Welsh Corgi
-
What is a Welsh Corgi?
The Welsh Corgi is a herding dog from Wales with two breeds: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. They are similar in appearance but have different origins, and the Pembroke's tail is usually docked. Cardigans are the older breed, dating back to 1200 BCE, while Pembrokes came to Wales between the 10th and 12th centuries.
Both breeds are small, short-legged, and quick, with foxlike heads and erect ears. Corgis are hardy, good farm dogs, guards, and companions. They are intelligent, eager to please, easy to train, and enjoy activities like herding and agility. Corgis make excellent companions for all ages but may nip at heels. Coat care includes weekly brushing, and they need one to two hours of exercise daily.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Where do Welsh Corgis come from?
Welsh Corgis originated in Wales and consist of two breeds: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. The Cardigan can be traced back to dogs brought to Cardiganshire, Wales, by the Celts around 1200 BCE. These original dogs were known as the Bronant and may be related to the Dachshund. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi descends from dogs brought to Pembrokeshire, Wales, between the 10th and 12th centuries by Vikings and Flemish weavers. Some ancestors of the Pembroke likely came from the spitz group, which includes the Keeshond, Pomeranian, and Samoyed. Both breeds are small, hardy, and agile herding dogs.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are the two main types of Welsh Corgi?
The two main types of Welsh Corgis are the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Though similar, they have different origins, and the Pembroke's tail is usually docked.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi can be traced back to dogs brought to Cardiganshire, Wales, by the Celts around 1200 BCE, while the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is descended from dogs brought to Pembrokeshire, Wales, between the 10th and 12th centuries.
The Cardigan is the larger of the two, has a long tail and rounded ears, while the Pembroke has a short or docked tail and smaller, pointed ears. Cardigan's front feet turn outward, while the Pembroke's face straight ahead.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What do Welsh Corgis look like?
Welsh Corgis are small, short-legged herding dogs with foxlike heads and erect ears, known for their agility and hearing. The two breeds, Pembroke and Cardigan, are similar but have different origins; their resemblance is due to crossbreeding.
The Cardigan is the larger of the two, weighing 25-38 pounds and standing 10.5-12.5 inches tall, with a long tail and rounded ears. Its coat can be reddish-brown, brindle, black with tan or white, or blue-gray with black mottling. The Pembroke weighs 28-30 pounds and stands 10-12 inches tall. It has a short or docked tail and smaller, pointed ears. Its coat is finely textured and can be red, sable, fawn, or black-and-tan. Both breeds may have white markings.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are Welsh Corgis known for in their history or jobs?
Welsh Corgis, including both Pembroke and Cardigan breeds, originated in Wales and are known for their herding abilities. Cardigans date back to 1200 BCE, brought by the Celts, while Pembrokes arrived between the 10th and 12th centuries with Vikings or Flemish weavers.
Both breeds are small, hardy farm dogs with foxlike heads, erect ears, and surprising quickness. They are also good guards and companions due to their amazing hearing. Corgis are eager to please, easy to train, and excel in herding, agility, and obedience. They can nip at heels, a trait from their herding background.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is their temperament and how do people care for Welsh Corgis?
Welsh Corgis are eager to please, quick to learn, and were developed to act on commands from a distance and think independently. Cardigans are typically quieter and less energetic than Pembrokes. Corgis have amazing hearing, making them great watchdogs with a big-dog bark.
Both breeds enjoy activities but are happy to relax if they have been exercised. They need one to two hours of exercise and play daily, or they may become depressed or obese. Corgis require weekly brushing, with more during shedding seasons, and occasional baths. Regular ear, eye, teeth, and nail checks are also important.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Welsh Corgi, either of two breeds (Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cardigan Welsh Corgi) of affectionate dogs developed in Wales to herd animals. The breeds are similar in appearance but are of different origins, and the tail of the Pembroke is usually docked. Their resemblance results from crosses between the two breeds, and they are often referred to as cousins. Cardigans and Pembrokes were considered one breed for show purposes until 1934. The Pembroke has always been the more popular of the two breeds.
- Other name: Dwarf Dog (perhaps the meaning of the Welsh word corgi)
- Area of origin: Wales
- Breed group: Herding
- Height at withers: Pembroke: 10–12 inches (25–30 cm); Cardigan: 10.5–12.5 (27–32 cm)
- Weight: Pembroke: 28-30 pounds (13–14 kg); Cardigan: 25-38 pounds (11–17 kg)
- Lifespan: 12–15 years
- Did you know? Queen Elizabeth II of England owned more than 30 Corgis in her lifetime. When she reached her 80s, the queen stopped breeding Corgis to prevent leaving too many of them to live on after her death.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi can be traced back to dogs brought to Cardiganshire, Wales, by the Celts about 1200 bce. The original type was known as the Bronant and was possibly related to the progenitors of the Dachshund. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is descended from dogs brought to Pembrokeshire, Wales, between the 10th and 12th centuries by Vikings, Flemish weavers, or both. Some of the ancestors of the Pembroke breed probably belonged to the spitz group that produced the Keeshond, Pomeranian, and Samoyed. The Corgi gained exposure and popularity from its association in the 20th century with the royal family of Britain; Queen Elizabeth II owned Pembroke Corgis since her childhood.
Both Welsh Corgis are small, short-legged dogs with foxlike heads and erect ears; they are surprisingly quick and agile with amazing hearing abilities. Both are hardy, able farm dogs and good guards and companions. The Cardigan is larger, with a long tail and ears that are rounded at the tips, while the Pembroke has a very short tail (or one entirely docked) and smaller pointed ears. The Cardigan’s front feet turn outward, while the Pembroke’s face straight ahead. The Cardigan has a short to medium-length coat of reddish brown, brindle, black with tan or white, or blue-gray with black mottling (merle). The Pembroke has a more finely textured coat of red, sable, or fawn, or of black-and-tan. Both breeds may have white markings.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
Care and upkeep
Coat care for either breed entails weekly brushing (sometimes daily, depending on the owner’s tolerance of the breeds’ daily shedding) and occasional bathing. The coat sheds heavily twice a year, in spring and fall. As with all breeds, check the ears, eyes, teeth, and nails regularly. No special upkeep is required.
Corgis need one to two hours of daily exercise and play. If under-exercised, they can suffer obesity and depression.
Temperament
Like most herding breeds, Corgis were developed to act quickly on human commands from a distance and to think for themselves. They are eager to please and very easy to train. Cardigans tend to be quieter and less energetic than Pembrokes. Due to their amazing hearing ability, Corgis are wonderful watchdogs with a big-dog bark.
Both breeds are eager to join in activities but also content to lie quietly (if having been exercised). They especially enjoy activities that involve running and following quick directions. They excel at the organized sports of herding, agility, and obedience.
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
Corgis are amiable and playful and make excellent and gentle companions for people of all ages, including children and older adults. They can, however, nip at the heels of children in an attempt to herd them. Elizabeth II’s Corgis made headlines on numerous occasions for nipping at royal staff and visitors. The dogs also bark when excited, sometimes excessively, as barking is a means of moving cattle.
These are well established and widely accepted generalizations about the breed. Individual dogs may differ in behavior and temperament.