This Month’s Dog Profile – The Pembroke Welsh Corgi, A Breed Adored By Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Wagging Tales

This month our dog profile is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is probably the most well known owner of the breed and has owned Corgis for many years. Her first Corgi was named Susan and it was given as a present from her father King George VI for the then Princess’s 18th birthday. The Queen was so taken by Susan that she even accompanied Her Majesty on honeymoon. All the Queen’s Corgis have descended from Susan including the Dorgis (crossed from Princess Margaret’s Dachshunds). When Susan died in January 1959 she was buried in the grounds of the Sandringham estate with a gravestone in-scripted personally by the Queen herself. Today the Queen has two Corgis, Willow and Holly. They along with all the Queens previous dogs give Her Majesty so much enjoyment. They are often seen by the staff and many visitors wandering around Buckingham Palace. Here we take a closer look at the breed that has captured the Queen’s heart for so many years.
History: Pembroke Corgis are thought to have been brought to the UK by Flemish weavers and became very popular in the 14th to the 18th century as cattle drovers although records have been discovered showing they existed as far back as 920AD. The Pembrokes and Cardigans were first recognised by the Kennel Club in 1928 but in 1934 the KC separated the two. Today the majority are kept as pets. According to Welsh folklore, a legend is that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi came from fairies and elves;
One day while two children were in the field tending to the family cattle they came across what they thought were two small fox cubs. There was something however that was a little different and the children picked them up and took them home. Their parents knew immediately they were not foxes but puppies and told the children they had been left for them as a gift from fairies who used this type of dog to pull their carriages and ride on them into battle. As proof that Pembrokes were from the fairies, the parents pointed to the marks on their backs where the fairy saddle had been placed on their shoulders. The children were very happy and adored their pups. As they grew, the dogs became treasured companions and learned to help the children take care of the family’s cattle.
Class: Pastoral
Height: Males and Females 10 – 12 ins ( 25.5 – 30.5cms )
Weight: Males 22lbs – 26lbs (10kg – 11kg) Females 22lbs – 24lbs (10kg – 11kg )
Lifespan: 9 – 15 yrs average 14yrs
Coat: Medium length, straight, water resistant. A dense undercoat with a coarser outer coat. Sheds twice a year and needs brushing 2-3 times a week to keep the coat clean and shiny. Colours red, sable, fawn, black and tan, all colours may have some white markings.
Health: The Pembroke Corgi appears to be quite a hardy little dog but there are some ailments that are common to this breed. They do have a tendency to become overweight and this can lead to back and joint problems. As always when purchasing any puppy it is best to purchase from an assured breeder.
Temperament and Exercise: The Pembroke is an intelligent, playful and cheerful dog that loves a challenge. They are not too difficult to train but they can be try to be dominant if given the chance. As with all puppies early socialisation is advisable. This dog still has herding instincts and they can nip heels in play if family members are rowdy. Even though they have short legs they like to keep active but 40 – 60 minutes exercise a day is adequate.

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