Dogs are the best friends of humans, which has been proven for many years and is commonly known. The adorable creatures and their happy-go-lucky attitudes help fill their human companions’ lives with joy, love and laughter.
Even though they can steal a sausage off your plate, the bond you will share with your dogs is genuinely unbreakable. They are loyal and will refuse to leave your side in every situation. Their infectious positive attitude and their liveliness make them the best pet. The fact that they can be as cute as the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is just the cherry on the icing.
How to Recognise the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Before we delve into the History of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, we should try to recognise the breed first. Some remarkable features can help you identify the dog from a gathering of hundreds of different canines. The stubby tail and the low-set body of these dogs are two of the most common identifying features.
While people often confuse Pembroke Welsh Corgi with their cousin Cardigan Welsh Corgi, you can differentiate them from their builds. The Pembrokes have a smaller structure compared to their cousins. Also, their tails are shorter, and their ears are pointier. Primarily used as herding dogs, these corgis are sturdy and loving.
History Date Timeline
While it is difficult to determine the exact bloodline of the breed, it can be easily said that the History of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi goes a long way back. There are even certain folktales around these corgis that makes their history much more special. Read on to have a rollercoaster ride through the centuries-long historical journey of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
1000 BCE
There is an exciting tale that depicts the origin of the corgis. While this tale is folklore, it has become an intricate part of the history of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi nonetheless.
According to the tale, two children found a couple of puppies while tending their families’ cattle on the royal lands. Even though the children thought those were fox puppies, they brought them to their homes. The adults told them these puppies were dogs and a gift from the fairies.
According to Welsh legends, the fairies used these little dogs for pulling their carriages. It is believed that the fairies tend to mount these dogs as they go to the battles. The corgis’ marks on their shoulders are the marks of the fairy saddles.
As the little puppies grew up in the children’s homes, they learned to watch over the cattle and help the humans herd them. This task became a responsibility for the descendants of the corgies, which they fulfilled for centuries.
9th-10th Century
While the previous tale has a mythological tinge, the History of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi gets a touch of reality from here. It is also a more accepted theory of the origin of the corgis.
The theory is that the corgis came to the British Isles and the Scandinavian raiders during this time. The similarities between the Swedish Vallhund and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi also support this theory. It is said that these dogs were bred with the native Welsh dog breeds to create the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed that we see in modern times.
1107 AD
Another theory relates the history of Pembroke Welsh Corgi with the Flemish Weavers. During medieval times, the kings of Europe advertised their majestic powers to the subjects and the emissaries visiting them through the richness of their possessions. The tapestries, textiles, and carpets used to hold a premium position among all the different possessions.
During this period, the best weavers used to live in the Flanders area, which is now located in Northern Belgium. Inviting the weavers to relocate to the kingdom of the monarchs was a common phenomenon at that time.
This year, Henry I, the King of Britain, invited a community of weavers to come to Southern Wales and work from there. The weavers accepted the king’s offer and came to Wales to start a new life. Along with them, they brought the dogs that they used for herding their cattle. These dogs were considered the ancestors of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi of today.
The 1800s
The history of Pembroke Welsh Corgi has been intricately related to the history of its cousin Cardigan Welsh Corgis. Even though these two dog breeds were separated in the 1800s, free breeding was not stopped.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cardigan Welsh Corgis were bred as working dogs. People mingled these two breeds to create a dog breed with the combined features. Those dogs tend to help people herd cattle. Their extreme speed and pinpoint agility help them to become one of the best herding dog breeds.
1925
The Pembroke Welsh Corgis and the Cardigans made their first appearance together this year. The Kennel Club’s rules of Britain helped both breeds’ of dogs appear together.
In December of the same year, the Corgi Club was established in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire. It is said that the locals of these areas are rooted in Pembroke Welsh Corgis. That’s why the club of Cardigan Welsh Corgis was established a year or so later.
The undaunting work and perseverance of both clubs helped standardise the appearance and type of breed with the help of selective breeding.
1928
The Kennel Club officially recognised the Pembroke and Cardigan Corgis this year. However, the club categorised both breeds together under the name Welsh Corgis. It took some time for these two breeds to get separate recognitions.
1930
Many breeding organisations noticed the difference between the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigans during this time.
1931
In June this year, a breeder sent the first pair of the Cardigan Welsh Corgis to the United States.
1933
Queen Elizabeth II loves corgis and keeps these dogs as pets. In 1933, her father gifted her the first Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Dookie. Since then, and many corgis later, the dogs have held a special place in Buckingham Palace.
1934
This year, the American Kennel Club first recognised the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and The Cardigans as two separate dog breeds. Soon after, the UK Kennel Club recognised these two types of dogs as different breeds.
The 1950s
While the corgis were famous in Britain, the American author Tasha Tudor helped the breed become famous in the USA. As a children’s book author, Tasha Tudor was recognised for her rhyming stories with intriguing illustrations. Tasha owned a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and frequently featured the dogs in her writings. With the help of her rhymes and stories, Tasha helped an entire generation fall in love with these adorable dogs.
Modern Day
The love for corgis that Tasha instigated is still burning strong among the people across the USA. Each day, more people fall in love with these small, intelligent, cute dogs. In 2015 the Pembroke Welsh Corgi ranked the 20th most popular dog in American Kennel Club registrations. It shows a significant increase in popularity as the rank of these dogs soared from 24th in 2012 to 20th.
That being said, corgis are considered a vulnerable species in the United Kingdom. The decline in the popularity of these dogs started after 2007 when the UK imposed a ban on tail docking. The lack of corgi breeders in the UK might be another factor in the declining figures.
The UK Kennel Club
In 2009, the Kennel Club added corgis to a declining watch list. During that time, the number of registrations was between 300-450. Since then, the number of registrations has gone through a rapid decline. In 2014, the UK Kennel Club had put the breed under the Vulnerable Native Breed list as registrations fell under 300. In 2018, the club had put the corgis under the At-Risk list as only 456 puppies were registered during December 2017.
TV and Film
However, the UK Kennel Club has noticed a new surge of interest in this breed as popular TV shows started portraying the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has already appeared in the Netflix show The Crown, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and a 2019 fantastic film called The Queen’s Corgi.
Hybrid Corgi Breeds
- Auggie (Corgi x Australian Shepherd)
- Beagi (Corgi x Beagle)
- Cohuahua (Corgi x Chihuahua)
- Corgi Inu (Corgi x Shiba Inu)
- Corgidor (Corgi x Labrador Retriever)
- Corgipom (Corgi x Pomeranian)
- Corgitian (Corgi x Dalmatian)
- Corgoyed (Corgi x Samoyed)
- Corman Shepherd (Corgi x German Shepherd)
- Dorgi (Corgi x Dachshund)
- Horgski (Corgi x Husky)
- Pigi (Corgi x Pit Bull)
- Schnorgi (Corgi x Miniature Schnauzer)
- Spitzgi (Corgi x Spitz)
Conclusion
All in all, for the proper household, the Pembroke Welsh Corgis can be an exceptional companion. Even though the nipping habits of the dogs can be a bit of a concern for people with small children, some socialising and some training can create a huge difference. The intelligent and happy dog is the best companion for any household. They are loyal, cuddly and happy dogs that can be your perfect pet if you open your heart and home to them.
