ORIGINS OF THE PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI

Legend has it that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an "enchanted" dog, and certainly this must be true!'

Tis said he was used by the fairies and elves of Wales to pull fairy coaches, work fairy cattle, and serve as a steed for the fairy warriors.

Even today those people with keen eyes and understanding hearts may see the marks of the "fairy saddle" in the coat over the shoulders.

It is believed that their ancestry dates back to at least the tenth century. It is unknown whether they are descended from the Vallhunds (Swedish cattle dogs possibly brought to Pembrokeshire by the Vikings) or from the ancestors of the present-day Schipperkes and Pomeranians that were brought to Wales by Flemish weavers migrating to Wales in the early part of the 12th century when they brought the first corgis from the mainland. At that time the breed was still part of the Teckel family of dogs which included dachshunds and other short-legged mutts.

In the 1920's Corgis were recognized as pure-bred dogs in the United Kingdom. In 1934 the Pembroke Corgi was recognized by the English Kennel Club as separate breed.

Pembrokes are sensitive and intelligent dogs. They are easily trained as long as training is done with gentle handling and without severe physical correction.

They are healthy and long-lived dogs and are excellent companions for either rural or urban families.