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Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Are you sure that a corgi is the right breed for you? We have included some pertinent facts and observations about our breed to help you decide.



Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a herding breed.  They are short and athletic.  This comes in handy when they are herding livestock as they can duck out of the way of flying hooves.  It is also a benefit when they are lucky enough to be a treasured family member as they fit in smaller places.  In fact, a favorite sleeping site is under their master's bed.

Pembrokes, or Pemmies, have a docked tail and are seen in three color variations: the most common, red and white, as well as the black/red/white tri color and the sable (similar in color and marking to a German Shepard).  They have a double coat which they shed twice a year or "blow" their coat in the spring and late summer.  They require little grooming in between sheds. 

Our Pemmies are busy dogs.  They have 2 acres on which they can run and play, and boy, do they.  Their favorite game involves taking off in a team to run full tilt up the hill, scattering the chickens as they go, arguing about who is to be the leader.  They are very playful and some will chase a ball until they drop from exhaustion.

When raised around children they love nothing better than to accompany their kids on adventures.  They are easy to train and eager to please.  That doesn't mean they will always do as they are told as stubborness is a characteristic of the breed.  When a treat is offered as reward they will do just about anything.

The biggest problems with the breed are obesity (owner related) and barking inappropriately (I bark when I am bored too).  They are very bright and can get themselves into trouble when they are bored.  They aren't nearly as busy as Border Collies, though, and are much more willing to lay at your feet just to keep you company.  Hence their tendency to become obese.  They LOOOOOVE to eat and never seem to be satisfied.  Since they have a  dense coat and short legs it is easy to allow them to get too fat without realizing it. 

As breeders we are committed to maintaining the breed standard and breeding for the best pets possible.  We are not into the show scene although we love attending AKC shows to keep up with the trends in conformation. 

Our utmost priority is producing wonderful pets as we believe the Corgi can be the ideal family dog.  Their medium to small size makes them an easy addition to any living situation.  We are breeding for exceptional temperaments and good, sound bodies. 

We are unaware of any genetic problems in our line.  There are 9 of our Corgis in our extended families and all are exceptionally healthy.  In our 11 year history with our lines we have not heard of any major health or temperament issues. 

 Of course an ill treated or spoiled Corgi of any breeding can be a menace but when raised in a loving home with appropriate obedience training these dogs are a delight. 

 Corgis have to be strong willed to handle herding cattle  so anyone living with a Corgi must be a strong pack leader.  If not, your Corgi will take over and can be unforgiving of misbehavior.  This can lead to "behavior problems" from a human perspective.  From the dogs' perspective, they are acting completely appropriately to their situation.  We STRONGLY encourage and support new Corgi owners to take their dogs through several sessions of Obedience training with an experienced trainer emphasizing positive reinforcement.

 

Pembroke Welsh Corgi History

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi can be traced back to 1107 and the Corgi was developed in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where it got its name. Some may find it surprising that despite its diminutive stature, the Corgi has more often been used to herd cattle than sheep; the Corgi’s small size helped it duck kicks from flying hooves and weave in and out of a cow’s legs. For hundreds of years, they could also be seen serving as watchdog in the average Welsh farmer’s home. This breed is a favorite of Queen Elizabeth the Second. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was officially recognized as a breed by the AKC in 1934.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Temperament

PWCs are an active, intelligent breed that forms close bonds with their owners. Like with most herding dogs, they are quite intelligent and learn quickly, they may get bored with the repetetiveness of obedience training so consistancy is a must. They tend to get along well with other dogs and housepets, but can be territorial with strange dogs that they don't know. PWC are very alert dogs that make excellent watchdogs and they will bark when something is amiss, some Corgis may be aloof towards stangers. They tend to make excellent family dogs and are willing to frolic and play with children to burn off excess energy. The exercise needs of this dog is moderate with a daily walk being sufficient. PWC may try to display their herding abilities by trying to "round up" small children and other animals.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Appearance

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a well built, long and low dog that usually weighs between 25 to 30 pounds and stand 10 to 12 inches at the withers. They have upright prick ears and no tail, which is the hallmark of the breed. Their coats are short, dense and come in colours that vary from red, sable, fawn, or black and tan (tri-color) with or without white markings on the legs, chest, neck, muzzle, underneath, and as a narrow blaze on the head.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Grooming

PWCs are a fairly easy dog to care for and a weekly brushing will do. They are considered heavy seasonal shedders that will shed more during the Spring and Fall when they are growing new coats.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Life Expectancy and Health Problems

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a relatively healthy dog. Some of the diseases that effect this breed are; Arthritis, Hip Displasia, vonWillebrand's Disease (a blood clotting disorder), Degenerative Myelopathy (degeneration of the spinal cord) and Cataracts. Corgis are also prone to obesity, so their diets must be carefully monitored. The average lifespan of this breed is 12 to 14 years.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pros and Cons

This simplified list may help you decide if a Pembroke Welsh Corgi might be a good fit for your lifestyle.

