The Pembroke Welsh corgi is an alive , intelligent , and beloved breed that has become extremely popular in recent year . get out why mass love corgis ( and their small leg ) .

With their perky ear , stubby leg , and huge grins , it ’s well-to-do to see why the Pembroke Welsh corgi has so many fans . Bred as herding dogs in Wales , the Pembroke Welsh corgi ’s full haunch and lovely waddle belie her origin as a hardy workings dog . But she is not to be confused with her slightly larger , long - chase cousin , theCardigan Welsh corgi , which is an entirely separate breed .

Appearance

The Pembroke Welsh Welsh corgi is well placeable : Pair that sly confront with her perky ears ; add in a sturdy , recollective body and short stage ; and finish it all off with a full pelage around the berm and haunch . And do n’t forgettheir endearing booty !

These are short and dauntless dog : At just 10–12 inches magniloquent , they librate in at up to 30 pounds for male person and 28 pounds for females . Their average - slurred two-fold coating comes in four received colors : fatal and tan , fawn , ruddy , or sable . You ’ll need to make indisputable that yourcorgi is brushed regularly , but still expectlots of shed fuzz — especially during seasonal shedding in the spring and fall .

While some corgi are expect with course bobbed keister , most are docked when they are two to five day one-time — the breed received calls for a tail that ’s " as short as possible without being dent . " However , tail end docking is a controversial recitation : According to theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association ( AVMA ) , docking is almost always for purely decorative reason and there ’s no proven wellness benefits for the animal .

pembroke welsh corgi standing on grey marble stairs

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While Pembroke Welsh corgi might resemble the Cardigan Welsh corgi , the two breeds were in reality developed at dissimilar times and hail from disjoined linage : The Cardigan is much sometime , originating from the German teckel descent that come to Wales with the Celts around 1200 B.C. The Pembroke , on the other hand , originates with the Nordic spitz and can be traced back to 1000 A.D. , make it in Wales with the Vikings , consort to theCardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America . You ’ll discover that the Cardigan has a more or less heavier build ( up to 38 pound ) and a farseeing , George Fox - like undocked shadow .

Temperament

" They ’re a swelled detent in a little parcel , " says Marilyn Van Vleit , the Judges Education Chair for thePembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America ( PWCCA ) . Van Vleit , who has bred corgis for over 40 years , describe the stock as fun - loving , willful , kindly , andextremely sound . " They have a wonderful , wondrous sentience of humor , and they have a go at it their toy dog , " she read . " They love to interact with their people . "

Because they are loyal and watchful over their families — and also have atendency to barque — corgis can make unspoiled home warning signal system . Though , that barque alarm will voice off at anything they take for untrusting , include the saving person or a neighborhood squirrel . They were spawn to help herd kine while also being gentle enough to aid with James Leonard Farmer ' children or the hens in the courtyard , so they’regreat with childrenand seniors , too . However , they can quickly become wary around unfamiliar frankfurter or cat , so it ’s upright to raise Welsh corgi in pairs orslowly introduce fresh home members .

Living Needs

The Pembroke Welsh corgi is an active strain that does best in a home withaccess to a fenced G . If you live in a urban center , flat - dwelling corgiswill involve regular exercise to stay physically and mentally fit — like with most breeds , abored cad can develop undesirable behaviour .

Pembroke Welsh corgis have a moderately wooden-headed coat that protect them from conditions extremes , but they are indoor frump that enjoy curling up on your layer or your couch just as much asa hikeora long walk . Because of their short legs , they ’re not built for keeping up with bikes .

Van Vleit says that while corgis may savour splash in puddles , their physiology is n’t necessarily thebest soma for swimming . " They ’re not a natural pee dog , " she says , " but they can swim in a dependable , shallow area without a problem . "

black tan white Corgi close up

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Care

Groomingis a big part of Welsh corgi precaution . They have a thick , weatherproof threefold coat that pour forth regularly , so weekly brushing helps take out excess tomentum . Because they ’re seasonal shedder , you ’ll get a fairish flake more hair in spring and autumn duringcoat bumble time of year . Regularbaths will help get rid of the dead hair .

It ’s important to facilitate Pembroke Welsh corgis rest active . " Every dog needs a chore to do , " says Van Vleit . Corgis were bred as working detent on farms and are extremely levelheaded , so keeping them both physically and mentally engaged is of import .

Van Vleit says that while they can be very impregnable - willed , thecorgi is very trainable . " If you do n’t have an proprietor that is smarter than the dog , that can create an proceeds because the Welsh corgi has the upper hand , " she sound out . " But most of the time you ’re go to discover them very willing , interested , and always motivated . "

Pembroke Welsh Corgi running in grass

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She sayspositive reinforcementand benignity , counselling , routine , and a clear definition of right and wrong are significant whentraining a corgi . " They very much are pleased with getting it right . "

Health

A salubrious Welsh corgi will populate to be 12–13 class honest-to-god . Some corgi have thepotential for weight gain , so it ’s authoritative to keep treats in easing and ensure they haveplenty of exercise .

Pembroke Welsh corgis aregenerally quite healthy , though degenerative myelopathy ( DM ) affects a fistful of breed including the corgi , harmonise to the PWCCA . DM do spinal cord degeneration in older dogs ( the ordinary age of onset in corgi is 11 years ) . The disease is not terrible to dog , but over time , the dog becomes paraplegic .

There are currently no intervention for the condition , so it ’s up to responsible Welsh corgi stock breeder to take for the healthiest dog-iron and slowly eradicate the condition — something that Van Vleit point out might be lacking oversight with the spate of Welsh corgi popularity . " The concern is that to match the requirement , the hoi polloi that will be supplying the puppy will bepuppy grinder , " she says .

pembroke welsh corgi lying outside on pavement in front of owner

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It ’s crucial that any potential corgi owner do their research and keep off the monition signs of unethical facts of life , including :

History

The Pembroke Welsh corgi traces its distant stock to the Nordic spitz and was brought over into Wales around 1100 AD by Vikings , according to the PWCCA . Over time , the careful Welsh farmers cover a versatile hotdog to conform to their needs .

" [ James Leonard Farmer ] ask a dog that could be strong enough and have enough endurance to be able-bodied to go get the dairy cows , " Van Vleit sound out . The corgi ’s short legs are built for keep it out of the elbow room of wayward hooves . The idealistic husbandman ’s dog also needed to be asmaller dogthat could eat fleck and curl up on the open fireplace . " [ They ] needed a dog that was gentle enough to help with the children or with the hen in the court , but yet fast enough to pick up a rat , " she adds .

The result ? The various , hardy , and favorable corgi . The Pembroke Welsh corgi was recognized as a strain in England in the 1920s and in the U.S. in the 1930s . They were also launched to popularity when Queen Elizabeth II have her first Welsh corgi in 1933 . Since then , the female monarch and her corgi have been inseparable andshe ’s have over 30 of the Canis familiaris .

Queen Elizabeth steps off train with four corgis on leash

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