Pembroke Welsh Corgi
This is the breed standard for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
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Contact Information
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc. |
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Secretary Corresponding : |
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Blackfoot, ID 83221-5982 |
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Website: www.pembrokecorgi.org |
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Email: gaileypwcca@hotmail.com |
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Essentials
ESSENTIALS OF THE PEMBROKE WELSH: Set low, of good strength, and built
solidly, the Pembroke Corgi evokes the impression of substance and stamina,
efficiently packed into a small space. The head is foxy in shape and
appearance, but never sly in expression; skull fairly wide and flat between the
ears. The foreface is nicely chiseled to give a tapered muzzle. The ears are
erect and firm, medium in size, coming to a slightly rounded point. The eyes,
medium sized and oval, are set somewhat obliquely; eyes dark but not black, nor
yellow or bluish. The coat is medium in length, short, and thick; it is
double--the outer is longer and coarser. On the body the length varies. Height:
10-12 inches (25.5-30.5 cm). Weight: 30 pounds (13.5 kg) or less. Colors include
red, sable, fawn, and black and tan, often with white. The tail is docked as
short as possible--this feature in addition to the foxy expression
distinguishes him from the Cardigan.
Historical Summary
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed developed in the country of Wales. A similar breed is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. The Kennel Club (Great Britain) classed the Pembroke with the Cardigan as two varieties of the same breed up until 1934, when the two were then classed as separate breeds. The Pembroke was seen in the United States for the first time in 1934, and was accepted for A.K.C. registry in the same year. This breed is a member of the Herding Group in the American Kennel Club. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America was founded in 1937.The exact history of the development of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed is lost and can only be speculated. The most accepted theory is one proposed by W. Lloyd-Thomas, a recognized authority on Welsh farm dogs. He believed that the Pembroke and the Cardigan were (are) two distinct, unrelated breeds. The Pembroke is said to be a member of the Spitz family, which includes breeds like the Schipperke, the Pomeranian, the Keeshond, and the Samoyed. This type of dog is characterized by pricked ears, a pointed muzzle, and a curly tail.
The Cardigan is said to have evolved from the Dachshund, or Tekel class. This group of dogs include the Basset Hound. These types of dog are characterized by having long bodies, deep chests, short legs, and they have heavier muzzles than your typical Spitz-types.
W. Lloyd-Thomas theorized that the ancestors of the Cardigan were brought to Wales by invading Celtic tribes from central Europe. This probably occurred about 1200 B.C.
The Pembroke possesses none of the identifying Tekel characteristics of the Cardigan. W. Lloyd-Thomas further theorized that the Pembroke was introduced into Wales about 1107 A.D., by Flemish weavers. He also maintained that the Pembroke Corgi was used by farmers in the flat lands and fields around Pembroke, Wales. The Cardigan, however, was used in the hills and mountains around the town of Cardigan. With mountains separating the towns of Pembroke and Cardigan it is unlikely that the two Welsh Corgi were ever seen in the same area, until improvements in transportation were seen in Wales. It is fact that until the Twentieth Century, these two breeds developed in relative isolation. To account for the striking similarities in appearance of these two breeds, W. Lloyd-Thomas attributed that to some enterprising boys who would sell Cardigan puppies to the farmers of Southern Wales. It was the influence of these puppies that brought about changes to the Pembroke type.
If you enjoy flights of fancy, you may be more apt to believe that the Welsh Corgi was in reality a gift from the "wee folk" of Welsh legends. The Welsh Corgi was used to pull their carriages and to be their steeds - even today the Welsh Corgi possesses the marks over his shoulders of the little saddle used by his fairy riders.
Whatever their origins, these dogs certainly earned their living the hard way. It was not an easy life in the unyielding Welsh mountains, for the Welsh farmer, his family, nor for his dog. The dog had to be multi-purpose. Bird hunter, ratter, domestic duck and geese herding, cattle or sheep herding, sometimes even having to hunt his own food for dinner, it was a hand to mouth existence for all.
