Mary Allen
Shepherd above, dachshund below – with its striking appearance, the Welsh Corgi is simply unmistakable. Here in the profile, you will learn everything about the origin, the character, and the attitude of the spirited dog breed.
History of the Welsh Corgi
As the name suggests, the Welsh Corgi is originally from Wales. He is probably descended from old Viking dogs or the dogs of Flemish immigrants. Due to the isolated island location, the breed was bred practically as a pure breed for many years. The locals used the nimble dogs for herding cattle and as domestic watchdogs.
Despite their small size, they reliably ensured that all cattle stayed on the road when driving cattle. To do this, they bit the cattle lightly in the shackles and dodged at lightning speed. In 1925 the British Kennel Club set the official standard for the Welsh Corgi. After some disputes, the dog breed was separated in 1934 into the Welsh Corgi Pembroke and the Welsh Corgi Cardigan. The FCI places both breeds in Group 1 “Sheepdogs and Herding Dogs” in Section 1 “Shepherd Dogs”.
Essence and Character
Both Welsh Corgi breeds are characterized by roughly the same character. They are lively and friendly dogs who love to play. The short-legged dogs are affectionate towards their family and they are patient with children. They build strong relationships with their people and want to be there anytime, anywhere. Because of this, you should not leave the breed alone for long periods of time.
The spirited dog knows how to get his way and can be difficult if not trained. Despite their small size, the Welsh dogs are known to be hardworking and hardy. The self-confident dogs have a pronounced waking instinct, but they do not show any aggressiveness. Unfortunately, they are prone to yapping and barking at strangers on their property.
The Appearance of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Corgi is a medium-sized dog with very short legs compared to the body. The stocky, stocky dog has short to medium-length hair with a dense undercoat. The two variants of the breed differ mainly in coat colors. While the Pembroke is mainly bred in reddish tones (red, sable, fawn, black with branding), the Cardigan has a much wider range. Extensive white spots are undesirable in both breeds. The Pembroke standard calls for a natural bobtail while the Cardigan has a naturally long tail.
Education of the Puppy
Despite their innocent looks, Pembrokes and Cardigans can be quite headstrong dogs. They are bursting with self-confidence and like to assert themselves. So that the little stubborn one doesn’t do what he wants, consistent training of the dog is particularly important. But you should make sure to praise the dog often because he values recognition very much. With a loving and sensitive upbringing, you can make the short-legged dog an excellent companion in all situations. The little dog loves to show off skills and wants to make its owners proud.
Activities with the Welsh Corgi
The Welsh Corgi is a very active dog for its size and needs daily exercise. His short legs don’t limit his stamina in any way and he can easily keep up with his larger conspecifics. Whether jogging, hiking, or cycling – the nimble dogs are enthusiastic about every sporting activity. Even in challenging games or in dog sports, the little dogs prove to be persistent athletes. To avoid boredom, the dogs can be enthusiastic about agility (without jumping) or obedience training. Intelligence toys or nose work are suitable for mental utilization.
Health and Care
The Welsh Corgi’s soft and relatively short coat does not require excessive grooming. It is enough if you groom the coat once a week and brush it a little more often during the change of coat. The dogs are happy about the extra pats and are happy to get rid of their hair. You should be careful when feeding the small dogs, as they tend to overeat. Only give them small portions and monitor food intake so the dogs don’t gorge too much. In terms of health, the Pembrokes are among the more robust dogs. However, due to their physique, they shouldn’t jump much as they tend to fracture easily.
Is the Welsh Corgi Right for Me?
Since the Corgi is a born herding and herding dog, it needs a lot of exercise despite its small size. It is therefore best kept in the hands of people who are physically active. A house in the countryside with a large garden that the eager dogs can guard would be ideal. As long as it is not a purely competitive sport, you have a demanding sporting partner in Welsh four-legged friends. Since the breed is not widespread in Germany, you will probably have a hard time finding puppies. If you’re looking to bring home a representative of the breed, your best bet is to look for a breeder affiliated with the British Herding Club. You pay around 1,200 euros for a purebred Pembroke or Cardigan puppy.