Welcome to the Corgi Corner! We are starting a new series that will be posted on the first Saturday of every month! These posts will help spread education and awareness on topics like general dog care, corgi specific things, medical care, health facts, etc. Our first Corgi Corner post will be all about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi! Pembroke Welsh Corgis date all the way back to the 10th century from the southern region of Wales. By the 1850’s, they were on almost every farm in Wales as they watched over and herded small cattle. They are members of the spitz family - a Nordic group of dogs distinguished by a sharp-pointed muzzle, foxy face, erect and pointed ears, and a high set carried tail. Eventually, as Welsh farms began to transition to raising sheep, Pembroke Welsh Corgis were faded out from farms and replaced by Border Collies. But, they continued to gain popularity in England. In the 1934, Pembrokes were officially recognized as a breed in England. Pembrokes first entered the royal family in 1934 with Queen Catherine Bowes-Lyon, who acquired one as a pet for her daughters Margaret and Elizabeth (the future Queen). They remained in the royal family for 88 years through Queen Elizabeth’s ruling until she passed in 2022, and she owned more than 30 Corgis during her lifetime. In 1934, the first Pembroke Welsh Corgis arrived in the US and they were also officially recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club. The current day Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a little different than the Pembrokes from the early 1900s. The original Pembrokes were tall, leggy, and not at all uniform in appearance. Today’s Pembrokes are more consistent in appearance, have long and low bodies, heads with foxy expressions, and better bone structure. They also have a better temperament now than they once did, making them more attractive as pets. Over the years, especially with the addition of social media, the breed has really grown in popularity. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are true dwarves. They come in red, sable, fawn, and black and tan coats, all with or without white markings. They do not naturally carry the merle or brindle genes like their relative the Cardigan Welsh Corgi does. Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a medium coat and they’re a double coated breed. This means they shed a lot. They can also come with a longer coat, called fluffy or fluffies. Fluffies are against breed standard. It’s a specific gene and it’s the result of a recessive genetic coat mutation. A fluffy coat appears when both parents carry one copy of the recessive gene and pass it on. But, it is very difficult to know whether or not a dog carries one copy of the fluffy gene. So while a fluffy puppy may accidentally appear within a litter, responsible breeders do not intentionally breed for the fluffy coat. Pembroke Welsh Corgis also have 3 major genetic diseases that can be completely avoided with genetic testing and responsible breeding practices: degenerative myelopathy (DM), von Willebrand’s disease (vWD1), and exercise-induced collapse (EIC) (more in-depth information on these in the future). They are also prone to joint issues like hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Overall, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a highly intelligent, athletic, energetic breed. This means they need to remain physically and mentally active, they require training, and they need their owners to be their leaders. They are not couch potato dogs, and they’re probably much smarter than you are. Their double coat means they shed a lot, especially during seasonal changes, so they require regular brushing. They are very food driven and they’re eager to please, making them trainable. But they’re also prone to weight gain and being overweight, which is the worst thing for their body structure. Due to their short legs and very long backs, it’s imperative they maintain a healthy weight so extra stress is not put on their backs and joints. Staci L YC Note. Not 1 is Merle. Haha. I honestly bet very few people purchasing a corgi these days knows any of this.  I, myself, had a fluffy red headed sliiiight sable boy who lived almost 15 healthy years. ​​