Welsh Corgi Pembroke
- A.K.C. Standard
- Standard FCI №39
- About the Breed
- Health
- Grooming
- Exercise
- Training
- Nutrition
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 are 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: Size – 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
FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (AISBL)
SECRETARIAT GENERAL: 13, Place Albert 1er B – 6530 Thuin (Belgique)
31.08.2021/ EN
FCI-Standard N° 39
ORIGIN: Great Britain.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID
STANDARD: 27.07.2021.
UTILIZATION: Sheepdog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss CattleDogs).
Section 1 Sheepdogs.
Without working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Low set, strong, sturdily built, alert and
active, giving impression of substance and stamina in small space.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: Length of foreface to be in proportion
to skull 3 to 5.
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT: Bold in outlook, workmanlike.
Outgoing and friendly never nervous or aggressive.
HEAD
Head foxy in shape and appearance, with alert, intelligent expression
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Fairly wide and flat between ears.
Stop: Moderate.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Black.
Muzzle: Slightly tapering.
Jaws/Teeth: Strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e.
upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
EYES: Well set, round, medium size, brown, blending with colour of
coat.
EARS: Pricked, medium sized, slightly rounded. Line drawn from tip of
nose through eye should, if extended, pass through, or close to tip of ear.
NECK: Fairly long.
BODY: Medium length, not short coupled, slightly tapering, when viewed
from above.
Topline: Level.
Chest: Chest broad and deep, well let down between forelegs. Well sprung
ribs.
TAIL:
Previously customarily docked short.
Undocked: set in line with the top line. Natural carriage which may
be above or below top line when moving or alert.
Natural bobtails may occur, when the tail can be of any length,
carried above or below top line when moving or alert.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
Shoulder: Well-laid and angulated at 90 degrees to the upper arm.
Upper arm: Moulded round chest.
Elbow: Fitting closely to sides, neither loose nor tied.
Forearm: Short and as straight as possible. Ample bone, carried right
down to feet.
Forefeet: Oval, toes strong, well arched, and tight, two centre toes slightly
advance, of two outer, pads strong and well arched. Nails short.
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: Strong and flexible. Legs short. Ample bone carried
right down to feet.
Stifle (Knee): Well angulated.
Hock joint: Hocks straight when viewed from behind.
Hind feet: Oval, toes strong, well arched, and tight, two centre toes
slightly advance, of two outer, pads strong and well arched. Nails short.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: Free and active, neither loose nor tied. Forelegs
move well forward, without too much lift, in unison with thrusting action
of hindlegs.
COAT
Hair: Medium length, straight with dense undercoat, never soft, wavy or
wiry.
Colour: Self colours in Red, Sable, Fawn, Black and Tan, with or without
white markings on legs, brisket and neck. Some white on head and
foreface permissible.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at the withers: Approximately 25 – 30 cm.
Weight: Males: 10-12 kg.
Females: 9-11 kg.
FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and
the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the
dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
N.B:
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed
typical conformation, should be used for breeding.
The latest amendments are in bold characters.
Among the most agreeable of all small housedogs, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a strong, athletic, and lively little herder who is affectionate and companionable without being needy. They are one the world’s most popular herding breeds. At 10 to 12 inches at the shoulder and 27 to 30 pounds, a well-built male Pembroke presents a big dog in a small package. Short but powerful legs, muscular thighs, and a deep chest equip him for a hard day’s work. Built long and low, Pembrokes are surprisingly quick and agile. They can be red, sable, fawn, and black and tan, with or without white markings. The Pembroke is a bright, sensitive dog who enjoys play with his human family and responds well to training. As herders bred to move cattle, they are fearless and independent. They are vigilant watchdogs, with acute senses and a ‘big dog’ bark. Families who can meet their bold but kindly Pembroke’s need for activity and togetherness will never have a more loyal, loving pet.
What To Expect When Caring For a Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
The Pembroke is typically a healthy breed, and responsible breeders screen their stock for health conditions such as elbow and hip dysplasia, eye disorders, cardiac issues, degenerative myelopathy, and von Willebrand’s disease, a bleeding disorder. As with all breeds, a Pembroke’s ears should be checked weekly for signs of infection, and the teeth should be brushed regularly.
The Pembroke has a thick, weatherproof double coat’¿a soft, light undercoat covered by a coarse outer coat. The breed sheds a fair amount on a daily basis, and even more so in the late spring/early summer. A daily once-over with a comb and a slicker brush will remove a lot of the shed hair before it is all over the house. During shedding season, baths help to loosen the dead hairs’¿the dog must be completely dry before brushing begins’¿and a rake helps strip out the undercoat. As with all breeds, the Corgi’s nails should be trimmed regularly, and ears checked to be sure they are clean and healthy.
A strong, athletic little dog developed to herd cattle and other livestock, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi loves physical activity and is happiest when he has a job to do. Corgis benefit from moderate daily exercise to maintain their physical and mental health. Pembrokes can do well on long walks or slow jogs, but their short legs won’t allow them to keep up with a bicycle rider. Avoid extreme heat or cold, and always provide plenty of cool, fresh water after exercise. Many Pembrokes enjoy and excel at canine activities such as agility, herding, obedience, and tracking events.
As with all breeds, early socialization and puppy training classes are strongly recommended. Gently exposing the puppy to a wide variety of people, places, and situations between the ages of 7 weeks and 4 months will help him develop into a well-adjusted, well-mannered adult. Pembrokes often have a mind of their own, but they are energetic, willing, and highly intelligent partners who respond well to training. Positive, reward-based training works best with this sensitive breed.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.