Last Updated on January 2, 2022 by Pets Feed
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a royal personage, a four-legged favorite of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, a “shepherd dog in a case” and the most faithful four-legged friend of the family.
The Pembroke is a small, robust dog with a zorrune face. Its medium-sized smooth coat is waterproof and can be red, sand, cinnamon, black and brown, with or without white spots.
Although his adorable appearance, with his elongated body and short legs, can make us believe that this is an easy-to-train dog and ideal for all types of people, the truth is that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a special temperament that requires professional training to avoid becoming aggressive over time.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi photos
Breed description
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a short dog with an elongated body and erect large ears. In appearance, representatives of this breed are very similar to a fox. This look is successfully emphasized by round dark eyes with a characteristic black rim. Pembrokes have straight legs, which cannot be said about cardigans. As a rule, the tails of these dogs are cut off, even in cases where they are relatively short from birth, because the breed standard must be observed.
The Pembroke Corgi appeared around the twelfth century. This makes it younger in comparison with its immediate relative – the welsh corgi cardigan. Some researchers of the history of dogs suggest that the name of the breed comes from the Welsh word “korg” – dwarf. The thick and soft coat can be red, sable, fawn or black and tan with the characteristic white markings of the breed. Ideally, the growth of a Welsh Corgi should be about 25-30 centimeters at the withers, and the weight can vary from 12 to 15 kilograms.
The coat of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is of medium length and has a downy undercoat. Coat length and appearance may vary slightly. For example, some representatives of the breed have a fluffy edge on the ears, while others have an original ruff on the neck. Some Welsh Corgi have wavy coats, while others are straight. But all this does not affect the character and general characteristics of the dog. A distinctive feature of the Pembrokes is the saddle-shaped mark on the back, which is often called the “fairy saddle.”
Character
The temperament of this dog is similar to that of the Welsh Corgi Cardigan. This dog is active, intelligent and good protector.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi is generally friendly and very loyal to his family, but he is not one of the most sociable dog breeds.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi tends to be booked with strangers and aggressive with unknown dogs. Therefore, it is very important to socialize this dog at an early age to avoid problems of aggression and shyness in adulthood.
In addition to good socialization, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi must undergo dog training. It’s not something optional with these dogs because they require a lot of mental stimulation. To provide them with such stimulation, while educating them properly, it is best to use positive training methods, such as clicker training.
Canine behavioral problems that occur frequently in this breed include excessive barking and the behavior of chasing people by biting their ankles.
Both behaviors can be directed to appropriate situations through positive workout and frequent exercise. So when his needs are taken into account, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi can be a very good pet.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Health
Among the diseases of dogs frequent in this breed are intervertebral disk disease and hip dysplasia. Less frequently, the Welsh Corgi is also predisposed to presenting the following pathologies:
- Epilepsy
- Von Willebrand disease
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Dislocation of intraocular lenses
- Urolithiasis
To prevent the occurrence of these conditions or to detect them in time, it is advisable to follow the veterinarian’s instructions for periodic examinations, as well as to update the schedule of vaccines and deworming.
Basic care
Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs are very easy to care for. Their coats are not very long and only require weekly brushing. This is enough to remove dead hairs. The active moult phase in the Pembroke Corgi occurs twice a year. During this period, of course, you need to brush your pet much more often. Pembrokes are very clean dogs, so most owners bathe them about once every two to three months.
The corgi’s ears should be checked regularly for signs of contamination, irritation, or infection. They must be cleaned with a special solution as prescribed by a veterinarian. In no case should you use a cotton swab to clean the ear canal!
The oral cavity also includes weekly care. Mainly teeth cleaning is required. The procedure will help to exclude dental diseases, including the formation of tartar, as well as the occurrence of a characteristic bad breath. If the pet does not grind off its nails in a natural way, then they must be trimmed independently. This is usually done once a month.
Exercise
It may have very short legs, but the Pembroke Welsh Corgi was raised to guide the cattle. This corgi therefore needs a lot of exercise and companionship.
Logically, being small dogs, they do not require as much exercise as a German Shepherd or a Belgian Shepherd, but they require two moderate walks and a few hours of recreation every day.
Canine sports can help channel the energy of these dogs and stimulate their spirit, but you must avoid sports such as agility, where jumping can cause damage to the animal’s spine.
If they get enough exercise, these dogs can very well adapt to life in an apartment or a small house, but it must be taken into account that they can be barkers.
If you live in a house with a garden, it is best to use the garden only for exercise.
Education and training
Many will be surprised, but the same methods of upbringing are applied to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi as to the shepherd dog. Cynologists say that the psychological portraits of these two different breeds are very similar.
