About The Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is the smallest member of the "herding group". By herding group, I am referencing a group of dog breeds that have originally been developed for herding. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was originally developed in Wales in the 1800s with the purpose of herding cattle. On top of being incredibly intelligent (ranked consistently by multiple studies as one of the most intelligent breeds) and agile, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are incredibly loving and affectionate. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was recognized by the British Kennel Club (along with their sister breed which had prior been recognized together as a singular entity, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi) in 1925, and then by the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs in 1934 and 1933, respectively. The two varieties were interbred until the early 1900s and still share many physical traits.
The word "corgi" has several different meanings. It is celtic for "dog", however "cor" also translates to dwarf and "gi" to dog. According to ancient Welsh folklore and legends, fairies used to ride corgi dogs into battle - and it was said they were rather handy for pulling carts and carriages belonging to the fairies. The most commonly told story of the "discovery" of the breed often reads how human children stumbled upon the dogs, which were first assumed to be foxes. In all reality, the Pembroke is likely descended from herding dogs brought to Wales by Flemish weavers in the 1100s.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an active breed, so if you are looking for a couch potato as they can often be portrayed in social media, this is perhaps not the breed for you. While cute and cuddly, not every family needs a Pembroke Welsh Corgi or has a lifestyle suitable for one. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are hardy, tenacious friends with extremely large personalities who require owners who have the time to dedicate to training them into becoming excellent companions. When socialized and trained properly, the world of possibilities with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi is endless; but, as with any puppy/dog or animal, they require socialization and training from the very beginning of their lives to be formed into an excellent companion. In my breeding program, temperament in my adults is absolutely paramount. My Pembrokes are sensitive and highly intelligent, and with proper training they have proven to excel in various dog sports (as well as conformation) and most importantly, as beloved family pets.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are NOT a non shedding breed. I have previously been contacted by people who had a breeder tell them the shedding is minimal and only occurs twice annually. This is completely untrue. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a double coated breed, which means they have a thick undercoat. They shed all year long, but annually or semi annually they blow all their undercoat - meaning they shed their entire undercoat. While the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is not a breed that is particularly difficult to groom (nor do they have high grooming needs/requirements in contrast to other breeds), they do require regular brushing to be kept looking fabulous.
Pembrokes are also NOT a mute breed. This means that they do have voices, and they do tend to use them. Since the breed originated for herding, like many herding breeds that were bred to chase, nip, and bark to move the "herd" (of cows/sheep/goats/etc), barking is in their DNA. Some of my dogs are quieter than others and will only bark if they feel they need to alert me to something, but to advise that they are a quiet breed as a whole is completely incorrect.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a true dwarf breed. All corgis have achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism. It has been selectively encouraged in breeds such as the corgi and the daschund, as well as some breeds of terrier. Breed standard for males is up to 30 pounds, whereas the breed standard for females is 25-28 pounds.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis come in 5 basic colours:
Red
Red-headed tri-colour
Black-headed tri-colour
Sable
Fawn
-- Merle "Pembroke Welsh Corgis"--
To touch on a currently trendy, touchy subject - while merle corgis are very cute, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi does NOT come in Merle. Therefore, there is no such thing as a Merle "Pembroke". Period. While I previously mentioned our sister breed, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, I'd like to take this opportunity to mention that any brindle or merle "Pembroke" is infact a Cardigan / Pembroke cross. There is currently a movement in the USA to be able to register these dogs as "American Corgis". At the time I am currently writing this in 2019, the American Corgi is not a recognized breed with any kennel club and therefore these crosses are not purebred and are NOT purebred Pembroke Welsh Corgis, in any way, shape, nor form.
Information on the breed standard for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi:
Canadian Kennel Club Pembroke Welsh Corgi Breed Standard