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Pembroke Welsh Corgi Breed Info, Pictures, Traits, & Facts

Written by: Dogster Team

Last Updated on March 26, 2024 by Dogster Team

Pembroke Welsh Corgi with sable coat

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Breed Info, Pictures, Traits, & Facts

If you’ve been searching for a smaller dog to add to your family, you might want to consider the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Often confused with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is probably most famous as being the favorite breed of Queen Elizabeth II, and for good reason, as this breed is friendly and affectionate. These dogs are also incredibly smart and energetic, so they’re fantastic for more active families.

If you don’t know much about this breed, we have you covered. Below, you’ll find everything you could ever want to know about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, from the breed’s history to little-known facts. With this information, you can decide if this breed is the one for you.

Breed Overview

Height:

10 – 12 inches

Weight:

28 – 30 pounds

Lifespan:

12 – 13 years

Colors:

Sable, fawn, red, black & tan

Suitable for:

Active individuals and families, those seeking a lively, friendly pup

Temperament:

Friendly, affectionate, intelligent

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has been around for a long time. Once used to herd sheep, cattle, and other livestock, these pups are now most often companion dogs. Due to their friendly nature, the breed makes a fabulous pet (though they can be somewhat active, so you’ll have to keep up!).

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Characteristics

Energy
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

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Pembroke Welsh Corgi Puppies

Welsh Corgi Pembroke laying on training pads
Image Credit: KaryB, Shutterstock

You may have difficulty finding a Pembroke Welsh Corgi at your local shelter, but there are rescue organizations you can try. Many states will have rescue groups for this breed; even if yours doesn’t, a nearby state might cover your area. Chances are, though, that you’ll need to get your Pembroke Welsh Corgi from a reputable breeder. You can find a wealth of reputable breeders via the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America.

Once you have your puppy, you can expect to have a lively, intelligent canine on your hands! Your Corgi puppy will love to play and should take to training well (though this dog does have a bit of a stubborn streak). Your puppy may also be quite vocal until you train them to bark less, so be aware of that.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Origin & History

The exact origins of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi are unknown, but it’s thought that this breed dates back to approximately 1107 A.D. Wherever the breed began, they made their way to England by way of Flemish weavers when Henry I invited these weavers to work and live in Wales. They accepted his invitation and brought along the dogs they used to herd sheep and cattle; these are believed to be the foundation for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi we know and love today.

These pups have been used as guard dogs, herding dogs, and, of course, companion dogs. In fact, Queen Elizabeth II was a huge fan and owned Pembroke Welsh Corgis from 1933 onwards!

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Though the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is small in stature, they’re extremely large in personality! These pups are incredibly friendly and affectionate with their families. They love to play and can be quite active (after all, they used to chase after sheep and cattle!). Their herding background also makes these pups courageous and very agile; however, their history also means the Pembroke Welsh Corgi can have an independent streak and desire to do things their way.

This breed is incredibly intelligent, so they take to training well and are great at agility courses and show competitions. Because the Corgi is so loyal and loving with their families, they can also make fantastic watch dogs. Early training and plenty of activity will keep your pup happy and healthy!

Welsh Pembroke Corgi
Image Credit: Samantha Jean, Unsplash

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

This breed makes a wonderful pet for the right family. Because they are so friendly, they get along well with children of all ages. Children should be taught how to properly interact with a canine, though. These Corgis may be muscular and capable of caring for themselves, but they’re still on the smaller side, so they shouldn’t be involved in excessive roughhousing.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi will be more than happy to join family members on walks, hikes, or in backyard games. This breed can be energetic, so be prepared for lots of play! Due to their herding background, these dogs also have a protective nature, so they can make excellent watchdogs who will look out for all family members.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

These canines can get along with other animals, including dogs and cats. That said, this breed tends to be a bit lukewarm towards other dogs in the home because of the Corgi’s independent nature. They’ll likely be much the same as cats or smaller animals, but because their prey drive isn’t high, they shouldn’t chase after others. However, if your dog is properly trained and socialized from a young age, you shouldn’t encounter too many issues with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and other pets.

