Pros and Cons of Owning a Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Cons
If you are thinking about owning a Pembroke Welsh Corgi it is best to start with the cons! It is good to know what you are getting into!
They shed, a LOT!
Pembrokes can have varying coat lengths but regardless of the type of coat they have, these dogs are shedders! Fortunately, the majority of the grooming is done in the spring and fall when they shed their spring and winter coats. The good thing is, this is nothing a good vacuum doesn't take care of!!!
They BARK BARK BARK!
Ok, not ALL Pembrokes are barkers, but many are. They like to bark when they "talk back" at you, they like to bark when they chase things, they like to bark to ward off danger, they like to bark when they are excited, etc. With proper training and a job most corgis will stifle the bark for the most part but you should not expect this to be a perfectly silent dog.
They are a dwarf breed.
Some people would think this should be under pro. The fact that they are a dwarf breed makes them adorable of course! However, being a large dog on short legs with a long back can lead to back problems. Things like DM and Intervertebral Disc Disease. Over all they are a healthy breed though and many health issues can be avoided through proper nutrition, proper exercise, avoiding injury, and practicing late spay/neuter.
They are easy keepers.
Corgis LOVE their food. Unfortunately for them, they don't need a lot of it! Obesity is rampant among Pembrokes, which can lead to many health issues. Their desire to eat anything they see as food can lead to a lot of trouble as well! I, myself, have had 2 emergency situations pop up with Scout from him eating things he shouldn't. So, if you want a lifelong companion that stays in good health I suggest limiting the treats, feeding a proper diet, and monitoring the intake. Feel bad for how little your corgi friend gets? EXERCISE! The more they burn the more they can eat!
They like to herd.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis were originally bred for herding cattle and guarding the farm. While some lines have less herding instinct in them do to focusing more on showing versus herding, many corgis still have some form of drive. Most of my puppies have quite a bit of drive. This is fantastic if you want a working dog, a dog for agility, or a dog for competitive obedience but not always great when it comes to kids. If you are looking for a laid back, babysitter type dog, a corgi is not for you.
I should point out, yes Whiskey is my toddlers best friend and she has produced puppies that are best friends with their toddler as well! These particular dogs had a lot of work put into them though into making them work well with children (IE: Not trying to herd them or be mouthy).
Not always great with small animals.
As stated above, Pembrokes were bred for herding. This drive can lead them to not only chase, but some times injure and/or kill small critters. Not ALL corgis are this way. For example, Whiskey has never offered to hurt ANY animals. She will herd the chickens out of the pasture but she will not hurt them. On the other hand, Scout has gotten a hold of several chickens and turkeys with deadly results. He is also our better herder. This is something to be very aware of when picking out a corgi puppy.
Can be fairly dominant.
If you ask any corgi owner about Pembrokes they will say, "Little dogs with big attitude!" This is a very accurate description! When you take a short legged dog and breed it to herd cattle, it needs to have some aggression behind that bark! If you allow a corgi to rule your house, they gladly will do so. Unfortunately they will also try to rule everyone and everything in it. This could mean dog fights, resource guarding, and food aggression. This can all be easily prevented though with proper obedience training and structure.
They shed, a LOT!
Pembrokes can have varying coat lengths but regardless of the type of coat they have, these dogs are shedders! Fortunately, the majority of the grooming is done in the spring and fall when they shed their spring and winter coats. The good thing is, this is nothing a good vacuum doesn't take care of!!!
They BARK BARK BARK!
Ok, not ALL Pembrokes are barkers, but many are. They like to bark when they "talk back" at you, they like to bark when they chase things, they like to bark to ward off danger, they like to bark when they are excited, etc. With proper training and a job most corgis will stifle the bark for the most part but you should not expect this to be a perfectly silent dog.
They are a dwarf breed.
Some people would think this should be under pro. The fact that they are a dwarf breed makes them adorable of course! However, being a large dog on short legs with a long back can lead to back problems. Things like DM and Intervertebral Disc Disease. Over all they are a healthy breed though and many health issues can be avoided through proper nutrition, proper exercise, avoiding injury, and practicing late spay/neuter.
They are easy keepers.
Corgis LOVE their food. Unfortunately for them, they don't need a lot of it! Obesity is rampant among Pembrokes, which can lead to many health issues. Their desire to eat anything they see as food can lead to a lot of trouble as well! I, myself, have had 2 emergency situations pop up with Scout from him eating things he shouldn't. So, if you want a lifelong companion that stays in good health I suggest limiting the treats, feeding a proper diet, and monitoring the intake. Feel bad for how little your corgi friend gets? EXERCISE! The more they burn the more they can eat!
They like to herd.
Pembroke Welsh Corgis were originally bred for herding cattle and guarding the farm. While some lines have less herding instinct in them do to focusing more on showing versus herding, many corgis still have some form of drive. Most of my puppies have quite a bit of drive. This is fantastic if you want a working dog, a dog for agility, or a dog for competitive obedience but not always great when it comes to kids. If you are looking for a laid back, babysitter type dog, a corgi is not for you.
I should point out, yes Whiskey is my toddlers best friend and she has produced puppies that are best friends with their toddler as well! These particular dogs had a lot of work put into them though into making them work well with children (IE: Not trying to herd them or be mouthy).
Not always great with small animals.
As stated above, Pembrokes were bred for herding. This drive can lead them to not only chase, but some times injure and/or kill small critters. Not ALL corgis are this way. For example, Whiskey has never offered to hurt ANY animals. She will herd the chickens out of the pasture but she will not hurt them. On the other hand, Scout has gotten a hold of several chickens and turkeys with deadly results. He is also our better herder. This is something to be very aware of when picking out a corgi puppy.
Can be fairly dominant.
If you ask any corgi owner about Pembrokes they will say, "Little dogs with big attitude!" This is a very accurate description! When you take a short legged dog and breed it to herd cattle, it needs to have some aggression behind that bark! If you allow a corgi to rule your house, they gladly will do so. Unfortunately they will also try to rule everyone and everything in it. This could mean dog fights, resource guarding, and food aggression. This can all be easily prevented though with proper obedience training and structure.
Pros
Despite the cons there are plenty of reasons to own a Pembroke!
They are "Low Rider German Shepherds"
I have always considered Pembrokes to be the short version of a German shepherd. I am not a little dog person. Corgis are not little dogs though! They are simply big dogs on little legs. When it comes to personality, looks, and coat they are very similar to German Shepherds. So, if you love GSDs but can't own one, a corgi might be the perfect fit!
They are the perfect size for multiple dogs!
Since they are shorter, it's a lot easier to have more of them!
They make good guard dogs.
Pembrokes can be very protective of their owners. This dog not only has a big dog bark to help scare people away, but some of them have a bite to back it up! some corgis are even used in Shutzhund! They are adorably fierce.
They are smart!
Being herding dogs means they have brains. Being smart can be a bad thing but I'm going to put it under pro! This means that they are very versatile. They can do well in herding, agility, and competitive obedience. They also are capable of working as therapy dogs, service dogs, and are often used in movies and commercials.
They are "Low Rider German Shepherds"
I have always considered Pembrokes to be the short version of a German shepherd. I am not a little dog person. Corgis are not little dogs though! They are simply big dogs on little legs. When it comes to personality, looks, and coat they are very similar to German Shepherds. So, if you love GSDs but can't own one, a corgi might be the perfect fit!
They are the perfect size for multiple dogs!
Since they are shorter, it's a lot easier to have more of them!
They make good guard dogs.
Pembrokes can be very protective of their owners. This dog not only has a big dog bark to help scare people away, but some of them have a bite to back it up! some corgis are even used in Shutzhund! They are adorably fierce.
They are smart!
Being herding dogs means they have brains. Being smart can be a bad thing but I'm going to put it under pro! This means that they are very versatile. They can do well in herding, agility, and competitive obedience. They also are capable of working as therapy dogs, service dogs, and are often used in movies and commercials.
Yes the cons are longer than the pros! That is because I want you to be realistic about why you want a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. If you are looking for a dog who will give you it's heart, who will do anything for you, and who will make you laugh on a daily basis then a Pembroke is what you are looking for! If you are looking for a cute dog to cuddle on the couch with all day that is low maintenance and you don't have to train then a Pembroke is NOT for you!