With its full sized body and its short little legs, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an easy breed to recognize. Originally bred for herding sheep these stocky, solid and athletic dogs are incredible fast and determined pets.
There are actually two different breeds of Corgis, the Pembroke and the Cardigan. Interestingly enough the two are very similar in appearance with one distinctive feature. The Pembroke is a breed that can be born without a tail while the Cardigan has a relatively long tail.
Besides being minus a tail the Corgi is a low to the ground dog that has a wide, flat skull, alert triangular ears, sharp, intelligent eyes and a mouth that always seems to be smiling. The coat can be short and smooth to the body or longer and fluffier in appearance. Colors range from fawn, sable and red through to black and tan. White markings on the face, chest and legs are very common.
This is a wonderful breed of dog with kids of all ages. They love to run and they are incredibly durable dogs with stamina that can outlast any child. They are always up for an adventure and love being outside no matter what the weather. Although they can be outside dogs they really crave being with humans and part of the family. They are naturally aloof with strangers until they get to know the person, then they are happy to see them visit. They are natural watchdogs but not problem barkers when trained and exercised on a regular basis. Some can and will attempt to herd anything that moves, which is a habit that needs to be corrected. The Corgi naturally herds by nipping at the livestock’s heels, something that they will also do to people if not taught that this is unacceptable.
Not a large dog, they will mature at about 30 pounds or less and come it at about 12 inches at the shoulders. They can become very inactive indoors if not taken outside for regular exercise which can lead to increased problems with back injuries. These dogs can develop spinal disc problems if they are encouraged to jump up or down or if they are allowed to become overweight.
The Corgi is a fun, friendly dog that is a good match for a variety of different lifestyles. While they do need regular exercise they are content in an apartment but equally happy in a large fenced yard or in the country. Socialize these dogs early with cats and other animals to prevent any problems with chasing.