Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a small dog breed that has been around since the 12th century. They’re believed to be descended from working dogs brought to Wales by Flemish weavers in 1107. The dogs were used for herding cattle, sheep and horses. The breed was officially recognized by the Kennel Club in 1934 and remains popular today.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an energetic and loyal dog. Their short stature makes them ideal for small living spaces, but their herding instincts are still strong. They need regular exercise and mental stimulation from obedience training, walks or games like fetch. They’re also known for being very food motivated, making them easy to train.

They’re a relatively healthy breed, but can still have certain health problems like hip dysplasia, eye diseases and von Willebrand disease. Regular vet checkups and good nutrition are recommended in order to maintain the dog’s health.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an affectionate and intelligent breed that makes a great companion. They’re loyal and loving to their family, and can be good with children and other pets when socialized early. They’re an alert watchdog that will bark to alert its family of strangers or strange noises. With its high energy level, regular exercise and proper care, this breed can make a great addition to any family.The AKC has these dogs listed as the 11th most popular breed for 2022.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Information

  • Average Height: Between 10 and 12 inches
  • Average Length: 10 to 12 inches
  • Average Weight: 28-30 pounds
  • Coat Type: Double coat that is weather-resistant and water-repellent
  • Coat Appearance: Outer coat is straight and coarse, undercoat is short and thick
  • Coat Colors: Red, sable, fawn or black and tan
  • Grooming Needs: High
  • Shedding: High
  • Brushing Requirements: A daily once-over with a comb and a slicker brush
  • Sensitive to Touch: Very sensitive
  • Excessive Barking: Yes
  • Tolerance to Heat and Cold: Yes
  • Good Pet: Yes
  • Safe with Children: Yes
  • Good with Other Dogs: Yes
  • Good with Other Pets: Yes
  • Suitable for life in an Apartment: Well-suited
  • Good for Less Experienced Pet Owners: Ideal breed
  • Training: Easy to train
  • Exercise Needs: Regular
  • Weight Gain: Prone to gaining weight
  • Health Concerns: Hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, and lens luxation, von Willebrand disease
  • Allergies: Prone to allergies
  • Life Span: 12 to 13 years

Physical Appearance of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a small breed of dog with an average height of 10 to 12 inches and an average weight of 24-30 pounds. It has a double coat that is weather-resistant and water-repellent, with the outer coat being straight and coarse, and the undercoat short and thick. The most common colors are red, sable, fawn or black and tan in color. They have a docked tail, usually with only a few inches of their tail remaining. The ears are upright and the eyes are almond-shaped.

Temperament of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an intelligent, loyal and affectionate breed. They love spending time with their family and love to be around people. They’re very active and love playing games like fetch or agility. They’re alert and will bark if it senses something strange or unfamiliar in its environment. With proper socialization, the breed does well with children as well as other pets. They’re also easy to train, and are very food motivated.

Training a Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Training a Pembroke Welsh Corgi is relatively easy due to their intelligence and strong food motivation. As with all breeds, it’s important to start training at an early age and be consistent with commands. Start by teaching your dog basic obedience commands like sit, stay, come and down. You can also use games such as fetch or hide-and-seek to keep them stimulated while practicing obedience. Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your Pembroke Welsh Corgi, because it rewards good behavior and encourages further learning.

Obedience Training Classes

Obedience training classes are a great way to help your dog learn some basic instructions. Obedience training isn’t just for your dog, it also helps owners learn to teach and control their new dog. These classes can teach you as an owner the best ways to teach your puppy. The amount of time you spend trying to stop your Pembroke Welsh Corgi barking at strangers can be a lot less if you know the best way to teach them.

Early Socialization Training

Early socialization training can help your Pembroke Welsh Corgi become more comfortable around people and other animals. This should be done as early as possible, ideally before they’re six months old. Socialization can involve introducing your dog to different people, animals, environments, and noises in a positive way. It’s important that the environment is one that the pup finds comfortable and safe, so they can learn to associate these new experiences with positive feelings. 

Socialization should be done gradually and in a controlled way to ensure that the pup is not overwhelmed. With early socialization, your Pembroke Welsh Corgi will be better adjusted and more comfortable around people and other animals.

Kennel Training

Kennel training works very well with Pembroke Welsh Corgis. If done right they will see the kennel as their safe space, and a place that they can relax and sleep. Most dogs enjoy small spaces and will find a sense of security while inside it. Getting them comfortable in a kennel early on will save you a lot of headaches. You know that they can’t get into trouble while you’re sleeping or at work if they’re in their kennel. It’s also a great place for them to dry off after they come into the house when it’s wet outside.

Clicker Training

They need to be trained to understand what is good behavior and what is not OK. Clicker training will help them understand what is good behavior. Clicker training has you make a noise with the clicker when the desired action is done. In addition to the click you’ll give them a treat, at least while you train them. Every time your dog hears the click they’ll know they did a good job and you are happy.

If your dog misbehaves, try not to punish them because it can discourage them. Instead, remember the clicker training and divert their attention to something else. You might have to do this several times to help your dog understand that they are not supposed to do the undesired activities.

