Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are an intelligent and devoted breed. They are excellent watchdogs, and take caring for their family seriously. This playful and lovable breed wants nothing more than to accompany his family wherever it goes and be included in the action. Corgis are good with children, especially if raised with and socialised with them. Pembrokes like to bark and can be a bit more excitable than their Cardigan cousins.
Origin & history
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi (tail-less) shares the same heritage as the Cardigan Welsh Corgi (long-tailed)—in fact, they were considered the same breed until 1934. Their heritage is a particularly ancient one, as it is believed that a dog resembling the Cardigan came to the part of Wales now known as Cardiganshire when the Celts migrated there more than 1,000 years BCE. The Pembroke came to Wales a little later, around the 10th century and was named after the area of Pembrokeshire. The derivation of the name "Corgi" may be attributed to the Celtic word for "dog" (corgi). Other tales passed on through generations say that the little dogs were named for cor ("dwarf") and gi ("dog") or for cwr, which in Welsh means "to watch over."
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The Corgi's size made him ideal for working with cattle because they could nip at the livestock's heels while avoiding being kicked. This trait became particularly valuable to working Welsh crofters (farmers) when the British Crown created a rule that decreased the size of their land to a few fenced-in acres, and declared all other land common land, where cattle could be grazed. The Corgi's style of working actually drove the cattle farther afield rather than keeping them herded together, which allowed for a larger grazing area.
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Competition among crofters for grazing land became fierce, and the Corgis helped define areas. Eventually, the Crown abolished this practice, and the crofters were able to own and farm their own land. This led them to use more traditional herding dogs, and the Corgi found himself more frequently by the hearth than in the fields.
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Since the 1930s, fanciers have emphasised each breed's individualities—the Pembroke has a foxier look and straighter legs, as well as a lack of a tail. The Pembroke is the favored dog of Queen Elizabeth II.