Do You Want

  • a small, yet sturdy dog?
  • a good family pet?
  • a dog that makes a good watchdog?
  • a dog that is intelligent and fairly easy to train?

Do You NOT Want

  • a dog that is intelligent and needs mental stimulation?
  • a dog that barks a lot?
  • a dog that may display it's herding abilities by nipping at the heels of people?
  • a dog that sheds a lot?

So You Think You Want a Corgi

by Beth

Nov 22, 2011

So you think you want a Corgi. 

Who can resist a Corgi?  With that foxy face, stubby legs, and bunny butt they are cute as can be.  Pick up a book on dog breeds, or visit a breed-selector web site, and you will find that Corgis are smart, easy-to-train, and have an easy-care, dirt-repelling coat.  They are loyal to their people, can live peacefully with other animals, are good watch dogs and don’t require acres of running room. Toss in a convenient size and the fact that they can be happy in most climates, and they sound like the perfect dog. 

But no dog is right for everyone.  The question is, is the Corgi the right dog for you?   

Corgis have several breed traits that can cause problems for many homes, and here on MyCorgi we have seen more than a few cases of people needing to rehome their pets because of typical breed behavior that the owner had trouble handling. Here are some of the Corgi traits that all future owners should be aware of: 

 

Barking: 

Almost all dogs bark.  Corgis bark a lot.  If you have never lived with dogs that bark a lot, you may want to spend some time in the home of someone with a barking breed to see if you can live with it. 

It’s true that many Corgis make excellent watchdogs.  As herding and farm dogs, one of their historic jobs was to notice anything “different” and alert the owners.  This means your Corgi is likely to bark if someone walks up your sidewalk or if a stray cat starts digging up your flowerbeds.  

Your Corgi may also alert you if your neighbor left a gate open, if a car is parked on the opposite side of the street from its usual spot, or if the wind is rattling your gutter.   He may bark to warn you that someone is entering your neighbor’s house--- and oh yes, it IS your neighbor.  He might be best friends with the Labrador up the street, but that won’t stop him from barking to warn you that the Labrador is walking past your house.  

He may also bark to let you know you left a light on, there’s a dirty dish on a counter, it’s ten minutes past bedtime, or that you forgot to give him his after-dinner treat.  

While you may be able to train your Corgi to stop barking on command, you may never stop him from giving the initial warning.  His job is to let you know something is different, and your job is to see if the thing that’s different is threatening.  He may not stop barking until you acknowledge what he saw or heard, which might be fine at lunchtime but is not as fun at 3AM. 

Corgis also tend to bark when playing.  As cattle- and geese-drovers, they moved their stock by nipping at their legs and barking.  Because of this history, many Corgis bark when things move, or to get things to move.  So they may bark at a thrown tennis ball, bark to get you to throw the Frisbee, or bark whenever other dogs run.  This type of motion-activated barking can be difficult to control and almost impossible to eliminate. 

Finally, many Corgis are “talkers” who use a wide range of vocalizations to express any number of opinions or to get your attention.  Corgi vocalizations may include low woofs, whines, grumbles, short howls, and a series of whining grunts that many Corgi owners refer to affectionately as “Wookie” or “Chewbacca” noises.  

The bottom line is, if you don’t like barking dogs, don’t get a Corgi. 

 

Nipping: 

Nipping falls into two categories.  The first is nipping at legs.  This comes from the herding background of a Corgi.  The behavior is easy to stop in puppies (if you want to participate in herding with your Corgi, please consult a herding trainer before training this out of your Corgi pup, since you can eliminate the herding tendency completely if you handle this the wrong way.)  If a Corgi has reached adulthood with the nipping behavior still present, it can be harder to stop, but it can be done.  Before you get a Corgi puppy, you should be prepared to deal with this behavior appropriately.  

The other type of nipping is puppy play-biting.  Just about all puppies must be taught that it’s not ok to bite people in play; dogs bite each other in play and this behavior is normal.  The difference is that compared to most gun dogs and some other soft-mouthed breeds, many Corgi puppies bite hard.  This type of biting is easy enough to stop if you are diligent and consistent, but in some puppies the behavior can take weeks or more to eliminate.  If you have frail people in your home, people who are afraid of dogs, or small children who you won’t be able to keep away from the puppy during the training process, a Corgi puppy may not be for you.  An adult or older puppy may be a better choice.

 

 

 

Corgi Coats:

That weather-resistant double coat comes with a price.  Corgis shed a lot.  I mean a lot.   Most dogs shed, but double coated breeds blow coat once or twice a year, and the Corgi undercoat is very dense.  You may see a tiny eighth-inch clump of dead hair sticking out of your Corgi and give it a tug only to find yourself holding a two-inch chunk in your hand as the loosed undercoat expands.  When your Corgi is shedding, you will find wafting balls of hair in corners and under furniture.   And on your clothes.  And in your food.  No amount of brushing will prevent this because the hair just keeps coming until your dog has no undercoat left.  You will wonder how a dog can lose so much hair and still have a full coat on his body.  In addition, light shedding can be expected year-round. 