Today the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is the smallest member of the Herding Group.
A recent development in the breed is that Great Britain has recently banned tail docking. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi can possess a natural bob, or it has its tail docked as a small puppy, to conform to the breed standard. With this new law it should be interesting to see how this will affect the Pembroke standard in that country.
General Appearance
Low-set, strong, sturdily built and active, giving an impression of substance
and stamina in a small space. Should not be so low and heavy-boned as to appear
coarse or overdone, nor so light-boned as to appear racy. Outlook bold, but
kindly. Expression intelligent and interested. Never shy nor vicious.
Correct type, including general balance and outline, attractiveness of
headpiece, intelligent outlook and correct temperament is of primary importance.
Movement is especially important, particularly as viewed from the side. A dog
with smooth and free gait has to be reasonably sound and must be highly
regarded. A minor fault must never take precedence over the above desired
qualities.
A dog must be very seriously penalized for the following faults, regardless of
whatever desirable qualities the dog may present: oversized or undersized;
button, rose or drop ears; overshot or undershot bite; fluffies, whitelies,
mismarks or bluies.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height (from ground to highest point on withers) should be 10 to 12
inches. Weight is in proportion to size, not exceeding 30 pounds for dogs
and 28 pounds for bitches. In show condition, the preferred medium- sized dog of
correct bone and substance will weigh approximately 27 pounds, with bitches
approximately 25 pounds. Obvious oversized specimens and diminutive toylike
individuals must be very severely penalized. Proportions--Moderately long
and low. The distance from the withers to the base of the tail should be
approximately 40 percent greater than the distance from the withers to the
ground. Substance--Should not be so low and heavy-boned as to appear
coarse or overdone, nor so light-boned as to appear racy.
Head
The head should be foxy in shape and appearance. Expression--Intelligent
and interested, but not sly. Skull--should be fairly wide and flat
between the ears. Moderate amount of stop. Very slight rounding of cheek, not
filled in below the eyes, as foreface should be nicely chiseled to give a
somewhat tapered muzzle. Distance from occiput to center of stop to be greater
than the distance from stop to nose tip, the proportion being five parts of
total distance for the skull and three parts for the foreface. Muzzle should be
neither dish-faced nor Roman-nosed. Eyes-Oval, medium in size, not round,
nor protruding, nor deepset and piglike. Set somewhat obliquely. Variations of
brown in harmony with coat color. Eye rims dark, preferably black. While dark
eyes enhance the expression, true black eyes are most undesirable, as are yellow
or bluish eyes. Ears-Erect, firm, and of medium size, tapering slightly
to a rounded point. Ears are mobile, and react sensitively to sounds. A line
drawn from the nose tip through the eyes to the ear tips, and across, should
form an approximate equilateral triangle. Bat ears, small catlike ears, overly
large weak ears, hooded ears, ears carried too high or too low, are undesirable.
Button, rose or drop ears are very serious faults. Nose--Black and fully
pigmented. Mouth--Scissors bite, the inner side of the upper incisors
touching the outer side of the lower incisors. Level bite is acceptable.
Overshot or undershot bite is a very serious fault. Lips--Black, tight
with little or no fullness.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck--Fairly long. Of sufficient length to provide over-all balance of
the dog. Slightly arched, clean and blending well into the shoulders. A very
short neck giving a stuffy appearance and a long, thin or ewe neck are faulty.
Topline--Firm and level, neither riding up to nor falling away at the
croup. A slight depression behind the shoulders caused by heavier neck coat
meeting the shorter body coat is permissible. Body--Rib cage should be
well sprung, slightly egg-shaped and moderately long. Deep chest, well let down
between the forelegs. Exaggerated lowness interferes with the desired freedom of
movement and should be penalized. Viewed from above, the body should taper
slightly to end of loin. Loin short. Round or flat rib cage, lack of brisket,
extreme length or cobbiness, are undesirable. Tail--Docked as short as
possible without being indented. Occasionally a puppy is born with a natural
dock, which if sufficiently short, is acceptable. A tail up to two inches in
length is allowed, but if carried high tends to spoil the contour of the topline.
