Pembroke Welsh Corgi

All you need to know about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The lively, spirited, happy companion

Just one look at a Pembroke Welsh Corgi is enough to completely fall in love with it. These pups are small house dogs that are affectionate and highly agreeable. 

They are a herding breed that is among the most popular dogs on the planet. Corgis are extremely loving but are known to be stubborn occasionally. They make for excellent watchdogs as well! They won’t bite but will bark if they feel threatened in any way.

Welsh Corgis make for excellent pets. They love all sorts of fun activities and will make sure anyone that lays eyes upon them becomes a huge fan! 

Before getting one as a pet, read our article to learn all you need to know about this adorable breed!

Fast Facts

Group - Herding

Weight - 25-30 Pounds (male) 24-28 Pounds (female)

Height - 10-12 Inches (male) 10-12 Inches (female)

Hair Length - Medium

Shedding - Moderate

Lifespan - 12-15 Years

The Appearance of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The first thing most people think of when looking at a Welsh Corgi is how similar to a fox it is. They do look like a unique offspring between a dog and a fox! However, these dogs are 100% canines! 

They are the smallest breed in the AKC Herding Group. Still, they manage to be quite powerful despite their short stature. They are also extremely agile! Welsh Corgis are twice their height in length.

They have a double coat that consists of a thick undercoat and a dense topcoat. The undercoat is weather-resistant and shorter, while the outer coat is coarser and longer. The coat of a Pembroke is usually straight, and only rarely has some waviness.

Most Pembroke Welsh Corgis are born with no tail at all or with a docked tail. This is what primarily differentiates them from Cardigan Welsh Corgis. The other difference can be seen if you look at their ears.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis have pointy ears. On the other hand, Cardigan Welsh Corgis have rounded ears. With this, you can quickly tell the difference between the two.

Like previously mentioned, Welsh Corgis have a head that closely resembles that of a fox. They also have a curious and intelligent expression. Their cheeks are rounded and it makes them look adorable with their fluffy coat! Pembrokes also have a fairly long neck which provides them with balance. 

Naturally, it would be impossible to talk about this breed without mentioning their cute, short legs. It is one of the most well-known characteristics, and it really adds to their irresistible look!

Now you know about the looks of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. You will also be able to tell them apart from Cardigan Welsh Corgis! But what about the colors?

What colors does a Pembroke Welsh Corgi come in?

According to the breed standard, the outer coat can come in several colors:

• Red
• Sable
• Fawn
• Black and tan

White markings are acceptable on some parts of the body. These include the legs, neck, chest, muzzle, and underparts. However, if you don’t plan on showing your Corgi in competitions, you shouldn’t worry about this.

Clubs generally have strict guidelines that won’t concern the large majority of pet owners. Some other colors that aren’t accepted are completely white Corgis and those in blue color.

Other “faulty” colors include white on the back or on the ears. Black with white markings but without tan is also considered a fault.

All about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi personality

Many refer to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi as a “big dog on short legs”. They are territorial dogs that aren’t fond of strangers. However, they do tend to socialize well with other pets if you have them.

Interestingly, if you happen to live on a farm, you will notice that your Corgi gets along quite well with livestock! The reason for this is that they were originally bred for herding. 

A Pembroke Welsh Corgi will bark if it notices any strangers, but it will also be quite polite when guests visit your house. These dogs are cheerful and love partaking in activities that allow them to be on the move.

Throw them a stick or a ball, and that should keep them entertained for quite some time. One thing that should be noted about their breeding heritage is that Corgis might try to “herd” people. You may notice your dog going around you and nibbling at your heels occasionally. You should teach them not to do this while they are young!

A Welsh Corgi must see its family members as the leaders of the pack. If this isn’t the case, it may develop issues with dominance. You should teach it to be obedient, but do so calmly and lovingly!

These pups were originally used as working dogs, but you will always see them as family pets nowadays. They are happy and loving but can be quite stubborn at times. Corgis are independent dogs and will love to remind you of it!

They make excellent watchdogs. Welsh Corgi is extremely suspicious of strangers and will bark whenever they notice one. These dogs don’t like anyone threatening their family!

Is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi easy to train?

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are agreeable and outgoing dogs, which means you shouldn’t have problems training them. Early socialization is important. Most experts recommend puppy training classes to ensure your Corgi grows up into a well-adjusted dog.

You should slowly expose your Welsh Corgi puppy to different people, situations, and places. Do so while it is between 7 weeks and four months of age, and it will surely develop wonderfully!

These dogs can be hot-headed and have a mind of their own. However, their high intelligence makes working with them a breeze. They respond nicely to training, especially if it is reward-based. They are a bit sensitive, so giving them rewards will surely keep them pleased.

