Pembroke Welsh Corgi: Temperament, Size, Care & Family Suitability

by Janice Jones, Last Updated January 23, 2026

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a small herding breed known for its intelligence, loyalty, and bold personality. Originally developed to work closely with people, this breed remains highly engaged with its family and thrives in homes that offer both companionship and purpose.

Although the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is often compared to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, the two are distinct breeds. Pembrokes typically have a shorter body, straighter legs, and either a very short tail or no tail at all, while Cardigans are longer-bodied with a full tail and slightly heavier bone structure.

Despite their compact size, Pembrokes are active, alert dogs with strong herding instincts. They tend to do best with families who enjoy daily interaction, structured activity, and consistent routines. Mental stimulation is just as important to this breed as physical exercise.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis generally do well with children and are known for being affectionate and responsive companions. As with all breeds, individual temperament varies, so working with a knowledgeable breeder who understands both the puppies and the household's needs is an important part of the selection process.

While adaptable to different living environments, Pembrokes are not a low-energy breed. They can live comfortably in apartments as long as their exercise and enrichment needs are met, but they often thrive in homes where they have space to move, explore, and stay engaged.

Loyal, Friendly, Intelligent

While Pembroke makes exceptionally good choices for families with children, they may not do as well with other family pets. As long as they are socialized around cats, they tend to do just fine. 

They may not do as well with small caged or other small pets such as hamsters, bunnies, or ferrets. 

Pembrokes were developed as farm dogs, where ratting was likely part of the job.  They generally do fine with other Pembroke Welsh Corgis, but larger breeds may find themselves being herded, as the Pembroke Welsh Corgi takes on the role of the boss dog.

They can be housed in apartments as long as they get plenty of exercise.  Better still, they do well in suburban and rural settings where there is plenty of room to run.

History of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dog Breed

Having such a long history can make it difficult to know truly where the dogs originated.  Farmers were likely instrumental in breeding dogs that served a purpose, but they were unlikely to keep any written records.

The agricultural areas around Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire raised cattle and needed sturdy dogs capable of herding them and bringing them in for milking at the appropriate times. 

The name Corgi means "cur dog" or "small dog," referring to their short legs.  Both breeds were established independently of each other, and those who were involved with the development hoped to create a dog that was suitable for the job at hand

They were bred with other dogs, likely the Keeshond, Schipperke, Pomeranian, Samoyed, Chow-Chow, Norwegian Elkhound, and Finnish Spitz, according to the AKC. 

Even though they are low to the ground, they don’t have any Dachshund characteristics. 

They were first officially known as Welsh Corgis and were exhibited in England in 1925.  At that time, both the Pembroke and the Cardigan were considered the same breed.

By 1934, the Kennel Club (England) recognized two separate breeds, and that same year, the American Kennel Club listed them separately as well. 

They were first shown in the United States in 1936.

They gained acceptance and became increasingly popular in the U.S.  The Pembroke is more popular than the Cardigan. 

But the Americans are not the only ones who love these little dogs. 

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, received her first Pembroke Welsh Corgi from her father (King George VI) in 1933. 

The little puppy, Rozavel Golden Eagle, played with Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret, when they were children.  Nowadays, there is a pack of them enjoying life in Buckingham Palace.

Temperament: Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembrokes are very smart, sensitive dogs who love to please their owners.  They are easy to train but need both mental and physical challenges. 

Without regular exercise and a job to do, they will look around until they find something suitable for their work ethic.  These jobs may include herding children, other dogs, or cats, or even other dogs, by nipping at their heels, a behavior that is not always welcomed.   

They were bred to work with humans and to herd cattle independently from one location to another.  They are fearless and can work independently with humans. 

They are naturally active dogs that need an outlet for daily exercise. Otherwise, they tend to put on weight. 

A long daily walk is necessary, but a large fenced-in yard where they can run, play, and exercise is also helpful.  

They need families who can meet their needs for exercise and mental stimulation, but when the right family comes along, that special family is blessed with a friendly, loyal pet that couldn’t be more loving.   

Their big ears, coupled with their distinctive bark, make them an excellent watchdog.  They are unlikely to sleep through any novel event, such as a visitor at your door.  

They can be yappy and bark until taught to be quiet.  A puppy who has developed their bark may try to practice and practice if human intervention does not teach them to stop. 

They are also wary of strangers, which makes them excellent guard dogs, though they are not known to attack strangers at your door.  

Their “big dog bark,” though, can rattle even the most dog-savvy visitors who might like to visit you.

Grooming the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Consider the advice of the dogs: either shed or need expensive haircuts — vacuum cleaner bags are cheaper than the local groomer!!

Their nails will also need to be regularly trimmed, and their teeth brushed to prevent the plaque from causing dental problems.

This breed does not typically have many ear infections because its ears stand erect. Persistent redness, odor, or discharge should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

A quick check when you trim nails or give a bath will alert you to any problems.   A smelly, red ear is likely infected and should be brought to a veterinarian's attention.

Health Considerations & Responsible Breeding

Like all purebred dogs, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi may have certain inherited health risks within the breed. These risks vary widely depending on genetics, lineage, and the care taken by individual breeders.

Responsible breeders work to reduce inherited problems by carefully selecting breeding dogs and performing appropriate health screenings before breeding. Prospective owners are encouraged to ask breeders about the health testing performed on parent dogs and to request documentation whenever possible.

Common health screenings for this breed may include evaluations of structure, vision, and genetic health. Ethical breeders are transparent about testing practices and are willing to answer questions about how they prioritize long-term health and soundness.

Choosing a puppy from a breeder who emphasizes health screening, stable temperament, and responsible placement greatly reduces the likelihood of inherited health concerns.

Early veterinary care, proper nutrition, regular exercise, and routine checkups also play an important role in maintaining lifelong health.

This information is intended to support informed puppy selection and responsible ownership. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary care.

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Reference and Further Reading

Breed Club:  Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc.