Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Breed Profile

In comparison to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, the Pembroke has a stockier appearance with a shorter body; legs that are straighter; is lighter boned; and has a coat of a finer texture. The most obvious differences between the two are in the ears and tail — The Pembroke’s ears are pointed at the tip while the Cardigan’s are rounded. The Cardigan has a long tail while the Pembroke is born tailless or the tail is short.

He is an affectionate and charming house pet, alert, intelligent and vigilant. As a member of the herding dogs, the Corgi is an active breed that needs regular outdoor exercise. Aside from being a great family companion, the Corgi excels at many activities including: conformation, obedience, herding, tracking, and agility. For additional information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your Corgi, see the Clubs, Sports & Activities section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website.

The Pembroke’s outer coat is thick, coarse and of medium length and he has a short, weather-resistant undercoat. His colours can be red, sable, fawn, black and tan, or he may also have white markings on the legs, chest and neck.
 

A Brief History of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Welsh Corgis are an old herding breed believed to date back to the 12th century or earlier. Corgis, both the Pembroke and Cardigan were recognized as purebred dogs in the United Kingdon in the 1920s. In 1934, the breeds were recognized as separate and distinct breeds by the Kennel Club (England) as well as the American Kennel Club.

The Pembroke breed is from the Spitz group with relatives that include the Swedish Vallhund, the Norwegian Buhund, the old-type Pomeranian and the Schipperke.

In the U.K., Corgis were used as guardians of the farmyards as well as protecting and herding the poultry flocks. Corgis also excelled at working in teams to drive large flocks of geese to market. Today, Corgis have retained their herding abilities and are still used to manage all types of livestock, from chickens to cattle to pigs. Corgis have also been used as gun dogs for both feather and fur and are also very efficient ratters.

Legend has it that the Corgi is an “enchanted” dog, used by fairies and elves of Wales to pull coaches, work fairy cattle, and serve as steed to fairy warriors.
 

Health Issues

Corgis are generally a healthy breed. Some incidence of Hip Dysplasia, Spinal Disc Problems, Autoimmune diseases, and Cataracts have been seen in the breed.

If you are considering the adoption of a Corgi puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy’s parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main General Information page.)

Additional Health Resources:

• Health and Nutrition — Growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website which includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
• Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
• AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
• Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
• Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
• University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
• HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
• Labgenvet — Laboratory of Veterinary Genetics is a Canadian diagnostic laboratory that offers a comprehensive service of DNA tests for veterinary genetic diseases.

Grooming Information

• Grooming — This section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.

Training Resources

• Training — For training information, see this growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.

Additional Information

• Is a Dog from the Herding Group Right for You?
• Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
• Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.

*NOTE 1: CHIC – The Canine Health Information Center “is a database of consolidated health screening results from multiple sources. Co-sponsored by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Health Foundation, CHIC works with parent clubs to identify health screening protocols appropriate for individual breeds. Dogs tested in accordance with the parent club established requirements, that have their results registered and made available in the public domain are issued CHIC numbers.” To learn more, visit: www.caninehealthinfo.org

*NOTE 2: The Fédération Cynologique International (FCI) is the World Canine Organization, which includes 91 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 344 breeds, with each being the “property” of a specific country. The “owner” countries write the standards of these breeds in co-operation with the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI, and the translation and updating are carried out by the FCI. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees.