All about the Welsh Corgi Pembroke

The Pembork Welsh Corgi is especially respected as a miniature shepherd breeder. This dog has a lot of advantages, charming appearance, it is capable of heroic deeds. The material in this article will be especially useful to those readers who want to get to know more about the nature of this animal and the conditions of its maintenance. We will tell you where this breed came from, what the exterior looks like, what is the average lifespan of these dogs and what their disadvantages may be.

The roots of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi stretch far back centuries. The remains of small dogs, resembling fragments of the skeleton of a modern corgi, were found by archaeologists at the site of a settlement that once existed in the 8th-9th centuries in South Wales. Scientists believe that the breed originated around the 500s. ad. The ancestors of modern animals were short and straight-haired.

The dogs owe their name to their place of origin (Pembrokeshire), while Welsh is translated as "Welsh". Corgi, according to existing opinions, can be regarded as "dwarf", "guard", "dog". Dogs, which had small limbs, lived in the south of Wales over a thousand years ago. They were actively used as herding dogs for grazing ponies and sheep.

Those animals were distinguished by their ability to independently lead herds to pastures and, if necessary, drive away not only wolves, but also robbers. In the evenings, the dogs returned the herd home to the paddock. Often the dogs coped with these tasks alone, providing invaluable assistance to the shepherds. Later, corgi began to guard geese and ducks.

Thanks to their protective and herding qualities, dogs acquired a high value, and they were valued much higher than yard hunting dogs. Later, the code of laws of the Welsh king, Hiwal the Good, was compiled.

Corgis accompanied birds and animals to city markets, and the percentage of loss of wayward birds with such an escort was minimal. The dogs did not bark in vain, and therefore did not irritate either birds or animals, they coped with their tasks almost as well as their master.

The small length of the paws could be associated with a mutation, but there is an opinion that the crossing of the Welsh with the Walhundians led to this. In addition, it is likely that a schipperke was used in mating, which explains the fact of the short-tail in the DNA of dogs. Due to the separation of Pembrokeshire from Cardiganshire by a mountain range, crossbreeding of dogs was closely related. This was the reason for the consolidation of its exterior features.

In 1925, the dogs made their debut at a show event in England. The UK Kennel Club divided the corgi into two types in 1934. Their popularity was due to the fact that they were the favorites of the crowned family. In 1933, the future King George VI presented his daughters with a Pembroke puppy. From this moment and to this day, pets of this breed have become permanent residents of Buckingham Palace, while today the 14th generation of these pets lives in the palace.

To date, these dogs in our country are not yet widespread. In other countries, they are actively used for tracking, since dogs can take a trail, regardless of the type of substrate, be it asphalt or concrete. Today they become first-class bloodhounds when they take the appropriate course.

The Welsh Corgi Pembroke is a small, squat type dog. However, despite this, it does not create the impression of an ornamental animal. Its powerful body is stretched, the upper body is flat, the chest is wide. With a low weight, the dog looks strong outwardly, which does not interfere with a funny smile. Because of her, the animal received the nickname "ulybaka dog".

It contains power and strength, the shape of the head tends to that of a fox, the length of the body is usually 40% longer in comparison with the height of the withers to the floor. The skull of a purebred individual is wide and flattened between the ears. The proportions of the muzzle to the skull are 3: 5 with a noticeable taper towards the nose. These dogs are characterized by a moderately pronounced transition from the frontal part to the muzzle.

The nose is painted black, the eyes are slanted brown, small, framed by dark, almost black eyelids. The look of the animal is meaningful and often interested. The coat is longer in comparison with cardigans; points with clear contours can be observed on the face, limbs and sternum. The length of the paws is short, and this is precisely the main disadvantage of animals, since it negatively affects their working qualities.

The ears of these animals are small, erect and slightly rounded at the ends. The jaws of the representatives of the breed are massive, have a pronounced scissor bite. The inner region of the upper incisors touches the outer region of the lower ones. Overshot or undershot are considered faults. The lips are black, dryish with a tight fit.

The neck of the Pembroke is moderately long, somewhat curved, dryish, smoothly merging into the shoulders. The standard allows for a slight crossing behind the withers associated with a difference in length and weight of the coat. The base of the tail is in the same plane as the topline.The body is medium, the sternum is ovoid, deep. It descends between the forelimbs, the loin is proportional, not short.

