Corgi Dog Breed: What You Need To Know

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Source © Shutterstock

Often referred to as a corgi, the full name is actually Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and it’s a sweet dog. It’s short, low and very adorable. It’s hard to resist the sweet face and compact features of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, which is why they are such a popular breed. This is the type of dog for anyone looking for a companion that’s loyal and intelligent, and one that is very eager to please. This combination makes the Pembroke Welsh Corgi every easy to train and very easy to enjoy, and it’s one that is certainly a darling to keep in your life. It might be a small dog, but many people are aware that this breed makes a great watch dog with its very protective nature and its personality, which is why it’s a good idea for you to get to know this breed before you take it upon yourself to choose a Pembroke Welsh Corgi for your own family.

Here is everything you have ever wanted to know about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and what the breed has to offer your family.

Personality and Temperament

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a dream come true as far as personality is considered. He is quiet, loyal and very sweet. He wants to make sure that his owner is always happy with him, so he works very hard to make that happen at all times. They’re active dogs that love to spend time outdoors, and this personality trait is what makes them so good with kids. Your kids will not be able to wear this dog out no matter how hard they try, but your kids might take a great nap or retire earlier than usual at night thanks to the fact that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi will wear out your kids.

There is one thing to keep in mind when dealing with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. This is a breed that has to see that humans are the boss. A meek owner will give the dog the impression that it is the dog in charge of the family, and this is going to cause friction. For one, this will make the Pembroke Welsh Corgi difficult to live with as it will attempt to take on the role of ‘master’ in the household. It will also become less tolerant and loving of the children in the house, and it will likely cause trouble there, too.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a breed that must receive proper socialization if you want it to be good with strangers. They are naturally suspicious dogs and do not take kindly to strangers if they spend the vast majority of their time cooped up at home not being properly socialized. This breed requires loving humans, a happy household and someone who will be consistent and firm when the dog is in training or not obeying the rules of the house.

Great with kids of all ages, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is the type of dog that makes life very easy at home if you are a capable owner with the right personality to handle this particular breed.

Lifestyle and Expectation

One of the most important things that people ask when they are choosing a dog is what they can expect. If you are expecting a large dog that will live around a decade or so, this is not the breed for you. If you want a pup with a hypoallergenic coat, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is not for you. However, if you want a dog that’s going to stand around 12 inches tall and weigh somewhere between 24 and 31 pounds, this is the breed for you. Males are slightly taller and larger than females, but all Pembroke Welsh Corgis are virtually the same size. Be careful, though, with this dog and its small legs that you do not overfeed. An animal this small carrying this much weight is already prone to health issues associated with its spine and joints, and you do not want to add to the madness by creating an animal with even more health issues due to its excess weight.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi would rather be outdoors than anywhere else, but it’s not going to be too bad in an apartment or smaller home. The trick to keeping the Pembroke Welsh Corgi happy in a small home is to get it out of the house as often as possible so that it has plenty of exercise. A daily walk and a romp in the yard or a park works wonders for this particular breed.

This little one is going to live around 15 years, so it is a breed that requires ample commitment. The only real health issues to worry about is the fact that this is a breed that can gain a lot of weight very quickly and suffer the health effects of that kind of mismanagement. It’s not hypoallergenic, but the Pembroke Welsh Corgi only sheds two times a year. It can be minimized from becoming a huge problem all over your house if you take the time to brush the dog once or twice per week to remove loose fur.

Breed History

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an old dog. It is believed that the breed derived from a similar breed sometime around 1100. This Welsh dog was used at the time to herd cattle, to hunt vermin and to guard farms and barns. They are not large or imposing dogs with a frightening appearance, but they are the type of dog that is very loyal, very watchful and very in tune with what is going on around them. This makes them stellar watch dogs. Still to this day the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is used to guard homes and, and with great success. A fun fact, too, about why this breed has been such a popular herding dog for so many centuries; it is so low to the ground that most cows cannot kick them when they are being herded.

Photo by Getty Images