Pembroke Welsh Corgis

History

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an ancient breed of dog. Direct ancestors of the modern Corgi were brought into Wales by Flemish weavers around 1107 A.D. These early dogs bore a remarkable resemblance to the old Schipperkes.

The Corgi is thought to descend from the same family of dogs which includes the Keeshond, Pomeranian, Samoyed, Chow Chow, Norwegian Elkhound and Finnish Spitz.

Within the past 100 years there was an effort to link or blend the Pembroke Welsh Corgi with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. In the 1930’s both styles of Corgis were recognized as two separate breeds and not one breed of dog with two varieties.

The Breed

From the AKC Breed Standard: “Pembroke Welsh Corgis are to appear lowset, Sturdily built and active, giving and impression of substance and stamina in a small space. Should not be so low and heavily boned as to appear coarse or overdone, nor so light-boned as to appear racy. Outlook bold, but kindly. Expression intelligent and interested. Never shy or vicious.”

Corgis stand about 10 inches at the shoulder and should not exceed 30 pounds for males or 28 pounds for females. Corgis have a short, thick weather resistant undercoat with a coarser, longer outer coat. The outer coat colors fall into the categories of red,sable, fawn, and black and tan, with or without white markings. Corgis are “wash and wear” and a healthy coat can be maintained by an occasional bath and regular brushing to remove dead undercoat.

Why Choose a Corgi?

A versatile and adaptable personality enables Corgis to adjust to almost any lifestyle, be it herding livestock or living in a city apartment. Originally bred as cattle and “driving dogs” for farm work, Corgis were also used as “varmint killers” and as ratters have no equal. They excel as bird dogs, protectors, guardians and trackers. They are finding recognition as service and therapy dogs, being used successfully in hearing ear and assistance programs. This tough little breed approaches new skills with enthusiasm and thrives on formalized training. Corgis compete successfully in obedience, tracking, agility, and herding. Simply put, Corgis just “go with the program”.

Corgis are a social and active breed. They eagerly play rough and tumble games with children, watch over a newborn, or act as a loyal companion for the elderly. As long as a Corgi knows what is expected he will readily oblige. However, if left to their own devices for long periods of time they inevitably get into mischief. Corgis are happiest when they have tasks to perform, such as bringing in the newspaper or retrieving objects dropped on the floor. The most common error first-time Corgi owners make is to underestimate their puppy and treat it as a toy breed. Make no mistake. The Corgi is a “big dog in a small body” and will become “bossy” if not trained with a FIRM but gentle hand. A Corgis I.Q. is equivalent to that of a 5 year old child and as with any 5 year old, they will test authority. Once you have reinforced your position as the head of the house, the Corgi will happily go about his business and entertain you with his antics and droll sense of humor.

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Appearance

With his sturdy build, tidy coat and intelligent expression, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is quite an attractive breed. While the Corgi's ears stand erect naturally, the tail must generally be docked short, since few puppies are born tail-less. The essentials of the breed are as follows:

The head is foxy, with a fairly broad skull, which is flat between the ears and has a moderate "stop" at eye level. The muzzle is tapered; the nose is black. The eyes are well set, hazel, or blending with the coat color. The ears are pricked, rounded at the tip, and of medium size. While a scissors bite is preferred, a level bite is acceptable.

The neck is fairly long, the forelegs are short and straight, and curve slightly inward around the broad, deep chest. The body is of medium length, not short coupled, and the topline is level. The hindquarters are moderately angulated, and straight when viewed from behind. The feet are oval.

The standard calls for a dog to be 10-12 inches at the shoulder and weighing 25-30 lbs. The coat is dense and medium in length. There are several acceptable coat colors: various shades of red with white markings on the feet, neck and chest, sable coloring (black hairs interspersed with red), tri-coloring (black and tan with white markings), and black and tans.

There are some well-bred Corgis who have "very serious faults" according to the breed's A.K.C. Standard of Perfection. Some of the faults are: ears that do not stand erect (as an adult); white markings on the back between the withers and tail, on the sides between elbows and back of hindquarters or on the feathering; an overshot or undershot bite; undescended testicles in a male; oversized or undersized as outlined in the standard.

Conscientious breeders DO NOT allow these puppies to be registered with the A.K.C. until after they are neutered. A CONTRACT TO THAT EFFECT SHOULD BE SIGNED BY BOTH THE BREEDER AND PURCHASER. These dogs should not be bred.

Coats and Color

The Pembroke comes in 4 primary colours - Red & White, Sable & White, Redheaded Tricolour and Black Headed Tricolour. Occassionally a puppy shows up with a coat type or colour pattern that is not desireable based on their original purpose. A Fluffy coat or or a mismark (too much white in the wrong place) does not change their ability to make wonderful companions.

Health & Care

In general, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a hardy, healthy dog. He lives to a ripe old age; the average lifespan is 12 to 13 years, although dogs 14 or 15 years of age are not uncommon. Generally most health problems are related to breeding and whelping concerns.

Corgis require an average amount of exercise, and delight in simple games of ball chasing to burn off excess energy, as well as daily walks if there's no fenced yard.

Grooming a Corgi is a simple task in that the coat requires a minimum of care. Brushing, combing and an occasional bathing are all that is necessary. Basic nail trimming, ear and dental care are also indicated. For the average Corgi, nail trimming is a task which they'd rather you forgot. Although they do not enjoy having nails trimmed, a little bit of persuasion usually wins out in the end. Trimming nails regularly from puppyhood is the best way to avoid disputes.

Breeding

When purchasing a Corgi as a pet, concerned breeders will strongly suggest that it be neutered. The health of your Corgi as a neutered animal is greatly enhanced. Bladder and prostate problems and some of the more common cancers can be almost totally eliminated in the older dog by simple neutering procedures done when they are young. For your Corgi's sake, all dogs not actively used in a breeding program should be neutered.

If you have plans for purchasing a Corgi for showing and breeding you should be aware that breeders recommend several involved and expensive tests be done prior to any breeding considerations. The Corgi breed currently seems to be having problems with Cesarean sections and uterine inertia that lead to increased costs of rearing a litter. This is in addition to the cost of the dam's pre-breeding checkup by your vet, the stud service fee, possible airline shipping charges and increased vitamins, protein and food for the momma-to-be.

Working with a competent and concerned breeder should give you added resources. You can have their help in evaluating your Corgi physically and mentally. They can offer guidance as to the selection of a suitable mate, reassure during the pregnancy, offer advice and may directly help during the socialization of the puppies. Once the pups are at least 10-12 weeks old and have received preliminary inoculations, they may be able to help you in finding suitable homes for your puppies. There is a lot more to breeding that just putting a male and female together. The Corgi puppy you love and cherish was not just evolved, it was the result of a lot of clear thinking, hard work and expense.