Due to its oval shape, the chest allows the animal greater freedom of movement. The basis of the body length, back support and the correct type of lumbar depend on it. If the loin, not supported by bone structure, is weak, the dog cannot withstand physical exertion. A dog's tail is usually docked as short as possible.

If the puppies are born with bobtail and the length of the tail does not exceed 5 cm, this is quite acceptable for the exterior. However, if he bully, then outwardly it spoils the top line. Docking is carried out in such a way that ultimately no bulges remain. The forearms of the purebred Pembroke are turned inward, the distance between the wrists is small.

As for the color, it can be different. Today, these can be varieties:

• sable with white;
• black-headed tricolor;
• bright red with white, with a creamy mask;
• pale yellow-brown with white;
• dark red with white.

The colors of these dogs can be bright and golden. Marks can be found on the face, chest and limbs. It is the features of the color that create the appearance of a dog's smile, which is explained by the contrasting stroke of the mouth. Given that docking is currently prohibited in some countries, the number of dogs with tails is increasing, and it is the tail that makes them look like foxes.

The coat of these dogs has a short undercoat. However, the fur coat itself is resistant to getting wet, the length of the wool is about the same as that of ordinary shepherd dogs. The coat has a silky texture and is shiny with proper care. However, these dogs are often highly undesirable to wash.

As for the vices of the Pembrokes, they include an incorrect set of the tail, an excessive depth of the chest, which interferes with the movement of the dog. Representatives of the breed who have an excessively high position of the rear part or excessive slope of the top line are also disqualified.

The life resource of the Welsh Corgi Pembork is on average 9-12 years. However, depending on different conditions, it can be increased or decreased. For example, unlike traditional shepherd dogs, these dogs cannot be kept outside, and even more so, on a leash. The poor ecological background in a particular region where the pet is kept can reduce the lifespan.

In addition, leaving is a decisive factor playing on life span opportunities. It's no secret that a corgi breeder has to be strong-willed and obliging. In the absence of proper attention and care, the dog weakens, loses its meaning in training and education. It is important to monitor the state of her health, to carry out antiparasitic treatments on time.

Compliance with basic hygiene rules should not be disregarded. Moreover, special attention must be paid to the correct selection of food, its dosage and feeding time. These dogs are prone to obesity, which leads to impaired motor activity and increased stress on short limbs. Constant preventive examinations are a necessity for them.

Some representatives of the breed live up to 14 years. As for females, a lot depends on the frequency of mating and the health of the bitch after them. Individual breeders use dogs as incubators to enrich themselves.

The dimensions of the Velha Corgi Pembork are smaller than those of the cardigans. The overall size range can vary from 9 to 13 kg with a height at the withers from 25 to 30 cm. However, these characteristics may vary depending on the class of the animal and its sex. The body weight of these dogs is proportional to the height and on average in females it can reach 12.7 kg. Males, on the other hand, weigh more: in some cases, their weight can reach up to 14 kg.

Representatives of the show-class breed differ in both weight and height from their traditional counterparts. For example, the weight of masks participating in exhibitions usually does not exceed 11.4 kg. Males can weigh a little more: their weight for shows can reach the size of a large female, not more than 12.4 kg. Low weight for exhibition events is unacceptable, which must be taken into account when buying a purebred puppy of the required show class.

The weight of the babies can be seen in the table below. The data are approximate and may vary depending on the gender and class of a particular animal. The weight of a purebred pet can fluctuate in the range of 10-15.5 from the permissible standard, but no more.

Average weight of a Pembroke Corgi puppy by months

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is considered an intelligent and consistent dog. He will not foolishly crawl under the feet of his masters, he will not beg for attention or affection. This dog knows its worth and behaves according to its status. It belongs to thinking animals, which need brain training for a normal existence. In addition, the Pembroke should always be in business.

Someone thinks that Pembrokes are born clowns, because they are able to charge any person with positive energy. They do not sit idle, try not to waste their time, are considered full members of the family in which they live. They are characterized by such character traits as fearlessness, sociability, sociability and indefatigability. In addition, these dogs are not at all aggressive and at every opportunity they like to show their friendly attitude towards all household members.

Some representatives of the breed try to take care of their owners and everyone who lives with them in the same dwelling. They are sensitive and sincere, get along well with everyone. These animals try to prevent the emergence of conflict situations, even among themselves, males rarely fight seriously. Their love is enough for all household members, however, they often demonstrate great loyalty and affection to the owner who pays more attention to them.