The other issue is that the Corgi coat is truly amazing at repelling dirt.  We get regular compliments on how well groomed our dogs are, yet the fact is that except when they are blowing coat I only brush them once a week for perhaps three minutes each.  Their colored bits gleam and their white parts are spotless.  They can run through the mud and within ten minutes there is hardly a spot on them, and what is left can easily be brushed off.  They only need a bath if they roll in something that smells.  

What is the downside to this?  The downside is the Corgi coat picks up dirt in one place (outside) and deposits it somewhere else (on your floor).  You will bring your Corgi in from a walk, and she will lie on the floor, and ten minutes later when she gets up there will be a fine sifting of grit on the ground that came off her belly. 

Corgis’ short legs are a problem here too.  Corgi bellies always get wet.  In the summer they get wet from dew.  In the spring and fall it’s from rain, and in the winter from snow.  

If having a towel hanging near the door all year is something that doesn’t appeal to you, don’t get a Corgi.  If a clean house is important to you, then another breed might suit you better. 

 

Energy Level: 

Energy level varies widely between individual Corgis.  All will need regular walks and some playtime and training to be happy.  Many Corgis need much more than that.  Some are almost impossible to tire out, and young Corgis (under 2) may never stop moving.  One of mine can go for a two-hour off-leash hike, take a thirty-minute power nap, and start dropping tennis balls at my feet to play.  Corgis like this need to learn some sort of “settle” or “enough” command or you won’t have any peace, and quite a few Corgis need a job (agility, herding, competition-level obedience) to be happy.  Their bossiness (see below) and tendency to bark (see above) can make a Corgi with unspent energy very difficult to live with. 

My own experience is with Pembrokes and my understanding is that Cardigans can be a little bit more laid-back in energy level.

 

Need to be with you: 

Corgis in general are not prone to separation anxiety when you are out of the home (any dog can develop this, but some breeds are more prone than others).  However, when you are home your Corgi will want to be with you.  Most Corgis don’t like being left in a yard alone.  They will follow you around the house, helping you cook, do laundry, and even take a shower if you let them. 

They also don’t like if their people are scattered through the house.  Most Corgis want everyone to be in one place at one time and may act anxious or unhappy if someone is upstairs and someone else is downstairs.  This behavior is common to many herding breeds and its intensity varies from individual to individual.  If your family likes to spend evenings scattered in different rooms, you may want to consider a different breed. 

 

Intelligence: 

Many people who say they like smart dogs have never owned one!  Having a Corgi means making sure you always stay one step ahead of her.  Most Corgis learn new behaviors easily, which means it won’t be hard to teach her to sit, stay, and come when called.  It also means she’ll learn that you can’t catch her if she’s not on a leash and runs the other way.  She’ll remember that you stashed her favorite tug toy in the laundry room.  She won’t forget that the last time you made chicken you gave her a piece and she’ll start drooling every time you make chicken.  She may make associations you do not want her to make and learn in which situations you make her listen and in which ones you don’t follow through. 

 

Bossiness: 

Bossiness is not the same thing as dominance.  Cows and geese are stubborn and can be aggressive, and a Corgi that backed down when confronted was a dog that could not do its job.  Even submissive, people-pleasing Corgis can sometimes be bossy.  Corgis may talk back, exhibit “selective hearing,” bark to demand treats or play, or shove you with a nose or paw to get you to move in a certain direction or pet them on command.  Corgis do not tolerate manhandling, but they do require owners who are consistent and don’t give in to all their demands.  Even a submissive Corgi can become a pushy, domineering brat if you don’t show him that you are a calm, effective leader who does not let the dog make all the decisions.  Those of us who love Corgis find them endearing and the bossiness amusing, but some common Corgi bossy behaviors include planting feet on walks and refusing to move if you choose a different direction than the Corgi wanted to travel; barking incessantly to demand play-time; and pawing/nudging for belly rubs.  If it is important to you that your dog be obedient and deferential most of the time, don’t get a Corgi.  

Remember that hard-wired breed behaviors are difficult or impossible to eliminate and physical attributes can’t be changed, so if you get a Corgi you should be comfortable living with these things for the life of the dog.  Corgis were bred to be independent problem-solvers who could work for hours.  It is unfair to own a Corgi and not provide her a healthy outlet for that type of energy.  

 

If you read this and thought “How funny!  That’s just what I’m looking for!” then welcome to the large club of Corgi-lovers.  If not, then admire them from afar and continue your search until you find the breed that’s perfect for you.