Prepare to fall in love with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. These dogs are so beloved by the Queen for many reasons. Not only is there the adorable teddy bear looks but there’s the friendly, loving nature - Corgis absolutely love their humans but aren’t needy with it. Although they’re built small, these are strong, energetic and active dogs who are always up for adventure. Give them plenty of daily exercise and a job to do (they’re herding dogs after all), and in return you’ll have the most loyal canine BFF you could ask for.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Facts
Measuring up to 30cm and weighing up to 14kg, Corgis are surprisingly strong, sturdy dogs in a small package.
- Breed Group: Herding
- Height: 25-30cm
- Weight: Female: up to 12kg; Male: up to 14kg
- Life Span: 12-13 years
- Coat: Short, double
- Colour: Black and tan, fawn, red or sable
What Does a Pembroke Welsh Corgi Look Like?
Thanks to the Queen’s love of them, Pembroke Welsh Corgis have to be one of the most recognisable dog breeds out there. First, you’ll notice their distinctive shape - long and low with delightfully short legs. Yet these legs are powerful, especially their muscular thighs, and their chest is broad and deep. This is a dog that’s built to work - originally, they were bred to herd cows and sheep. Corgis are surprisingly agile and fast.
Once you’re over that shape and those legs, it’s probably the absolutely adorable face and ears you’ll notice. Their medium-sized ears are perky and rounded at the tips, giving them a slight bat-like look. Their eyes are brown, large and expressive and sit atop a slightly goofy smile.
Corgis have a double coat: a soft, light undercoat is covered by a coarse outer coat. Their coat comes in three colours - black and tan, fawn, red or sable. They might have white markings, or they might not.
We’ve saved the best to last: their fluffy backsides, sometimes called ‘momo’ - Japanese for peach. The true adorableness of Corgis can be found in a quick Google search for ‘Corgi sploot’. Although historically Corgis had their tails docked, this practice is now banned in New Zealand.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Temperament: Lover of Life
Corgis make some of the best pets - they simply love life and the humans they share it with. Although they’re friendly and affectionate and make great companions, they’re not overly needy (hello going to the toilet in peace). Lively, Pembrokes are strong and athletic dogs with high energy needs who will happily romp with their families for hours.
Although they’re small, these are mighty dogs. Bright and intelligent, they’re also fearless and independent and a little stubborn. With their historic responsibility for herding big animals, including cattle, they need to be. It’s these herding instincts that make Corgis vigilant watchdogs. They’ve got a big bark and aren’t afraid to use it.
But these herding instincts also mean Corgis have a tendency to nip the heels or feet of anyone (human or animal) who moves too quickly around them. This includes young children and other pets. That’s why early socialisation and training is important to help curb these instincts.
Corgis suit adventurous active families who can ensure they have a positive outlet everyday for their energy. Sure, they love to play with toys but a long walk every single day is a must. Slow jogs are achievable for Pembroke Welsh Corgis but a run or a bike is too fast for them. A Pembroke is always up for adventure, so be prepared to take them with you wherever you go.
Keeping Pembroke Welsh Corgis Healthy: 4 Issues to Watch Out For
Although Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a healthy expected lifespan of 12 to 13 years, they are prone to some serious health issues. Preventative care, like regular vet check ups, can help keep your Corgi fit and healthy for years to come.
Spinal Issues
Pembrokes can experience Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), also known as slipped disc. This is when the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal cord bulge or burst into the spinal cord space and begin pressing on the nerves running through the spinal cord. This causes pain, nerve damage and even paralysis. Symptoms of IVDD include abnormal walking and pain, weakness or lameness in their rear legs. IVDD can be treated with medication, massage and surgery, depending on how severe it is.
Joint Issues
Although hip and elbow dysplasia is more common in larger breeds, Corgis are prone to hip dysplasia. It happens when the ball and socket of the hip joint don’t fit together normally, causing the joint to grind and eventually wear down. It can be treated with medication, physical therapy, weight management and surgery. Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition though, so responsible breeders should screen for it.
