27/05/2022
Breed Info
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Country of Origin
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi descends from a crossbreeding of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi with either the Schipperke and Pomeranian or the Swedish Vallhund, which travelled to Wales with the Vikings. It is the smallest herding breed. ‘Cor gi’ translates to ‘dwarf dog’ or ‘gathering dog’ in Welsh; the rest of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s name comes from its birthplace of Pembrokeshire, Wales. Originally used as a hunter and guard dog, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi was later trained to herd cattle and sheep. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was not used as a show dog until the 1920’s, and then met with only mild success. It was recognized as a distinct breed from the Cardigan Welsh Corgi in 1934, which led to a gradual increase in popularity. By 2006 the Pembroke Welsh Corgi had become the 22nd most registered breed with the American Kennel Club, far outnumbering the Cardigan variety. Famous Pembroke Welsh Corgis include ‘Ein’, the genius dog from anime ‘Cowboy Bebop’, and Stephen King's Pembroke Welsh Corgi ‘Marlowe’, who ‘Oy’ from ‘The Dark Tower’ series is based on. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is also highly popular with British royalty; Queen Elizabeth II reportedly has more than a dozen pet Pembrokes.
Size
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a shoulder height of 25-30 cm (10-12 in) and weighs up to 15 kg (30 lbs); it is almost twice as long as it is tall. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a flat skull and large, high-set, erect, rounded ears. Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a docked or natural bob tail; the natural bob tail is coming more into fashion as some countries ban the practice of docking. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is distinguished from the Cardigan Welsh Corgi by its smaller size, absence of a long tail, and generally more fox-like appearance.
Coat
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a long, thick, water-resistant outer coat consisting of hard straight hairs, and a short undercoat. It can be red, sable, fawn, or black and tan, all with possible white ma