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Things to Know When Owning a Pembroke Welsh Corgi

There’s so much more to know about this dog breed than what’s been mentioned above. You need to know how to properly care for your pup, including learning how to groom them, what to feed them, and more.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi will do best on a high-quality dog food suited to their age and size. Talk with your vet about the appropriate amount to feed your dog each day, as the serving sizes on dog food bags aren’t always accurate. This is especially important in the Corgi’s case, as some of these pups can be prone to weight gain. Also, search for healthy treats that don’t contain a lot of calories for your dog.

Exercise 🐕

Because this breed was originally designed to herd, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a relatively active little dog. You’ll be looking at around an hour of exercise and play a day for one of these pups. These dogs will love to go on long walks or jogs, but because their legs are so short, they won’t be able to keep up with runners or bicyclists. The breed loves physical activity and will do well with a variety of activities like tracking, herding, and agility events. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is also at their best when they have a job to do, so let them “help” around the house. Add in some games, such as fetch, and mental stimulation, like puzzle games, and you’ll have a happy pup on your hands!

Welsh Corgi Pembroke sable dog on the rocks at the seaside
Image Credit: Jus_Ol, Shutterstock

Training 🎾

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is highly intelligent, so they take to training well. However, you may occasionally run into issues because of that independent streak they sometimes have. Occasionally, these pups simply want to do things their way! Most of the time, though, training one of these dogs should be relatively easy.

Be sure to keep things interesting for your pup by mixing up training activities. Also, ensure you only use positive reinforcement with your dog and keep training sessions on the shorter side. Don’t forget to begin socializing your Pembroke Welsh Corgi from an early age, too, so they learn to get along with other animals and people!

Grooming ✂️

Due to their thick double coats, this canine breed is a big shedder. Because they tend to shed often, you’ll want to brush your Pembroke Welsh Corgi with a slicker brush daily to help eliminate loose hair. This will help keep hair on your furniture to a minimum. When shedding season occurs in late spring to early summer, you’ll also want to incorporate a rake to strip your pup’s undercoat.

Besides reducing the amount of loose hair flying around, you’ll need to brush your pup’s teeth regularly, bathe them as needed, and trim their nails.

groomer-giving-pembroke-welsh-corgi-dog-a-haircut
Image Credit: Makistock, Shutterstock

Health and Conditions 🏥

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are relatively healthy but have a few conditions they are prone to developing. In particular, this breed can develop skeletal or joint issues, so if you adopt your pup via a breeder, ensure the breeder has run the proper tests.

Minor Conditions
  • Allergies
  • Ear infections
  • Eye conditions
Serious Conditions
  • Intervertebral disc disease (IDD)
  • Degenerative myelopathy
  • von Willebrand’s disease
  • Elbow or hip dysplasia

Male vs Female

There are no real differences in personality between male and female Pembroke Welsh Corgis. The biggest difference between them is size, as males weigh a few pounds more. Whether a female or male Pembroke Welsh Corgi is right for your family will come down to your personal preference.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

You can never know too much about a dog, so here are a few more facts about this breed that you may not have known!

1. The word “Corgi” means “dwarf dog” in Welsh.

Possibly, at least. Some think the word “Corgi” comes from “cor”, meaning to watch over, and “gi”, meaning dog; others believe the “cor” means dwarf, which would make Corgi translate to “dwarf dog”.


2. One of these dogs was the mascot for Amazon!

Way back in the day, Amazon’s editor-in-chief had a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Rufus who came to work with them each day. Rufus soon became the company’s unofficial mascot and helped foster its dog-friendly culture.


3. This breed is enchanted.

And enchanting, for that matter! Legend has it, though, that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi worked for the Fae, pulling carriages and acting as steed for Fae warriors.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi with fawn fur coat
Image Credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich, Pexels

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Final Thoughts

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a sweet, affectionate, friendly pup that makes a wonderful pet for families and individuals. A fairly active little dog, this breed will enjoy running around with kids, going on walks, and being involved in everything you do. The biggest downside to this breed is probably how vocal they can be, but provided you begin training them early, you should be able to break them from barking too much.

 

Featured Image Credit: Jus_Ol, Shutterstock

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