How to Identify a Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Last Updated: March 29, 2021 References

A popular herding breed,^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is fairly well-known. This breed is famous for being owned by royalty, and it's easy to see why they have risen in popularity - Pembroke Welsh Corgis have many desirable traits that not only make them excellent herders but loving family dogs. Not to be confused with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, they have some similar traits, but they have some key identifying factors to distinguish them. This wikiHow will help you know whether or not a dog is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Understanding Body Structure

1
Check the dog's size. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are fairly small, having a height of 10–12 inches (25–30 cm).^{[2]
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Research source} Males can weigh up to 30 pounds (14 kg), and female can weigh up to 28 pounds (13 kg).^{[3]
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2
Notice a short tail. Some Pembroke Welsh Corgis are born with naturally docked tails, but those that aren't typically get their tails docked. Their tails, which give the appearance of bobtails, can be up to two inches long.^{[4]
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3
Look for perked ears. Pembroke Welsh Corgis have medium-sized, firm ears. Their ears stand erected and are slightly rounded at the ends.^{[5]
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Research source} They help give the Pembroke Welsh Corgi a fox-like appearance.
4
Take eye color into account. Pembroke Welsh Corgis have medium-sized, oval eyes. They can be a variety of brown shades.^{[6]
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5
Inspect the dog's build. As a herding breed, Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a strong build. Their short legs make them low-set, and their long bodies are sturdily built.^{[7]
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Research source} They have a smooth gait.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Inspecting the Coat

1
Notice the length of the dog's coat. Pembroke Welsh Corgis have typically straight double-coats of medium length.^{[9]
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Research source} Their weather-resistant undercoat is short and thick, while their outer coat is longer and more coarse.^{[10]
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2
See what base color the dog's coat is. There is a variety of coat colors a Pembroke Welsh Corgi may be seen with. These include red, sable, fawn, and black and tan.^{[11]
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Look for white markings. Though not every Pembroke Welsh Corgi has white markings, many do. These markings may appear on the dog's legs, chest, neck, or face.^{[12]
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Did you know? According to Welsh legends, fairies and elves used Pembroke Welsh Corgis as steeds, as well as to pull their coaches and work fairy cattle. Even today, the markings over a Pembroke's shoulder in the coat is referred to as the "fairy saddle".^{[13]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Recognizing Temperament

1
Recognize intelligence. Pembroke Welsh Corgis are smart dogs. This can make training them easier, but they may become bored or stubborn without a good challenge.^{[14]
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2
Notice playfulness. Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a herding instinct, so they naturally want to move around. Moderate exercise will please them, along with regular playtime. Keeping them busy will likely prevent them from becoming destructive.^{[15]
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3
Anticipate barking. Barking can be caused by the attention levels of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. They are alert and can make great watchdogs^{[16]
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4
See if the dog is territorial. Most of the time, Pembroke Welsh Corgis behave fine around other household pets, but they may be territorial around unfamiliar cats and dogs.^{[18]
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Research source} This is because they were bred to chase away strays as they did their work.^{[19]
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5
Check how the dog acts around livestock. Being herders, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are great with livestock.^{[21]
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Research source} They can typically be trusted to guard livestock, such as horses, as they were bred to do.^{[22]
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