Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh corgi is a cattle-herding dog from south-west Wales, bred to drive stock by nipping at the heels and to be low enough to duck the kick that followed.
It is the shorter-backed, shorter-tailed of the two corgi breeds and the one most people picture.
It is a small, long-bodied dog on very short legs, with upright ears, a foxy head and a dense weatherproof double coat. Corgis are bold, busy and considerably louder than their size implies — a herding dog's alarm bark in a compact package — and they are quick to learn and quick to take charge given the opening.
- Origin
- Pembrokeshire, Wales
- Size
- 10–14 kg, 25–30 cm at the shoulder
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Dense weatherproof double coat
- Temperament
- Bold, alert, vocal, quick to learn
- Exercise
- About an hour daily
Related: Cardigan Welsh corgi
3 corgi photos, newest first
Living with a corgi
The double coat sheds constantly and moults heavily twice a year; brush several times a week and daily in season.
Weight is the single most important thing to manage. A long spine on short legs is vulnerable, and an overweight corgi is markedly more likely to develop intervertebral disc disease. Discourage jumping off furniture and use ramps for cars.
Degenerative myelopathy is common in the breed and has a DNA test worth doing. Hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy also occur. The herding instinct means heel-nipping needs redirecting early, particularly around children.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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