How much Grooming does a Pembroke Welsh Corgi need?

Pembrokes are relatively easy to groom. They are a naturally clean breed which immediately makes grooming more convenient. Still, not everything is so simple because shedding can become an issue.

These dogs shed twice a year heavily, and during those times, they lose a lot of hair. Usually, they don’t shed as much, but expect at least some shedding daily. This is why you should brush them every day to prevent getting hair all over your house.

During shedding season, you should bathe your Corgi more often, which will loosen the dead hair. Dry it after the bath and brush it just to make sure everything is in order!

Seeing as how this breed sheds quite a bit, you probably already figured that they are not hypoallergenic dogs. You should avoid getting them as pets if you have allergies, despite their cuteness!

When not in shedding season, you shouldn’t bathe your Corgi too often. As we mentioned, they are a clean breed, so doing it once every two months should be more than enough. Washing them too frequently will remove the natural oils from their coat.

Remember to trim their nails regularly, once or twice per month. Some dogs will wear down their nails naturally. If you are inexperienced with this, it is best to ask the veterinarian for advice!

Check their ears regularly for infection or irritation. Clean them with a cotton ball. Another thing you should do is brush their teeth at least once a week. It will keep their gums healthy and prevent tartar from building up.

There is more to the health of your pet than just grooming! To learn more about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s fitness, look no further than the next paragraph!

The Health and Fitness of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are generally a healthy breed. However, some problems may occur.

Eye diseases such as PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) are known to become an issue occasionally. This disease can lead to blindness, so regular visits to the vet are advised. 

Another condition you should be aware of is hip dysplasia, a genetic disease that can become quite painful for your pup. You can recognize this condition by the way your dog moves. If it is limping or is noticeably in pain while walking, it might have hip dysplasia.

Other less common issues that can occur are monorchidism and cutaneous asthenia. The former affects only males, and they are born with only one testicle because of it. A reduction in collagen production causes the latter, and it damages the skin.

The biggest health threat to Welsh Corgis is overweight. That is why the right nutrition is essential.

The Nutrition of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Nutrition is highly important when it comes to this breed. As previously mentioned, Corgis are prone to becoming overweight, so be careful.

You should give your pet approximately ¾ to 1.5 cups of dog food each day. This should be divided into two meals. Of course, if your dog is more active, it will probably require more food. You should be able to determine the amount yourself after a while.

Pembrokes love eating, and if you give them the opportunity, they will eat insane amounts of food. You should be careful to keep your dog in good shape and carefully measure its food. Always keep fresh water available as well.

Where does the Pembroke Welsh Corgi come from?

This breed can be traced back to 1107 AD. It is one of the oldest herding breeds. It most likely descended from Spitz-type dogs, such as the Pomeranian or the Swedish Vallhund.

The story of how the Pembroke Welsh Corgi came to Britain is actually quite interesting. Back during those days, kings loved exhibiting their riches, which included tapestries of all sorts. Belgium was known for having the best weavers.

Henry I of Britain invited a large number of master weavers from Belgium to live and work in Wales. They accepted and brought everything needed to recreate their lifestyle from back home.

This included the dogs they used for herding. These dogs were the foundation for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed we love today.

The breed was officially recognized by the Kennel Club in the United Kingdom in 1934. Until then they were lumped together with Cardigan Welsh Corgis simply as Welsh Corgis. However that year they were recognized as two separate breeds.

10 Pembroke Welsh Corgi Mixes you would like to know about*

Dog crossbreeds or mixes are sometimes called designer dogs. The name fits since you are “designing” a new dog by mating two purebred dogs. It has become popular in recent times, and more and more breeds have several noteworthy crosses we could write about.

The thing with mixed puppies is that it is hard to know which characteristics they will inherit from their parents. You should research as much info as possible on the parent breeds to understand what you can expect. This way, you will find a mix that has all of the characteristics you want and love.

Read on to see the most popular Pembroke Welsh Corgi mixes:

• Auggie - Corgi & Australian Shepherd mix
• Borgi - Corgi & Border Collie mix
• Golden Corgi - Corgi & Golden Retriever mix
• Corgi Pom - Corgi & Pomeranian mix
• Corgipoo - Corgi & Miniature Poodle mix
• Porgi - Corgi & Pug mix
• Corkie - Corgi & Yorkshire Terrier mix
• Cojack - Corgi & Jack Russell mix
• Horgsky - Corgi & Siberian Husky mix
• Corgi Inu - Corgi & Shiba Inu mix

*Not all breed mixes are equal in quality! Pets4you.com neither condones nor endorses any example of unethical and unhealthy crossbreeding. We encourage everyone to research in detail before they choose to get a crossbreed.