They respond to affection with affection, but if necessary, they can use their artistic abilities to achieve what they want. At the same time, they will try to present everything as if it were the owner himself who wants to please them (for example, with a tasty treat, a game, another walk). They are very charming and know about it; not everyone can resist their cunning.

At the same time, vigilance is inherent in Pembrokes - having excellent hearing, they can, if necessary, show guard qualities. They do not take courage and determination: this type of corgi in its soul feels like a huge dog in a small body. They can show potential in different ways as needed, and the type of speech, as noted by the breeders, varies in different cases in dogs. They try to welcome those who enter the house, not forgetting to pay attention to how the owners treat people.

In relation to aggressively-minded strangers, some individuals may respond with aggression. The same applies to rare animals that run into conflict. In such cases, dog aggression is a kind of response to aggression. As for the relationship with the owners, the corgi are sometimes dependent on people. If the dog is treated kindly, with a lack of attention, it can become melancholy.

These pets adore children and are ready to play for a long time, they are anxious towards them and are ready to protect them from anything dangerous. Their energy is also enough for playing with older children who understand how to handle a dog.

However, it is undesirable to leave babies with the corgi, since the dog can inadvertently touch the crumb and thereby scare it.

These dogs are sensitive to the mood of their owners. They do not go to people when they are annoyed and can support a person if he is sad. In view of this feature, these animals are liked by many breeders and often become companions of people of different age categories. You can keep them in private houses and apartments.

However, as practice shows, they feel better in private dwellings, since it is here that dogs are provided with greater access to fresh air and walks. As for climatic conditions, corgi tolerate heat worse than cold or even frost. Most of them are able to adapt to the different climatic background of the region.

An interesting nuance of these pets is the fact that they have a sense of humor, which is even included in their standard. Some individuals are capable of laughing, entertaining others. However, this does not mean that you can laugh at the dog. The blood of ancient shepherd dogs flows in her veins; without training, an animal may not have a fluffy and docile character.

Like any other breed, Welsh Corgpembroke dogs have both advantages and disadvantages. Their knowledge will allow a potential breeder to understand whether he needs a pet of this particular breed, whether he can cope with it, whether he can realize himself as a caring owner, providing the necessary care. The positive aspects of the representatives of the breed include:

• small size;
• cheerful position;
• loyalty to its owner;
• playfulness and tirelessness;
• good learning ability;
• activity and sociability;
• sociability and easygoingness.

The disadvantages of these animals include:

• predisposition to hereditary diseases;
• the need for daily walking;
• stubbornness and shedding;
• complex hair care;
• help in knitting;
• the complexity of childbirth (the need for a cesarean section);
• uncontrollable emotions during excitement (they may slightly bite their feet from an excess of feelings).

The disadvantages of certain individuals include their increased interest in various things. For example, these can be cords and wires, shoes, or other items. This is usually common in puppies and goes away with age. Puppies quickly get used to going to the toilet on the street, and therefore most of the shortcomings of this type disappear by the age of six months.

Choosing a Welsh Corgi Pembroke puppy is not easy for a number of reasons. It is necessary to find a proven kennel with a good reputation, in which bitches are given time to recover before each breeding and birth. Today breeders have pages on social networks where a potential buyer has the opportunity to look after a puppy, see how he is kept, how his mother looks like... What's more, breeders are actively sharing grooming and maintenance tips.

Based on this information, you can make a rough opinion on the choice of a nursery, which is best to go to with a specialist who understands the exterior. Dogs are divided into two types: companions and elite. The second category of puppies is more expensive, but if a puppy is bought for further breeding, a specialist is required when buying. Buying fluffy (full-fledged type puppies, but with wool marriage) in this case is not worth it.These puppies are poorly protected from cold and water, such a wool cover is prone to rolling into tangles, snow sticks to it.

When buying, you can pay attention to the cost of puppies. For example, ordinary puppies from private owners cost from 25,000 rubles, pet-class individuals cost from 30,000 rubles. Prices in kennels are much higher: here a purebred show-class puppy costs at least 60,000 rubles.

It is dangerous to buy a puppy from private owners because the buyer can be slipped into an individual with defects or of a non-purebred type. You won't be able to save money on the purchase, because the lower the price, the worse the class of the animal. A purebred baby in the nursery has documentation (veterinary passport and pedigree). The more generations indicated in the pedigree, the better.