Therefore, from an early age, this dog needs to be shown who is the boss: you need to be moderately strict and persistent with it. The main thing in the upbringing and training of a corgi is the sequence of actions and the proper categorization. What was once forbidden should not be allowed later.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs lend themselves well to training. No special techniques are required for her. They often win prizes in agility competitions and even perform in circuses.
The only thing that you need to always maintain is the dog’s interest in training. If you repeat the same thing, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi will quickly get bored of it, and he will stop following commands. Better to use a playful format by changing the sequence of tasks and giving commands in a cheerful tone.
Before you bring your Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy into your home, you should take care of the following:
- While the Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy is teething, hide all wires and shoes away from the baby’s eyes. Every time you see a puppy chewing on things, immediately stop this action with the command “fu!” and give him a special toy in the teeth.
- For the first time, remove all carpets and lay baby diapers in different rooms.
- After all vaccinations, if possible, take the baby out for a walk as often as possible so that he gradually gets used to going to the toilet on the street. The first walks can be 10-15 minutes 4-5 times a day, then the walking time can be increased, and the number can be reduced.
When teaching a Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy to commands, first of all, he needs to be taught to respond to a nickname. Say the name of your pet whenever you refer to it.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dog Breed Highlights
Positive points
- The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a loyal dog by nature.
- He is very intelligent and easy to train in good hands.
- This dog does not ask too much maintenance in the grooming.
- This corgi is an excellent choice for new dog owners.
- The Pembroke is very good with older children.
- It is one of the healthiest breeds.
- This dog is small, but he is a very good guard dog.
- The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is very adaptable being just as happy to live in an apartment as in a house.
Negative points
- The Pembroke Welsh Corgi loses plenty of hair throughout the year and more in the spring and fall.
- It may be small, but the Welsh Corgi needs a lot of daily exercise.
- It is a dog who forms strong bonds with his owner and suffers from separation anxiety when left alone.
- Some Pembroke Welsh Corgi like the sound of their own voices, which can be problematic.
- this corgi has a strong sense of prey and will hunt anything that moves
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Fun Facts
- The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is considered one of the most ancient dogs.
- Despite their small stature, these dogs do an excellent job with various active tasks.
- Corgi lends itself well to training, provided that it is started from an early age.
- For dogs of this breed, an early socialization process is required.
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi will be able to live in any house, regardless of size.
- Taking care of a pet of this breed is very simple.
- It is better not to buy Corgis for families with many children.
Origin
The origin of this breed originates in Wales, which explains its name – “Welsh”. But the meaning of the word “corgi” is only overgrown with conjectures. It is believed that the name comes from the Welsh “cor” – “to collect”, “gi” – “dog”, which is inherent in his shepherd’s instinct. According to another version – from the word “cor”, which means “dwarf”, which also fits the description of this short-legged dog.
There are opinions that the emergence of the breed falls on 500 BC. e. Archaeologists have unearthed a corgi-like skeleton dating from the 8th-9th centuries AD during excavations in South Wales.
There is a version that in the 9th century corgi were brought to England by the Vikings.
For the first time, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed is mentioned in the laws of the kingdom dating back to the X century. According to the law, the owner of a corgi grazing cattle had the right to demand a whole bull if the dog suddenly dies not by its own death. No other dog breed has had the same value. Even if it belonged to the king, no one was worth more than one ram. This was due to the fact that corgis were able to graze livestock themselves, without a human being. They bravely defended the herds from wolves, returned the stray cattle without loss, working as a well-coordinated team with their brothers.
These dogs looked after not only sheep, but also herds of ponies and poultry such as wayward ducks and geese. Corgis fully performed the function of a shepherd, so they were worth their weight in gold.
Corgis were first shown in England in 1924. Then Pembrokes and Cardigans were considered one breed, but with all the similarities and differences, it was very difficult to evaluate them at exhibitions. These dogs, different in size and body structure, were clearly not competitors to each other. Therefore, a year later, it was decided to formally separate the two breeds and breed them in isolation from each other in two different counties in Wales. Two neighboring counties, separated by a mountain range – Pembrokeshire and Cardinganshire – eventually became the birthplace of two different dogs: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
Their popularity overtook them after appearing at Buckingham Palace. In 1932, the Duke of York presented a Pembroke Corgi puppy to his daughter, Elizabeth II. To this day, representatives of this breed do not leave the palace, actively participate in official receptions and are rightfully called royal dogs. And Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is not for nothing that she is the world’s most famous connoisseur and connoisseur of corgi.
