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Breeds 101: The Pembroke Welsh Corgi

By Wesley Coburn

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: A pair of corgi dogs arrive on the second day of Crufts Dog Show at the NEC Arena on March 10, 2017 in Birmingham, England. First held in 1891, Crufts is said to be the largest show of its kind in the world, the annual four-day event, features thousands of dogs, with competitors travelling from countries across the globe to take part and vie for the coveted title of 'Best in Show'. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: A pair of corgi dogs arrive on the second day of Crufts Dog Show at the NEC Arena on March 10, 2017 in Birmingham, England. First held in 1891, Crufts is said to be the largest show of its kind in the world, the annual four-day event, features thousands of dogs, with competitors travelling from countries across the globe to take part and vie for the coveted title of 'Best in Show'. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) /
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The Pembroke Welsh Corgi wins everything due to its bouncy nature and adorable cuteness.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi wins the internet when it comes to cuteness, specializing in the resting motion that came to become the DoggoLingo term “sploot.” According to the American Kennel Club’s 2017 statistics (the most recent year available), they were the 15th most popular breed in the country.

It’s just as hard-working and athletic as its less-famous cousin the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, but is far more popular, as Pembrokes are the default mental image when someone hears “Corgi,” which is Welsh for “dwarf dog.”

Pembrokes are around 10 to 12 inches at the withers (shoulders), with females weighing up to 28 pounds and males weighing up to 30 pounds each.

Pembroke Corgis are slightly smaller than Cardigans, and they do not have tails, either naturally by genetics or through docking. (Cardigans have ropy tails.) They also have slightly smaller life expectancies than their cousins at 12 to 13 years, smaller ears, and are much fluffier.

In coloring they’re generally some shade of blonde with white patches. They were accepted by The Kennel Club of England in the mid-1920s, which separated the two breeds about ten years later.

According to the AKC Breed Standard, the ideal Pembroke Welsh Corgi is “low-set, strong, sturdily built and active, giving an impression of substance and stamina in a small space.” Furthermore, he or she ought to possess an “outlook bold, but kindly. Expression intelligent and interested. Never shy nor vicious.”

Pembroke is an area in the southwest part of Wales in the United Kingdom, and like their Cardigan cousins, Pembroke Corgis have a (slight) literary connection: the Earl of Pembroke’s Men was a theater troupe in Elizabethan England, which William Shakespeare may have been a part of as an actor/playwright early in his career.

Pembroke Corgis shed very often due to their coats, so they wouldn’t be the best choice for a household with allergies. They were the favorite breed of Queen Elizabeth II, who kept many throughout the years at Buckingham Palace.

Corgis excel at high-energy sports like agility or flyball, and they’re part of the Herding Group in AKC dog shows.

With their point ears and adorable fluffiness, many Corgis have become internet famous in dog Twitter and dog Instagram circles, as something about their enthusiasm instantly brightens people’s days.

Author Mildred Abbott made a Pembroke Corgi one of the main characters in her Cozy Corgi Mysteries series.

Next. Our interview with author Mildred Abbott. dark

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