Degenerative Myelopathy
With their long bodies, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are at risk of degenerative myelopathy, or spinal cord disease. It eventually causes a Corgi’s spinal cord to degenerate, shutting down a lot of bodily functions. Sadly, as a chronic, progressive disease, there’s no treatment and it can be fatal.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy causes a Corgi to have sudden, uncontrolled seizures that can regularly happen. A Pembroke experiencing a seizure might fall on its side; become stiff; drool excessively; wee itself; or paddle with all 4 limbs. A seizure normally lasts between 30 and 90 seconds. It can take up to 24 hours to recover from a seizure. Seizures usually happen when a Corgi is resting or sleeping. It’s not known why Corgis can develop epilepsy but it can be treated with medication and surgery, if needed.
Caring for Your Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dog
Although a Corgi's grooming needs aren’t hugely high, their energy and training needs are. But with a dog this cute, you won’t mind all the time you’ll get to spend together.
Grooming
When we say their grooming needs aren’t hugely high, Pembroke Welsh Corgis do still shed, pretty much on a daily basis and even more so during shedding season which for them is late spring and early summer as the weather heats up. Baths can help when Corgis are shedding, as they can help loosen the dead hair. Once the excess hair has gone, a rake can help remove the undercoat.
At other times of the year, aim to brush them daily with a comb and slicker brush. This will capture a lot of their shed hair and save it from ending up in the carpet, on your furniture and, well, everywhere.
Once you’ve got the hair situation under control, you’ll need to regularly check those perky ears to make sure they’re clean and healthy. Any discharge, weird smell or redness could be signs of infection. Keep them clean with gentle ear wipes.
Trim their nails regularly to keep them comfortable when they’re moving around, and brush their teeth every day. This will help prevent plaque and tartar build up. Left unchecked, they can lead to dental disease which is painful for the Corgi and expensive to fix.
Nutrition
A Corgi will happily tuck into high quality commercial dog food that suits their life stage: puppy, adult or senior. This food will have all the nutrients they need to fuel their active lifestyle. However, Corgis love their food and can be prone to overeating and gaining weight, even with all the exercise they do. An overweight Corgi is at risk of multiple health issues.
You can help keep them at a healthy weight by only feeding them twice a day, rather than leaving a bowl out for them to graze all day, or try incorpoarting Royal Canin Light Weight Care into their diet. Keep an eye on how many treats they’re getting a day too. When training them, swap out constant treats for other things like extra playtime with you or a favourite toy.
Exercise
As a herding dog, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are strong and athletic and thrive on having a job to do. Daily physical activity is non-negotiable for a Corgi. They need about one hour every day to keep them physically and mentally happy. Long walks and slow jogs are their jam (running alongside a fast runner or a bike, not so much), and they’re great swimmers too.
Whatever you’re doing, keep an eye on the temperature. That thick double coat puts them at risk of overheating. So, exercise them at the coolest time of the day and ensure they’ve always got access to cool fresh water (check out the ThirstyDog Smart Water Bottle).
Exercise their minds with games like hide and seek, agility work (look for courses and clubs in your area) and puzzle toys. A bored Corgi is a barky Corgi who’ll get themselves into plenty of mischief - prepare to have a lot of missing socks.
Training
Bold, independent and fearless - did we also mention Pembroke Welsh Corgis are somewhat stubborn? Although that might seem like not the greatest combination for training, Corgis are enthusiastic, willing and smart pups who respond well to training. They’re also very sensitive, so positive reinforcement, where they’re rewarded with treats, praise and play time for doing a great job, works best.
Training provides great stimulation and engagement for a Pembroke’s busy brain. Start with the basics, like sit, stay and come, plus walking nicely on a leash. With Corgi puppies prone to exploring things with their mouth (again, herding dog!) commands like leave it and drop are also helpful for Corgi owners.
Once they’ve got to grips with the basics, you can move onto helping them curb their barking and herding tendencies. It’s important to realise although they can learn when it’s ok to bark and herd, you won’t train these instincts out completely.
As social butterflies, Corgis love meeting new people and pups. But early socialisation is still so important, especially because they need to learn their manners - no nipping new friends! Aim to socialise them between 7 weeks and 4 months old. Neighbourhood strolls and meeting friends and friendly pups can all help develop their manners, as can puppy school.