Pembroke Welsh Corgi dog breed
Information and advice. Pet insurance provided by Pinnacle Insurance plc
Information on how we collect and use your personal data is available to read in our Privacy Policy
Pembroke Welsh Corgi dog breed information and advice
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is best known for being The Queen’s choice of dog breed. As the Queen’s favourite dog, you may think this pup is best suited to a life of royalty, but Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s were originally bred to herd cattle. Even though they may be small, they have a mighty character.
If you’re thinking about introducing The Queen’s Corgi into your home, find out how suited they are to your home. Get to know their temperament and personality, feeding habits and how to keep that coat in royal condition.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi facts
| Lifespan | 12 - 15 years |
| How much | £500 - £800 |
| Size | 25.5 - 30.5 cm |
| Weight | 10 - 12 kg |
| Body length | 56 - 66 cm |
| Colours | red, sable, fawn, black & tan, with or without white markings |
| Grooming | at least once a week |
| Temperament | bold, protective, playful, tenacious |
| Exercise | 60 minutes a day |
Pembroke Welsh Corgi insurance
As outgoing breeds, Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s can often get themselves in a pickle. Having dog insurance will help give you peace of mind that your pooch is taken care of. Accidents can happen and despite being a generally healthy breed, health problems can arise at any age. Regular health checks with your vet will help to spot problems from an early stage. And pet insurance will take away the concern of paying for treatment.
Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance
With Sainsbury's Bank Pet Insurance we can insure your Pembroke Welsh Corgi from as young as 8 weeks of age. Once your dog is insured, we can cover it up to any age – as long as you keep renewing the policy without a break. We also cover older dogs, if you take the policy out before their 8th birthday.
How to care for a Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Once you’ve got your pet insurance covered, it’s time to think about how to look after a Corgi. It’s important to make sure your dog has a good diet, plenty of exercise and kept looking grooming good. Here are some tips on how to care for your Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Feeding and nutrition
Your Pembroke Welsh Corgi pup should be fed 3-4 times a day, as they grow you should reduce this down to twice a day. As a fully-grown adult, your Pembroke Corgis weight should be between 10-12 kg. To keep them at a good weight, keep the special treats to a minimum and weigh your dog’s food using the guidelines on the food packaging.
Grooming
Pembroke Welsh Corgis shed a lot, so you’ll need to brush your dog at least once a week to help remove the loose fur. Light daily brushing is recommended during the high shedding seasons of spring and autumn. The more you brush your dog the less hair you’ll have to remove from your clothes, floor and furniture.
Unless your Corgi gets particularly muddy, you should only need to give them a bath every 4-6 weeks. Use a dog-friendly shampoo on their body, but not on their face. Gently wipe their face with a clean damp cloth. Bath time is also a good time to check their eyes and ears for any signs of irritation or infection. Once out of the bath, make sure you dry them thoroughly with a towel.
Exercise
They may be small, but they require more exercise than you would think. Pembroke Welsh Corgis were bred to be working dogs so, they need at least 60 minutes of exercise daily. This is quite a commitment, but as they’re a playful breed of dog, you can mix up their exercise between walks and playtime.
Training
Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s are intelligent dogs and have a tenacious temperament that should make house training a breeze. The breeder should have started puppy toilet training before you collect your dog, making it easier for you to continue at home. Remember to use treats as a reward and always praise your dog when it has completed a command. Your Corgi will be eager to please so show extra affection when training as encouragement.
Temperament and behaviour
Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a lively personality and happiest when surrounded by people. They don’t like to be left alone for long periods, and their gregarious and intelligent nature means they can get bored easily. So, if you do leave your Corgi make sure they have lots of toys to play with.
Their bold and protective temperament, along with their big ears, makes them excellent watchdogs but of course this comes with a lot of barking. Don’t let their small size fool you, nothing will stop them from protecting their home and they will bark at any unexpected sounds. They were bred to nip and bark at cattle to get them to move along. Sometimes this behaviour can be shown towards children; they do enjoy playing with children and always want to be a part of family life. But you should not leave a Corgi alone with young children just to be on the safe side.
