"We love a good romp in the snow!!"

Country of Origin:  Wales

Height:  10" to 12"

Weight:  Between 25 to 30 pounds.

Temperament:  Intelligent and interested; never shy or vicious.

The Welsh Corgi has been called the gift of the wee people.  It is said that the Welsh Corgi always slipped away at night to join the fairies and elves to play on the hills of Wales.  Even to this day, a faint fairy saddle can be traced in the coats of these little guys.

The Welsh Corgi is divided in to two classes:  Pembroke and Cardigan.  From his humble beginnings as a herding dog in Wales to his new home here in the US the Corgi has captivated the hears of this owners.  His alert, intelligent nature, compact size, easy care coat and fox-like expressions make the Corgi a popular choice for children and adults.  They can be at home in the country or a city apartment.

The Pembroke is the younger of the two types of Corgis.  His history traces back to the 12th century.  Brought to Wales by a group of Flemish weavers in 1107, the Pembroke is related to the Keeshound, Schipperke, Samoyed and Norwegian Elkhound.  Until the 20th Century, these two varieties of Corgis developed pretty much isolated from each other, but as transportation improved, farmers frequently traveled with their dogs and many times these dogs were crossbred.  In 1925, the Kennel Club of Britain sought to define the Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis.  They were distinguished as two individual breeds in 1934.  In 1937, the first pair of Pembrokes were introduced to the US.

Of the two Corgis, the Pembroke has been the most popular.  He was adopted as the family pet of King George VI and has been apart of the royal family for over fifty years.

Responsible kennel owners want to guard against indiscriminate growth in sales of this beloved little dog.  They are concerned that he may become the next "in" dog and that puppy mill production and deterioration of the breed may occur.

When choosing a puppy, it has a lot to do with availability.  Fewer than 50 Cardigan Corgis are registered each month.  You may find that you may have to drive quite a ways to find Corgi puppies.  The best way is to contact your local kennel club to see if anyone near you has Corgis or write to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, 1608 Clearview Dr., Louisville, KY  40222.  It's always better to investigate before you invest your money.

- Source:  The Sioux Valley Kennel Club

Last revised: May 17, 2009