Top 10 Fun Facts about Welsh Corgi

What Are Corgis?

Despite their celebrity status on the internet, corgis are becoming increasingly popular with pet owners. Similar to a dachshund, they are short with long bodies and muscular thighs. They also have a thick double coat of fur.

This combination of features makes the Corgi look comically delightful and lovable in the eyes of many prospective pet owners. They come in various colours, including fawn, sable, black and tan, and red. They're usually 10-12 inches tall, weigh between 25 and 40 pounds, and live around 12 to 15 years.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was initially bred for cattle herding, hence their unique stature. They were first produced in the Pembrokeshire region of Wales. Corgis are one of the most miniature breeds of herding dogs globally, making the breed's origins just as unique as their appearance.

Corgis are a very loving dog breed that gets along well with many households, making them a perfect pet for most houses. They make excellent watchdogs, which is one of their most popular personality qualities. They aren't very intimidating, but they have a loud bark and aren't hesitant to use it!

The top 10 fun facts about Welsh Corgi:

Corgis are taking over the world, wagging their tails and capturing the hearts of dog lovers everywhere. There is a lot of interesting information regarding these clever canines going around. We have discovered a few more facts that may surprise you. You now know everything there is to know about corgis. Aside from how adorable they are, which you already knew. You may learn eight exciting facts about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

The Welsh Corgi's ancestry dates back to the 10th century.

According to the Welsh Corgi Club of America, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi's lineage may be traced back to the 10th century. However, it is uncertain if they are derived from the Swedish Vallhunds that may have been transported to Pembrokeshire by Vikings or from the progenitors of today's Schipperkes and Pomeranians who were brought to Wales by Flemish weavers. They are initially from a somewhat chilly, temperate area and will always thrive in comparable conditions. That isn't to say that individuals in hotter climates can't own Corgis; nevertheless, you must remember that they can't be left in the heat for too long.

There are two different breeds of Welsh corgis.

Before we go any further, there are significant distinctions to be made between the two Corgi breeds. Despite their considerable differences in appearance, they were not recognised as distinct breeds until the 1930s.

When most people talk about Corgis, they're referring to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. This breed originated in Pembroke, Wales, is the smallest of the two, having shorter legs and a bobtail.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi, which originated in Cardigan, Wales, is the second breed of Corgi. Cardigans are a more stocky and more giant dog in general. Their legs are somewhat longer in proportion, and they weigh slightly more than a typical Pembroke Corgi. Their coat may also be customised in a more extensive range of colours.

The ears of the Pembroke Corgi are more pointed, whereas the ears of the Cardigan Corgi are more rounded at the tips.

Cardigan Welsh Corgis have been around for thousands of years!

We know that the Cardigan Corgi is the elder of the two breeds. When we delve further, though, things become a little more complicated.

Historians have yet to identify the breeds' natural origins, although there are some compelling ideas. According to one theory, the Cardigan Corgi's progenitors arrived in Wales circa 1200 BC on the boats of Celts from mainland Europe. These canines are thought to be members of the Teckel family of dogs, including the modern-day dachshund. If this is correct, Corgis have been present in Wales for almost 3000 years!

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a much more recent breed.

While we know they've been around since 1107 AD, we're not sure how they found their way to Wales.

The most robust explanation for the origin of the Pembroke Corgi is that their forebears crossed the channel with Flemish weavers. It is believed that this original breed of dog was interbred with the pre-existing Cardigan Corgi breed, resulting in the Pembroke Corgi that we know and love today.

Legend has it; they are "enchanted" dogs.

When it comes to the origins of Corgis, local Welsh legends have a completely different view. It is believed that fairies and elves would ride these gorgeous tiny dogs into battle and use them to draw their chariots throughout the night. This notion is supported by one of the distinctive marks on a corgis coat.

Some corgis' flanks have a slightly different colour and can make a shape quite similar to a saddle, which legend has it was just that! Even today, if you look closely, you can see the traces of the "fairy saddle" over the shoulders of Pembroke's coat.

They are very different from the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

The Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis were recognised as separate breeds by the AKC in 1934. What distinguishes these two dogs? First, the Cardigan derives from Cardiganshire and the Pembroke from Pembrokeshire. The dogs also have distinct physical characteristics. The Cardigan has an enormous tail, but the Pembroke has a shorter tail docked near the body. The Pembroke has a more temporary body and pointed ears, but the Cardigan's are more rounded at the tips.

Your Welsh Corgi engages in what is known as “frapping.”

Your dog may tyre themselves out by racing around in circles or darting from room to room, which is referred to as "frantic random acts of play" or, more colloquially, "zoomies." Corgis have been documented running at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometres per hour), which is far quicker than they look to be capable of.

Their remarkable speed is due to their ability to employ greater upper body power than other dog breeds. It might be because corgis are an old breed, or it could just be a mental link between corgis and the Queen of England.

Corgi means “dwarf dog.”

Or, at the very least, it could. It is difficult to trace the origins of the name "Corgi." Some think it is a combination of the Welsh words "cor," which means "to watch over or gather," and "gi," a version of the Welsh word for dog. Others believe that the term "cor" signifies dwarf and that when combined with "gi," you get a dwarf dog. In any case, these are accurate descriptions of the Welsh Corgi. Of course, the "Welsh" portion of the Welsh corgi moniker derives from the dog's origins.

Corgis were originally herding dogs, and they are hardwired to run and play all day in vast open spaces. Corgis are better inside pets than outdoor dogs, so they won't have much room to play in most people's houses.

Queen Elizabeth II has owned Corgis in her lifetime!

Queen Elizabeth's lifelong love affair with Corgis began in 1933 when she was still a princess.

She had been with her sister on a visit to the estate of a family friend when she first saw this magnificent dog - a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Soon after this visit, their father purchased their first Pembroke Corgi, whom they called Dookie.

When Elizabeth reached 18, she gave her very own Corgi, Susan, whom she named after herself. It's almost as if Susan gave birth to a new Royal Family, the House of Susan I. As of 2020, there have been ten generations of Corgis in Queen Elizabeth's household, all of which are Susan's offspring.

Welsh corgis are brilliant dogs.

They are ranked as the 11th most intellectual dog breed! Welsh corgis, in general, like an active lifestyle, which no doubt stems from their cattle-herding days. They're also very intelligent small canines, which would have come in handy throughout their working years. Welsh corgis maintained as house dogs have a reputation for misbehaving. However, this is usually due to a lack of mental stimulation!

If your Welsh Corgi is misbehaving, look for dog puzzles or activities to entertain a clever dog.

Corgis shed a LOT!

If you've ever had the pleasure of patting a Corgi, you may have wondered how a dog so little could lose so much fur. To begin with, Corgis aren't what we'd call a short-haired dog, so there's simply that much more hair in general. Furthermore, Corgis have two distinct hair coats, so there's even more of it!

Their inner coat of hair protects them, but it is lost as the temperature warms up, which generally happens in the spring. Their outer skin of hair is considerably longer and does not shed as much. However, it will still be all over your house!