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Welsh Corgi - Pembroke

Welsh Corgi - Pembroke History

The Welsh Corgis date back to 12th century Wales and are an old herding breed.

There are two different breeds the Pembroke and Cardigan Corgi. They were first recognised as one breed in the United Kingdom in the 1920s.

In 1934, the breeds were recognised as separate and distinct breeds by the British Kennel Club.

They are similar dogs with a few physical differences. The Pembroke has no tail, a shorter body, is lighter boned, has finer coat and pointed ears.

Queen Elizabeth II has owned more than 30 Pembroke Welsh Corgis since 1944 and as a result they are a highly popular breed in the UK today.

All Corgis carry the achondroplasia gene which causes dwarf like characteristics i.e. short limbs yet normal size body.

They have a low maintenance short double coat which needs occasional brushing. They require more attention during their two seasonal moults.

Average lifespan is 11-13 years.

Common Illnesses include;

Intervertebral Disc Disease – Compression of the spinal cord causing pain or weakness to paralysis.
Hip Dysplasia – Abnormal formation of the hip joints causing early onset degenerative joint disease.
Degenerative Myelopathy – Spinal cord degeneration in older dogs beginning with hind limb weakness and progressing to paralysis.
Cutaneous Astenia – Hereditary but rare condition resulting in fragile and stretchy skin which is very easily traumatised.
Lens Luxation – The lens in the eye becomes displaced causing pain and eventually blindness.
Cervical Vertebral Instability – Narrowing of the vertebrae in the neck resulting in instability and poor mobility.
Urinary Stones – Excessive amounts of crystals form stones in the urinary tract which can lead to infection or blockage.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – Progressive degeneration of the retina eventually causing blindness.