit bigger up to 38lbs and 12 inches tall. Both have their ears perked up giving them the look of a fox.

Both types of Corgi come in a wide variety of colors. While most have some white the other colors (black, blue merle, brindle, red or sable) should be the prominent color. They can have tan points too. A dense, fluffy under coat and longer flatter overcoat are typical. The Corgi coat can be quite weather resistant and therefore help them work in cold, rainy weather. However most of the Corgis you’ll meet love hanging out indoors and sleeping on the couch. They shed quite a bit so regular brushing and baths will help keep the house clean.

This dog is very trainable and was bred to think for itself. Welsh Corgis are great guardians with a big dog bark, extremely loyal and friendly. They usually love children though it can be expected to have this dog nip at heels and bark since they were bred to do so.

Though small, they need proper exercise to stay fit. Corgis are quite food motivated so care must be taken to not over feed and make them fat. Due to the shorter legs they shouldn’t be encouraged to jump off high spots like furniture or borders. However they do enjoy sports like agility and fly ball and do very well in them due to their amazing speed.

If you think a Welsh Corgi might be a good addition to your family make sure you find a reputable breeder to avoid health concerns. Or adopt one from the various breed specific rescues.