Common health problems
Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s are generally a healthy breed, but there are some health issues that they’re prone to. Pet insurance will help you to cover the cost of your dog’s health care needs, should your dog need treatment for any of these conditions.
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
IVDD is the most common spinal disease in dogs, it’s age-related degenerative disease, but some dogs can suffer from problems when they’re young. The discs between the vertebrae act as shock absorbers. In IVDD the discs weaken, which reduces the shock absorption and can lead to disc herniation and spinal cord compression. Dogs affected by this disease will usually have a hunched back and hang their head down to try and relieve the pain. They may also shiver, pant, and be unwilling to move, have difficulty jumping or going up and down stairs. In severe cases, the dog will have a paralysed bladder so may dribble urine or be unable to urinate. In these cases, surgery is needed to treat the problem. Dogs with mild symptoms may only need cage rest and pain management medication.
Von Willebrand’s disease (VWD)
Von Willebrand’s disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in dogs. Affected dogs have reduced amounts of protein in their blood, which helps blood cells to adhere to each other, forming clots in the body. This means their blood is thinner. They’ll be prone to bruising and excessive bleeding, which is dangerous if they need to have surgery or are badly injured.
Plasma or blood transfusions from healthy dogs can be used for affected dogs that are already bleeding. Intravenous drips are given to replace fluid loss, and surgical measures can be used to stop the bleeding. Drug treatment is also possible but not as readily available. In some dogs, the symptoms are so mild that it doesn’t cause a problem. But affected dogs should not be bred from as it’s an inherited disorder.
So, is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi right for you?
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has been the Queen’s choice of dog breed for decades. And it’s no surprise when you consider their lively and loving personality. They may be short, but they have a larger than life attitude, and a voice that will not go unheard. This breed is well suited to you if you’re looking for a bold character to add to your family, a pooch that’s not afraid to join in the fun and games.
How many Corgis does the Queen have?
The Queen has owned more than 30 Pembroke Welsh Corgis. They were all been bred under the Queen’s breeding program based at Windsor Castle. The Queen no longer owns any Corgis as she did not want to leave any young dogs behind when she passes. Her last Corgi Willow died in 2018, but she still has two Dachshund-Corgi mixes, known as ‘Dorgis’.
How to tell Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Cardigan Welsh Corgis apart?
The most obvious difference between the two breeds is the tail. Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a shorter tail, usually docked or a natural bobtail, whereas Cardigan Welsh Corgis have a long bushy tail. Cardigans are also slightly larger and curvier with a sloping rear end. The Pembroke has fewer coat colour variations and their temperament is more outgoing and playful.
Are Pembroke Welsh Corgis born with tails?
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are born with a tail, which traditionally is docked when they are 2-5 days old. Tail docking is now illegal with this breed. But some Pembroke puppies are born with a natural bobtail due to a dominant gene. This is accepted as a breed standard for show dogs.
Browse our guides
Choose from our list of helpful guides and information
Explore dog breeds
Find out how to keep your dog healthy and happy
Cat breed guides
How to care for your cat, common health problems and more
References
Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - www.vetstream.com/treat/canis 
Vetstream ltd (online) Pembroke Welsh Corgi. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/welsh-corgi-pembroke
Bagley R & Garosi L (online) Intervertebral disk: type 2 herniation. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/intervertebral-disk-type-2-herniation
Vetstream Ltd (online) Invertebral disk herniation or slipped disc Owner Factsheet. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/owner-factsheets/intervertebral-disk-herniation-or-slipped-disk
Feldman B, Knottenbelt C & Mayank S (online) Von Willebrand’s disease. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/von-willebrand-apos;s-disease
Vetstream Ltd (online) von Willebrand’s disease (vWD) Owner Factsheet. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/owner-factsheets/von-willebrand-s-disease-(vwd)
Terms and conditions
Important information
Sainsbury's Bank plc, Registered Office, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT (registered in England and Wales, no. 3279730) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register no. 184514). Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd is an appointed representative of Sainsbury's Bank plc.
Sainsbury's Bank plc acts as an introducer to Pinnacle Insurance plc who is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register number 110866). Registered Office: Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 2XX. Sainsbury’s Bank plc and Pinnacle Insurance plc are not part of the same corporate group.