As a rule, puppies in kennels have already received the necessary vaccinations at the time of purchase. If the buyer has not come close to buying such dogs, he will not do without a specialist. Disguised as a fluffy, dishonest sellers can sell an ordinary mongrel or mestizo to a buyer.

You need to keep an eye on a moderately active puppy with a correct gait. If he has a bad, sticky coat, this indicates poor maintenance. At the same time, the puppy must be socialized. Relationship building, the beginnings of play, and bowl training are key selection criteria. If he is lazy, does not react in any way and does not show the slightest interest in the future owner, there is no point in buying him.

Buying a corgi puppy will require preliminary preparation and careful analysis. The buyer should take a sober view of his chances as a dog breeder. The degree of activity and good nature of the animal, its state of health and life expectancy will depend on it. The dog will have to devote a lot of time, and not only as a walk to the toilet and rare communication. It is necessary to deal with the Pembroke Corgi every day, talking with him, training, educating, socializing.

Corgi need to be raised from a young age. By nature, these animals are not characterized by dominance, however, if the owner in the process of training and education shows rudeness, inconsistency and aggression, they will not obey him. If a puppy bites the legs of the household members playing with him out of an excess of emotion, this behavior must be stopped immediately. Thus, the dog can herd a "herd" (a couple of household members or children in the yard) into a single mass.

Considering that these animals need physical activity, training can and should be combined with a game form. For example, pets quickly master commands and learn various tricks, if freestyle, agility, obedience become a form of training. However, the breeder during training will have to use all his imagination, since dogs do not like to play the same game for a long time.

They may lose interest, and therefore the animal becomes bored of doing the same thing all the time. He needs to move forward both in games and in his development. Training is built as a sequential game in which exercises are constantly changing, and a quiet and gentle voice is chosen as the basis of tactics. Shouting at a pet and demanding something from him is useless, you cannot beat him and scold him with rude words for an unfulfilled command. The owner's voice should be firm, so the dog obeys better.

At the same time, it is not easy to teach an animal of this breed to obedience in everyday life in some cases. This may be due to selective hearing. For example, a dog perfectly hears the sound of a falling bread crumb, which is at a great distance from him, but if the owner nearby yells at him while he is interested in some object, the pet may not hear the cry.This dog is always ready for behavior correction, and if the owner does not cope with it, then the dog handler will correct the shortcomings of education in a short time.

You can reward the animal for the commands and tricks performed with all sorts of goodies. Dogs love it and are ready to serve their teacher in order to enjoy something delicious. From time to time they need communication with their own kind.

Things for the animal are selected taking into account the age, degree of activity and lifestyle. For example, if the owner loves to travel, you can purchase for the pet not only a standard set (muzzle and leash), but also a cage. It is used for air travel. If the dog is accustomed to it from childhood, it will not cause any trouble to its owner on the trip. The collar is selected by age, the leash may vary in length. As a rule, the first accessory should be longer, its length will be reduced as you learn.

In order for the animal to quickly understand the rules established in the house and learn to follow them unquestioningly, it must have its own place and dishes. The pet's bed is selected taking into account its age: for example, it will be difficult for a puppy to get into its house or bed if it has high sides. The inner part of the lounger can be unfastened, moderately hard, or, conversely, soft. So that the baby does not have the opportunity to gnaw and carry it around the house, it is preferable to start with choosing an option that will not slide on the flooring.

The presence of its own bed will exclude the possibility of the dog's perception of the owner's furniture as his own. In addition, she will know that this is her place, which no one will touch. As you grow older, the couch can be replaced with a new, larger one. With high sides, the dog will be able to store his favorite toys in it. By the way, he considers all kinds of balls to be the best toys, he is able to play with them for a long time, including during walks and training.

The animal's dishes should be their own, made of a moderately heavy material so that the dog does not pull it around the house, licking the remnants of food. He should have at least three bowls: for food, water and sour milk. In this case, the dog needs a small bowl, so that a portion of food can fit inside it about half the volume.

Often, caring owners buy clothes for their pets. Today in the assortment of specialized stores you can find different elements of dog outfit... For example, it can be all sorts of models of vests, overalls, as well as sweaters and sweatshirts. Some products have hoods, others are made of waterproof textiles, which allows you to walk or go to the toilet in bad weather.

