The Pembroke Welsh Corgis are well known within the British Isles as being a constant partner for Queen Elizabeth II.

Her love of the breed started in 1933 when her father, George VI, gave her one of these very special and adorable dogs. Since then, the Queen has nearly always had a Corgi by her side.

In This Blog We Cover:

History

It is believed that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi dates all the way back to the 10^th century.

There are two theories on how this breed came about…some people believe that they were brought over by the Vikings and the Flemish Weavers when they decided to settle in Wales. Another theory is that they descended from the Swedish Vallhund’s.

They were originally bred for herding, mainly sheep, cattle, and poultry. Their compact bodies meant that any stray feet flying their way whilst herding meant they would brush over their head avoiding injuries.

They also excelled at nipping at any ankles not moving quick enough or in the direction they wanted.

Breed Overview

Characteristics

Training and Behaviour

Due to being a very intelligent and hard-working dog, due to their herding background, this has made them amenable and easy to train compared to some other breeds. However, whilst they are intelligent, this can often be a hindrance too.

They can sometimes be too smart for their own good and may predict what they should be doing. They require their mind to be occupied and their little legs to be moving to prevent boredom and them getting into mischief.

Because of their intelligence, they require training early on and benefit greatly from socialisation as a puppy. By doing this, you are giving your Corgi the best start in life.

Once you have nailed the basic training, you may want to consider giving them a job to do. This could be as a watch dog, or they could take after their ancestors and carry on the herding traditions!

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a fun and active breed, needing quite a lot of stimulation and exercise to keep them out of trouble. When you aren’t walking them, how about you treat them to some toys and have playtime with them in the garden.

They may be seen to chase away unfamiliar animals like other dogs and cats because of their ancestor’s behaviour. They are very protective of their home and their family. Whilst you may think this behaviour is naughty, it is in their instinct and early socialisation should help fix and prevent this.

If you live in a built-up area, your neighbours may not appreciate you owning a Corgi if they are left outside a lot. They will be sure to make their presence known!

But the more love, attention and play time they receive, the less they bark. Even if they are noisy, it is very difficult to be mad at such a cute little face.

Grooming

If you can cope with finding hair everywhere, and we mean everywhere, then you will be fine owning a Corgi. These are known to moult, especially in the shedding season, and grooming is required to keep on top of this.

Once you have got on top of the maintenance of their coat, it should all be plain sailing for you. Regular brushing, with a good dog brush, through their coat will help keep it healthy and mat free.

Try to avoid over bathing your Corgi as this can strip the natural oils they have in their outercoats.

Health Conditions

As with any breed of dog in the canine kingdom, they can all have health conditions which are more common for that breed. So, it goes without saying, that our Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s can also have certain health conditions they may be more prone to.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for the disease, nor is there a cure for this. However, do not worry as this is not painful for your corgi and their eyes may appear normal from the outside.

If your pooch is reluctant to enter a dark room or is hesitant about going downstairs, this could be a sign you need to get their eyes checked over by a qualified vet. Whilst they may seem to improve during the day, it’s best to get this looked at before it progresses.

Once developed, this can lead to the pupils over dilating and eventually blindness.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a very common disease in most dogs and whilst we mainly see it in larger breeds like Labradors and Rottweiler’s, Corgis can be susceptible to this disease also.

The condition can gradually get worse and unfortunately there is no cure for it. But there is medication and treatment to help keep them comfortable and pain at a minimum.

These can include anti-inflammatory medications, physiotherapy, or if it has gotten to this stage, your vet may recommend surgery.

To help prevent this as much as possible, keep their weight down and feed them a correct diet to help promote healthy bones and keep them in good shape.

Von Willebrand’s Disease

Also known as VWD, this is a disorder which affects their ability to stop bleeding after an injury or surgery.

A Corgi which suffers with this has half the level of coagulation factors a normal dog will need to clot the blood and stop them from bleeding out. This is a form of protein.

If your Corgi is having constant nose bleeds, bruises easier than normal, or it has difficulty stemming the bleeding after surgery or an accident, it’s recommended to get it tested before things get worse.

Degenerative Myelopathy

DM is a disease which affects the white matter found in the spinal cord. This helps to send nerve signals up and down your spinal cord. When your Corgi is affected by Degenerative Myelopathy, these signals are lost as this white matter starts to break down.

Symptoms such as weakness in the hind limbs, wobbling, and eventually paralysis in their hind legs will be seen when they are affected with this disease. You may find that the signs are subtle to start with but can get progressively worse as time goes on.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for this degenerative disease except keeping them comfortable and as happy as possible.

Physiotherapy or a special harness can help keep them more comfortable when moving about. But this disease will only make them deteriorate in time.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are full of life and character. If you welcome this amazing and adorable breed into your home, you will not only have a protector, but you will also have many days filled with entertainment and love. A breed fit for a Queen!