Origin: ~ Wales
Bred for: ~ Driving cattle
Coat: ~ Straight, short, fairly harsh.
Colour: ~ Red, sable, brindle, blue merle, black, with white flashings to various colours.
Height: ~ 10 to 12 inches or
25 to 30cms.
Weight: ~ 25 to 30lbs or
11 to 14kgs.
Lifespan: ~ 12 to 13 years.
AKC Group – Herding Group
History of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Corgi was an essential part of the welsh farm, when it was used to drive cattle helping welsh tenant farmers to claim land upon which their cattle roamed.
The Pembroke was in fact kept as a cattle dog as was its cousin the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, however when it came to ‘Showing’ these dogs it became apparent to judges that there was a distinct difference in size between these two corgi breeds.
As such breeders and judges separated the two breeds and in 1935 the AKC recognised separately the breeds of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembrokeshire Welsh Corgi.
The Pembroke is distinct by its size which is smaller and the fact that it sometimes had little or no tail.
If it did have a tail it was shorter than the Cardigan’s tail and did not trail down to the ground.
As such it has a lighter frame with smaller head and ears that were slightly pointed.
Its appeal was heightened by the public when a number of them were bought by King George IV and subsequently were also a favourite of The Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II).
They remained part of the royal household for many years and although there are currently no Pembroke Welsh Corgis in the household now.
Queen Elizabeth II kept quite a few Dorgis, the Dorgis being a cross between a Corgi and a Dachshund giving homage perhaps to the fact that the Royal family’s own history comes with a mixed heritage from Germany.
The central difference between the Pembroke Corgi and the Cardigan Corgi is that the Pembroke is a breed of Spitz and the Cardigane descends from the Teckel family which also produced the Dachshund.
Thus Queen Elizabeth II bought the two breeding lines together with her Dorgi’s.
Although favoured by British royal family for more than seventy years their favour amongst the British public has declined.
They are though very popular in the United States. Apparently in cities such as New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco they hold annual “Corgi Meetups” where hundreds of owners and their dogs spend time together.
Height ~ 10 to 12 inches or
25 to 30 cm
Weight ~ 24 to 31lbs or
11 to 14 kg
Lifespan ~ 12 to 15 years
These dogs are intelligent and loyal, but can be stubborn so good training from an early age is advisable.
