Dog
Group:
Herding 
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Champions
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Pronunciation:
pem-brook welsh kawr-gee
Breed Description:
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed of dog is a small breed that should be robust and sturdy. This is a compact dog with a slightly elongated body and a low slung body. They should be set low to the ground and should have a wedge shaped head with large, erect ears. The tail is commonly short or bob-tailed and dogs that are born with a tail are often docked.
The coat of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi should consist of a double coat. The undercoat should be short and soft and should cover the dog completely. The topcoat should be slightly longer than the undercoat, but still short, although some can have a longer coat. The hair should be slightly hard in texture and a preferred trait is a fairy saddle, which is a patch of hair on the back that is thicker than the rest of the coat. While most dogs do not have any feathering, it is not uncommon to see feathering on the chest, legs and ears, especially if the dog has a longer coat. The color of the coat can be a range including tri-color, bi-color, fawn, red, sable and black. All of the coats can have white markings.
Temperament:
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed of dog is an active and intelligent breed that is known for being energetic and hard working. In fact, this is a working breed, despite its size and they really thrive when they have something to do. When they are at their best, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi can be very happy and playful. They genuinely love their owners nad they usually do well with children, although they can be prone to herding people in their family. They are very protective of their family and home and with proper socialization, the breed can do well with other pets. At their worst, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi can be very stubborn and they will often bark since they have such a strong guarding instinct. The breed is naturally wary of strangers and can become obsessive when it comes to herding. They do need a strong owner and they are not recommended for new or timid owners.
Height:
The average height for a Pembroke Welsh Corgi is between 10 to 12 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Pembroke Welsh Corgi is between 24 to 28 pounds for a female and 25 to 30 pounds for a male.
Health Problems:
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed of dog is considered to have average health but there are a number of problems that can arise with this breed. Some health problems are von Willebrand's Disease, Degenerative Myelopathy,Cataracts, Intervertebral Disk Disease, Retinal Dysplasia, Cutaneous Asthenia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Pulmonary Hypertension, Hip Dysplasia, Cystinuria, Patent Ductus Arteriosus and Epilepsy.
Living Conditions:
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed of dog can do very well in apartments if they are exercised properly, however, the ideal living condition is a home with a large fenced yard. In addition, while they do enjoy being outside, they should not be an outdoor dog; this is a breed that loves being with their owners. One thing to note about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is that its long body makes it at risk for spinal injuries so make sure you don't allow your dog to jump on and off of furniture and high places.
Exercise:
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed of dog is a very energetic breed of dog and will need between 45 to 60 minutes of exercise each day to stay healthy and happy. It is important to give them both on leash and off leash exercise.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 15 years
Grooming:
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and they require little to no maintenance to keep their coats healthy. On average, you should expect to brush your dog on a weekly basis to remove dead hairs and dirt. A wipe down with a damp cloth will keep them clean and they should only be bathed when it is absolutely necessary. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and nails should be clipped once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed of dog is a fairly old breed that has a history that is steeped in folklore. IN fact, many are unsure of hwo the breed came to believe but it is a common theory that hte breed was developed by crossing several breeds with the Valhunds after the breed arrived in Pembrokeshire, Wales with the Vikings in 800 BC. However, the more popular theory is that a pair of children found a litter of Pembroke Welsh Corgis near their farm. When they brought them home, the parents immediately recognized them as the same puppies who were ridden by fairies. So the story came to be that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi became a cherished herding dog by way of a gift from the fariies. Despite this belief, we do know that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi was, in fact, a herding breed that were used by farmers in Pembrokeshire alongside the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, which was considered to be a different variety of the same breed. While they had a wonderful start, the breed did not gain a lot of popularity and remained fairly uncommon even today. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi became its own breed in 1934. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