Products differ in seasonality, some of them are suitable for autumn and spring, others are designed for winter walks. Other options are designed for photo shoots rather than permanent wear. As a rule, these items include thematic costumes (for example, Santa Claus, New Year's reindeer, princesses). Individual breeders purchase pads for their pets to prevent contamination and cracking of the paw pads.

You need to take care of your pet every day, remembering to pay attention to examining it after each walk. This will help prevent the spread of fleas or inflammation from tick bites. It is also important for assessing the condition of the paw pads. From time to time, the puppy and adult dog need to be taken to the veterinarian for routine check-ups. Their multiplicity is selected on an individual basis, taking into account the genetics and general health of a particular individual.

Given that dogs of this breed often love to chew on something, this behavior can be used for dental hygiene. Pets can buy edible toys to help them clean their teeth. In addition, they must have their own toothbrushes as well as zoos. Those used by humans are completely unsuitable for dogs and, if swallowed, can be harmful to health.

Dog hygiene is an essential criterion for its health. It is important to monitor the condition of your ears, eyes, teeth and claws. In addition, it is necessary to comb out dead hairs that prevent the growth of new ones. During molting, the frequency of combing out is 2 to 3 times a week. The rest of the time, it is enough to comb the dog's fur coat once every 7 days in order to prevent the formation of rolling into mats.

It is impossible to wash corgi too often, as this violates the layer of natural protection, washing it off from the hair and skin. Too frequent use of zooshampoo can cause changes in the hair structure, and if the shampoo is not suitable for the dog, it can weaken the hair follicles. It is imperative to wipe or wash your paws after each walk. And it's not so much about saving the house from dirty paws as about the hygiene of the paw pads.

Claws should be trimmed as they grow, cutting off their length by no more than 1 mm. Some dogs do not need this at all, as their claws wear off. If you find an unpleasant odor from the ears, their redness or inflammation, you should immediately consult a doctor. The same rule applies to the eyes: at the slightest hint of inflammation, it is necessary to show the animal to a specialist. Antiparasitic treatment must be carried out according to the vaccination schedule.

The Pembroke's appetite is excellent, and therefore it can eat more often than the prescribed amount of feedings per day. To prevent overeating, you need to break the daily allowance by the number of feedings and remove the bowl after the pet has eaten until the next meal time. You can feed both a puppy and an adult dog with ready-made granular food or natural food. Products such as sausages, sausages, sweets, chocolates, buns should be excluded from the diet.

Some breeders prefer to feed their corgi canned food. However, whatever type of feeding is taken as the basis of the diet, it is important that it is balanced, saturated not only with protein, but also with vitamins and minerals. When choosing natural food, vitamins are given to the pet in addition. The type of feeding is selected based on the breeder's free time.

For example, a finished product with granules is good because, at the proper level of quality, it is balanced, concentrated and contains everything you need, including meat, vitamins and vegetables. You need to buy premium or holistic food for these dogs. When buying, you need to pay attention to the variety of tastes, since monotonous food can quickly become boring.

When natural food is chosen as the basis of a nutritious diet, it is necessary to ensure that approximately 40% of it is protein (fish or raw meat). Also, the dog needs cereals (buckwheat and rice). In addition, it is important to ensure that she ate dairy products (kefir, cottage cheese). You can diversify your diet with boiled eggs and vegetables, which can be either raw or boiled.

It can be carrots, zucchini, potatoes, beets, bell peppers. In addition to them, it is necessary to give the animal vegetable oil (olive or sunflower). Its use will help to improve the appearance of the coat. Salty food and seasonings are contraindicated for a dog of this breed.

The Welsh Corgi Pembroke is considered one of the best companion dogs. This is evidenced by the reviews of the owners of these animals.According to the estimates of the breeders, these dogs are almost always on a wave of positive, able to cheer up the owners and be sad with them if necessary, than touching the household to the core. They are really active, have an excellent appetite, and are excellent learners of various sports disciplines. These dogs are happy to join their owner's jogging, at the same time tact and patience are inherent in them.

As for the negative aspects, they include the difficulty of choosing a genetically clean puppy. For example, breeders consider eye diseases (including displacement of the lens, retinal atrophy and cataracts) to the breed genetic defects of these animals. In addition, they are characterized by such problems as diseases of the cervical discs (this can be both a malformation and degeneration).

In the next video you will find interesting facts about the Welsh Corgi Pembroke breed.