I’ve always had a soft spot for corgis and this is a great opportunity to share some fun breed facts!
’Corgi’ is thought to mean ‘dwarf dog’ in welsh, with ‘cor’ meaning dwarf and ‘gi’ meaning dog. Although others have said ‘cor’ means to watch over or gather.
The second meaning would fit the corgis original purpose of herding, specifically cattle Did you know that corgis were bred to have their short legs so that if the cattle kicked out, their hoof would go over the top of the corgi, minimising injury? An ideal adaptation!
There are two individual breeds of corgi; the Pembroke and the Cardigan. The Pembroke is the most well-known and popular thanks to Queen Elizabeth II having several around her for most of her lifetime. However, the Cardigan is thought to be a lot older breed and were used as guard dogs and hunters as well as herders.
How can you tell the difference? It can be quite difficult but here are a few ways:
- Cardigans are usually bigger/heavier of the two breeds and also come in many more colours.
- Pembrokes often have a naturally occurring bob tail, whereas Cardigans have a long fox like tail.
- Cardigans also tend to have slightly pointier ears than Pembrokes which are more curved.
Corgis are such gorgeous dogs with a fun tenacious attitude…plus ridiculously cute!
Laura is the Staff Training Manager for Pets In The City. She is responsible for training caregivers at Pets In City Wairau Park and Silverdale. Laura's philosophy is centred around building a relationship with your dog. She believes that it should be a collaborative effort rather than a situation where the owner demands obedience from their dog.
When she is not at Pets In the City, Laura runs her own successful Dog Training Company, Constructive Canines. To learn more about the training services that Laura provides, visit her website: https://www.constructivecanines.co.nz
Laura McHugh, Constructive Canines
