Welsh Corgi

The Welsh Corgi is a short-legged Welsh herding dog in two breeds — the Pembroke and the older Cardigan — that were shown as one until 1934 and are not closely related.

History

Corgis drove cattle by nipping at their heels and dropping low to avoid the kick, which is what the short legs are for. The Cardigan is the older type, from south-west Wales; the Pembroke arrived later and became far better known through its association with Queen Elizabeth II. The two were separated by British registries in 1934.

Temperament

The breed is known for being alert, confident and busy, a herding dog in a small frame with the voice and the opinions to match. It is affectionate with its family and inclined to bark and to herd whatever is available, children included.

Care and training

It needs more exercise than the legs suggest and real mental work. The double coat sheds heavily. Weight matters more here than in most breeds: a long back on short legs does not forgive extra kilos, and stairs and jumping are worth managing.

Health

Known tendencies include intervertebral disc disease from the long back, hip dysplasia, and degenerative myelopathy in some lines, which breeders test for. These are known patterns for the breed and a matter for a breeder and a vet; the measured facts are in the panel.