Facts
Care and exercise
A true herding dog, the Welsh Corgi Pembroke is by nature very active and likes to be kept busy, so a couple of good exercise sessions a day, whether walking or play, are recommended. This is a very intelligent little dog and responds well to training. The dense, fairly short coat needs a good brushing two or three times a week and only the very occasional bath. Twice a year the coat is shed very freely, so extra work with the comb and brush are indicated when this occurs.
Suitability
A very practical small dog eminently suited to most circumstances, the Pembroke Corgi will happily accommodate itself to even the smallest home provided it has company and sufficient exercise. A well brought up Pembroke can be an excellent playmate to all but the smallest child and certainly has proved itself over the years as the older persons companion par excellence.
Short Corgi legs mean no elaborate fencing required and the relatively easy-care coat needs little tedious grooming.
One of the all-time favourites, the Pembroke Corgi is, of course, the chosen breed of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and these little dogs are to be found in Buckingham Palace and other Royal establishments.
Developed during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the breed as we now know it was perfected in and around Pembrokeshire in Wales as a hard-working cattle drover and sheepherder. It stems from the same rootstock as its cousin, the Welsh Corgi (Cardigan), the two breeds being officially separated in the 1930s.
Life is never dull with a Pembroke or two around. The appeal of this busy little dog comes from the alert interest it takes in everything going on around it and the loyalty and affection it makes obvious to its family. It is also known for its longevity. The Pembroke makes a very effective watchdog, particularly since the size of its bark belies its small stature.
With prick ears and attractive, foxy expression, lowset, sturdy, tailless body, the Pembroke has a fairly short but thick jacket that comes in red, sable, fawn, or black and tan, all with or without white markings. Averaging around 25-30cm at the shoulder, the Pembroke should weigh between 10 and 12kg. Unfortunately, many these days weigh much more than that, so feeding needs to be carefully regulated!
