A history of the breed of Pembroke Welsh Corgi

As any of other “old” breeds, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has not its own neatly traceable breed’s history. Furthermore, a history of its origins is obscured by many tales and legends, which present this wonderful breed in different ways.

According to a Welsh legend, two children tending their family's cattle on royal lands found a pair of puppies, which they thought were foxes. When they brought the puppies home, they were told the dogs were puppies of a dog of elves’ gift. Legends say that elves harnessed those tiny dogs to their chariots, and also fairies rode them at the time of the battle with enemies. If you look, you can still see the marks of the fairy saddle on their.

As the little puppies that the children brought home grew, they learned to help their humans watch over their cattle, a task to become a responsibility for their descendants for the centuries to follow. This is a fair legend.

The more plausible theory, and particularly wide-spread in Scandinavia, says that Corgis are the descendants of the Lundehund, one of the Spitz family group brought by Scandinavian Vikings to the shores of British Isles, perhaps, back in 9th or 10th century. These breeds have similar ear carriage, and the ears can be folded back so that ear canal can be protected against wind, sand or moisture. Another breed resembling the Corgi in appearance is the Swedish vastgota-spitz, or Vallhund.

During many centuries the Pembroke was selected specially for breeding because of its shepherd’s qualities. Moreover, weavers in 12th century brought with them to Pembrokeshire (South Wales) Spitz-like dogs who also could have a great influence on the present-day breed.

However, not all experts connect Corgis’ origins with shepherding, but think that they originate from the Nordic dogs and date the time of the breed formation to the late Stone Age, when people inhabiting the British Isles fed on fish, sea birds and their eggs. Only dogs as the Corgi or Spitz could be used for searching and fowling in caves and coastal cliffs. This explains the unusual built of the Corgi – the body of a large dog with short limbs allowing to leap on cliffs and stones quickly and easily.

Nevertheless, the Corgis were known in the British Isles for a long time as dogs to work with various kinds of farm animals – from poultry to cattle.

The sources of the breed’s name are as “easily” established as the origins.

Some people combine two Welsh words: "cor" which means "watch over or gather" with "gi" – “dog”. Thus the responsibility of this little guardian for the cattle is intended. The other attach to the word corgi the meaning “a biting dog”, or “a mongrel” .

And, at last, one more meaning. The word “cor” can be translated as “dwarg, gnome”. Add the Welsh word “gi”which means “dog” and you’ll receive “a dwarf-dog”, “a gnome-dog” .

Many years the two breeds of Corgi were referred to as “Ci-llathed” – which in Welsh means “a dog yard long” , or as “Ci Sawdlo” – because of their character – Corgis snapped cows at legs.

Now it’s too hard to define when occurred the division of Welsh Corgis to the Pembroke and the Cardigan, though , in 19th century already, the Pembroke and the Cardigan were known as two species of the same breed. Most likely a separate development and relative isolation of mountainous regions of Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire made for strengthening of some peculiarities of the phenotype of these dogs.

The Welsh Corgi breed was first officially exhibited as the Welsh Corgi in England in 1925. Both Pembrokes and Cardigans participated in shows together as one and the same breed until 1934 when the Cynological Club of the UK acknowledged the two species of the Welsh Corgi as two separate breeds. That very year the resolution on Pembrokes’ docking was adopted which made for more homogeneity of the appearance of dogs of this breed.

However, the most popularity had acquired the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and the British royal family promoted it in many respects. In 1933 the Duke of York (later King George VI) made a present to his daughters Elizabeth and Margaret– a Pembroke puppy. The puppy became a King’s daughters’ pet very quickly. Since then Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England is one of the best experts and admirer of the breed Pembroke Welsh Corgi. A Pembroke Welsh Corgi Susan accompanied Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip even during their honey moon. Nowadays one can often see Corgis at official receptions of the royal family. Many its pets take part in the international dog-shows, though not so often as one may wish. Wonderful Pembrokes still please visitors and dwellers of royal palaces, which walls are decorated by many a picture of royal pets.

Added:  Sunday, July 23, 2006
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