Corgi Puppies

Recently we have transported a number of Corgi puppies. In this article I wanted to take a closer look at the breed and recommend the breeder in Wales who I have had dealings with.

Cardigan vs Pembroke Welsh Corgis

There are two types of Corgi dogs, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the older breed, dating back over 3,000 years when Celts brought them to Cardigan. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is believed to date back to the 12th century when Flemish weavers moved to Wales with a Spitz type dog. These dogs later bred with the Cardigan Corgi to produce the Pembroke Welsh Corgi we know today. However another story is that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi dates back earlier to the 9th or 10th century. This version states they are descended from the Vallhunds in Sweden and were brought to Wales by the Vikings.

There are a couple of easy ways to tell the two types of Corgi apart. The Cardigan has a tail whereas the Pembroke does not. The Cardigan also generally has rounded ears whereas the Pembroke will have pointed ears. The Cardigan Corgi is also usually larger and heavier. The images in this article are of a Pembroke Corgi Puppy. The word Corgi is believed to mean ‘Dwarf Dog’ in Welsh.

The Pembrokeshire Welsh Corgi is perhaps most famous as being the favourite breed of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her first Corgi was Dookie who her father King George VI brought home in 1933. Pembrokeshire Welsh Corgis remained a large part of her life until Willow passed away in 2018. The Queen had decided not to breed more Corgis as she was concerned about them outliving her. She does still have two Dorgis which are a cross between a Corgi and Dachshund. The first Royal Dorgi happened after The Queen’s sister Princess Margaret had a Dachshund which bred with one of het Corgis.

Corgi Puppies Temperament

So what can you expect from the breed if you are looking to get a Corgi Puppy? Well they were originally used as herding dogs and would nip at the ankles of cattle. Some owners report that their Corgi will sometimes nip at the ankles of young children.

Corgis are an intelligent, happy and playful breed but they can also be stubborn and independent. Their intelligence makes them easy to train if you put the time in. Despite only being a small breed they do require a reasonable level of exercise. As well as regular exercise you may need to be careful not to overfeed your Corgi as they do generally like their food!

Don’t be surprised if your Corgi puppy likes to bark. They will often bark to get your attention though sometimes it can seem like they will bark at anything for no reason. This can make them a good guard dog for the home though. They form very strong bonds to their owners and generally don’t like to be left alone for long periods.

Corgis – General Health & Care

Corgis are generally a very healthy breed of dog. Typical life expectancy is between 12-15 years. There are a few conditions that can affect Corgis which include:

• Von Willebrand’s disease
• Degenerative Myelopathy
• Hip dysplasia
• Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
• Cancer
• Monorchidism
• Patellar Luxation
• Obesity

Getting Corgi Puppies from a Kennel Club registered breeder is probably the best way to ensure good health in your Corgi puppy.

Corgis are generally a fairly easy breed to care for. Apart from guarding against overfeeding, the other thing to note is that they do shed throughout the year but especially in spring and autumn.

Pembrokeshire Corgi Puppies

Maybe you are looking at Pembroke Corgi puppies as a pet? Over the years the breed became less fashionable, only really popular with the older generation. That might be changing though as all the Corgi puppies we have recently transported went to young owners.

Personally I’m a big fan of the breed. This is a small dog with a big personality. They can make an ideal pet for the first time dog owner. With their cute fox like faces it’s a wonder they are not more popular.

For those interested in Pembroke Corgi puppies I can recommend a breeder I know in Wales. They don’t have a website but you can find them on Instagram here:

Clettwr Corgis