Their Compatibility with Children

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are known to be good companions for children. They are intelligent, loyal and affectionate and make great family pets. With proper socialization, they should do well with children as long as the child is respectful of the pup’s boundaries. It’s important to teach children how to interact with a dog in a safe and gentle manner. As with any breed, it’s important to supervise children when they are around the pup.

Best Climate for a Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a breed that prefers cooler weather. They do well in climates where temperatures stay moderate year round. This means they do best in areas with four distinct seasons and not too much humidity. While they can handle short bouts of extreme temperatures, it’s important to give them shade and plenty of water when outdoors in hot weather. Their thick coats are not ideal for climates that are too hot and humid.

The Attention a Pembroke Welsh Corgi Needs

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an active breed that requires plenty of attention. They thrive with regular exercise, mental stimulation, and interaction with their owners. Daily walks and playtime are great ways to keep your pup both physically and mentally stimulated. Training sessions can also help give them something to focus on and gives them a sense of purpose. It’s important to remember that this breed loves spending time with their owners and needs to be part of the family.

Health Issues

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is generally a healthy breed, but like all breeds, they are prone to certain health issues. Common health problems in this breed include hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), and eye diseases. It’s important to be aware of these potential health problems and have your pup regularly checked by a veterinarian. With proper diet and exercise, they should be able to live a long and healthy life.

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common disease found in dogs with flat backs. It’s a degenerative disease that degrades your dog’s spinal cord and can cause a number of painful mobility issues. IVDD is similar to a ruptured, slipped, bulging or herniated disk in a person. 

This happens when the jelly-like cushion between vertebrae slips, resulting in the disc pressing on the spinal cord. If your dog suddenly has difficulty jumping or moving around, it could be because of IVDD. Sometimes your dog will develop an arched back, cry or refuse to eat due to pain. If that’s the case, you should call your vet. 

Feeding them a moderate amount of food and keeping their weight controlled can help lower the chances that your dog will have this problem.

Von Willebrand’s Disease

Von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD) is a hereditary disorder that affects a dogs’ blood clotting process. It’s caused by an inherited deficiency in the von Willebrand factor, which is a protein that helps platelets stick together to form clots and stop bleeding. vWD can cause excessive bleeding during surgery as well as spontaneous bleeding from their nose, gums, and other parts of their body.

Symptoms of Von Willebrand’s Disease

The most common symptom of Von Willebrand’s Disease is excessive bleeding. The excessive bleeding can be seen in the form of nosebleeds, gum bleeds, and other types of spontaneous bleeding from their body. In some cases, dogs might also have blood in their urine, vomit blood, and cough up blood.

Dogs with vWD could have prolonged bleeding during surgery or after injury.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a hereditary problem that can make walking, getting up or laying down difficult and painful. When a dog has hip dysplasia, their hip socket fails to fully cover the ball portion of their thigh bone. The looseness between the hip and leg bone leads to partial or complete dislocation of their hip joint and can cause pain and stiffness. In most cases, medication and exercise restrictions are advised by the vet. Over time the condition could become severe enough that your vet might recommend surgery to correct it.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a degenerative eye disorder that affects the retina of dogs. It’s an inherited condition, meaning it’s passed down from parent to offspring.

PRA is caused by a mutation in the gene responsible for producing the photoreceptor cells in the retina. These cells are responsible for converting light into electrical signals that are sent to the brain and interpreted as vision. As PRA progresses, these photoreceptor cells die off, leading to blindness.

Symptoms of Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Symptoms of PRA can vary depending on the breed and type of PRA, but generally include:

  • Night blindness
  • Decreased vision in dim light
  • Dilated pupils
  • Eye Cloudiness
  • Head tilt

As the disease progresses, these symptoms could worsen and eventually lead to total blindness.

Cataracts

Cataracts are a common eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness. Cataracts occur when the lens in an eye becomes cloudy or opaque, blocking light from passing through to the retina. This can lead to decreased vision, or even complete blindness.

There are several causes of cataracts, including genetics, diabetes, trauma, and certain medications.

Cataracts can be a serious condition, but with proper treatment, your dog can regain their vision and live a happy life.

A close up of a pile of dog food.

Bathing, Coat, and Cleaning

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a thick, double-coat that needs regular brushing. It’s recommended their coat be brushed at least once a week to remove any dirt and debris from their fur. It’s also important to bathe your pup every few months to keep their fur clean and healthy. You should also check their ears regularly for signs of infection and clean them with an ear cleaning solution. It’s important to keep their nails trimmed as well to prevent any issues with walking or running.

Feeding A Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi does best with a high-quality, nutritionally balanced diet. Their diet should consist of high-quality proteins, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals. It’s important to feed them the right amount of food for their size and age in order to maintain a healthy weight. Treats can be given in moderation as long as they do not exceed 10% of your pup’s daily caloric intake.

Related Questions:

What Type of Activities do Pembroke Welsh Corgis Enjoy?

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are an active breed that loves to be kept busy. They can enjoy a wide variety of activities, such as obedience classes, agility classes, or even just playing fetch in the backyard. They also love going on long walks and exploring new places.