Forequarters
Legs--Short, forearms turned slightly inward, with the distance between
wrists less than between the shoulder joints, so that the front does not appear
absolutely straight. Ample bone carried right down into the feet. Pasterns firm
and nearly straight when viewed from the side. Weak pasterns and knuckling over
are serious faults. Shoulder blades long and well laid back along the rib cage.
Upper arms nearly equal in length to shoulder blades. Elbows parallel to the
body, not prominent, and well set back to allow a line perpendicular to the
ground to be drawn from tip of the shoulder blade through to elbow. Feet--Oval,
with the two center toes slightly in advance of the two outer ones. Turning
neither in nor out. Pads strong and feet arched. Nails short. Dewclaws on both
forelegs and hindlegs usually removed. Too round, long and narrow, or splayed
feet are faulty.
Hindquarters
Ample bone, strong and flexible, moderately angulated at stifle and hock.
Exaggerated angulation is as faulty as too little. Thighs should be well
muscled. Hocks short, parallel, and when viewed from the side are perpendicular
to the ground. Barrel hocks or cowhocks are most objectionable. Slipped or
double-jointed hocks are very faulty. Feet--as in front.
Coat
Medium length; short, thick, weather- resistant undercoat with a coarser, longer
outer coat. Over-all length varies, with slightly thicker and longer ruff around
the neck, chest and on the shoulders. The body coat lies flat. Hair is slightly
longer on back of forelegs and underparts and somewhat fuller and longer on rear
of hindquarters. The coat is preferably straight, but some waviness is
permitted. This breed has a shedding coat, and seasonal lack of undercoat should
not be too severely penalized, providing the hair is glossy, healthy and well
groomed. A wiry, tightly marcelled coat is very faulty, as is an overly short,
smooth and thin coat. Very Serious Fault--Fluffies--a coat of extreme
length with exaggerated feathering on ears, chest, legs and feet, underparts and
hindquarters. Trimming such a coat does not make it any more acceptable. The
Corgi should be shown in its natural condition, with no trimming permitted
except to tidy the feet, and, if desired, remove the whiskers.
Color
The outer coat is to be of self colors in red, sable, fawn, black and tan with
or without white markings. White is acceptable on legs, chest, neck (either in
part or as a collar), muzzle, underparts and as a narrow blaze on head. Very
Serious Faults: Whitelies--Body color white, with red or dark markings.
Bluies--Colored portions of the coat have a distinct bluish or smoky cast.
This coloring is associated with extremely light or blue eyes, liver or gray eye
rims, nose and lip pigment. Mismarks--Self colors with any area of white
on the back between withers and tail, on sides between elbows and back of
hindquarters, or on ears. Black with white markings and no tan present.
Gait
Free and smooth. Forelegs should reach well forward without too much lift, in
unison with the driving action of the hind legs. The correct shoulder assembly
and well-fitted elbows allow a long, free stride in front. Viewed from the
front, legs do not move in exact parallel planes, but incline slightly inward to
compensate for shortness of leg and width of chest. Hind legs should drive well
under the body and move on a line with the forelegs, with hocks turning neither
in nor out. Feet must travel parallel to the line of motion with no tendency to
swing out, cross over or interfere with each other. Short, choppy movement,
rolling or high-stepping gait, close or overly wide coming or going, are
incorrect. This is a herding dog, which must have the agility, freedom of
movement, and endurance to do the work for which he was developed.
Temperament
Outlook bold, but kindly. Never shy or vicious. The judge shall dismiss from the
ring any Pembroke Welsh Corgi that is excessively shy.
Approved June 13, 1972
Reformatted January 28, 1993
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