Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Coat & Grooming: Since they are prolific shedders, it’s important to practice good hygiene with your PembrokeWelsh Corgi. Regular (weekly or more often) brushing is a must to control loose hair and reduce their shedding. Grooming your Corgi is an important bonding experience for both of you.

One of the most overlooked parts of grooming is the non-fur-related tasks. Be vigilant with your Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s ears, eyes, nails, and teeth. Clean their teeth and ears on a regular schedule, and make sure you cut their nails before they crack and irritate your dog.

Shedding: Expect to clean up after your Pembroke Welsh Corgi and their readily shedding fur. Queen Elizabeth II loves her Corgis, but she’s probably not the one cleaning up after them. Invest in a good vacuum and do your best to brush your dog as often as possible. It’s easier to collect the fur from the brush than your entire floor and furnishings.

Training: Positive reinforcement is the way to go when training your Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Don’t overdo it with the treats, but food is a powerfully motivating training tool for this breed.

Since the history of the breed is in herding, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very eager to please and gain your affection through work. Make sure your PWC has a lot of stimulation, exercise, and a variety of experiences early in life to develop a healthy body and mind in your pet.

Barking: Pembroke Welsh Corgis bark a lot. Most herding breeds aren’t shy with their voice, and the PWC is no exception. Good training habits and early socialization can help, but this is a very talkative breed.

The key to understanding your Corgi is learning about the history of the breed. These are proud, stately, and hardworking herding animals. Don’t be fooled by their size – the Pembroke Welsh Corgi can be a stubborn and tough breed. One of the ways into the heart of your Pembroke Welsh Corgi is food. Use treats as positive reinforcement and they will do almost anything you ask. Don’t overdo it with the biscuits – they can be prone to obesity.

Personality: Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very agreeable and gentle. Their intelligence and warm disposition make them an ideal human companion. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are eager to please and they possess a high degree of trainability. They are very happy and bright when they have the right environment and supportive family.

Temperament & Behavior: Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a bold, cheerful nature that their many admirers seem to love. Although they aren’t used as herders much anymore, they retain the workmanlike qualities of their forefathers. Early socialization is very important to foster healthy habits and a solid grounding. One thing to remember is that Pembroke Welsh Corgis love to eat. It’s up to you to control their weight within a healthy range.

Behavior with Kids: Pembroke Welsh Corgis might be one of the better breeds for families with small children. They are very permissive and tolerant. With any dog, you should always supervise young children and strangers.

Protection: While they are a good early warning system, Pembroke Welsh Corgis aren’t exactly the best guard dogs. Their friendly disposition can override their protective instincts, but they do like to bark at everything.

Life span: On average, Pembroke Welsh Corgis live to be about 12-13 years old.

Inherited Health Issues: Several health conditions have been associated with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi either through inheritance or at an increased risk in the breed. They may include, but are not limited to, the following: Cataracts, Distichiasis, Retinal dysplasia, Degenerative myelopathy, Persistent papillary membranes, Erythema multiforme, Von Willebrand' disease and Exercise induced collapse.

Preventive Care: Pembroke Welsh Corgis are prone to obesity, so keeping your dog at a healthy body weight is critical for their long-term health. Be sure to feed properly portioned meals of a balanced diet and avoid overfeeding treats or table scraps. Keeping your Pembroke Welsh Corgi active will also maintain a healthy muscle mass.

Genetic testing is available for von Willebrand disease, exercise induced collapse and progressive retinal atrophy. While these tests are most commonly performed on breeding animals to evaluate the risk of passing these conditions on, they can also be performed on any dog. Since von Willebrand is a blood clotting disorder, it is worth considering this test prior to surgical procedures on your Corgi.

Due to their voracious appetites, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are apt to become obese. Avoid feeding your dog excessive quantities of treats or table scraps. Make sure that you are measuring your Corgi’s meals to feed proper portions of a well-balanced diet. A weight control diet can be beneficial for this breed.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Corgi is 0.5 - 1 cups.

Energy Level: Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Exercise: These strong and athletic animals love to run and spend time outside in the fields. Don’t let their diminutive size fool you - Pembroke Welsh Corgis need a lot of exercise to maintain a healthy body and mind. You’ll find them competing at agility circuits, flyball competitions, and other dog trials. They are happiest when they have a job to do, and they don’t do well with long periods of isolation and boredom.

Climate: Pembroke Welsh Corgis thrive in most climates. In cold winter climates, they benefit from a little extra protection and warmth from a dog coat. This herding breed isn’t afraid of a little wet weather. They came from Wales, after all!