AKC Pembroke Welsh Corgis & CKC American Corgis

Warrensburg, New York

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

At The Adirondack Corgi, we are passionate about preserving everything that makes the Pembroke Welsh Corgi so special — sound breed type, stable temperaments, excellent health, and the breed’s rich history and purpose. Our program prioritizes producing structurally correct, well-rounded companions that embody the intelligence, confidence, and loving nature the Pembroke is known for, while remaining mindful of the breed standard and its historical roots. We also have a deep appreciation for the original colors historically accepted within the breed prior to more modern standard revisions, believing these colors remain an important part of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s legacy and heritage when bred ethically and responsibly.

PWC Breed Club

AKC Breed Profile

Available Puppies

What is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi?

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a well-established, purebred herding breed known for its consistent look, temperament, and predictability. They are typically outgoing, affectionate, and highly people-focused, making them a great fit for families looking for a loyal, social companion. Pembrokes are energetic and intelligent, with traits that have been refined over generations through careful, selective breeding.

Height: 10-12 Inches

Life Expectancy: 12-13 Years

Weight: Up to 30lbs in Males

Up to 28lbs in Females

Stats

Health Concerns

Degenerative Myelopathy

Exercise Induced Collapse

Von Willebrand's Disease Type 1

Invertebral Disc Disease

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Breed History

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where small herding dogs were prized for their intelligence, agility, and toughness. The word “Corgi” is often translated from Welsh as either “dwarf dog” (“cor” = dwarf, “gi” = dog) or sometimes interpreted as “gathering dog.”

These dogs were developed to work farms by driving cattle, sheep, and even geese across rough terrain. Unlike many larger herding breeds that control livestock from a distance, Corgis worked close to the animals’ heels. Their low stature allowed them to duck kicks from cattle while nipping at heels to keep livestock moving.

It is worth noting that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi were once considered a single breed, despite having distinct origins and physical differences.

The Cardigan is believed to be the older of the two breeds, with ancestry tied to Teckel-type dogs brought to Wales centuries ago. The Pembroke, on the other hand, is often linked to spitz-type dogs introduced by Flemish weavers around the 10th century, though parts of this history remain debated among historians.

For many years, the two types were interbred freely throughout Wales. Because of this, early Corgis varied greatly in ear shape, tail length, body structure, and coat type.

In 1934, The Kennel Club officially recognized the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cardigan Welsh Corgi as two separate breeds rather than one under the name "Welsh Corgi". Shortly afterward, the American Kennel Club also did the same.

This separation allowed breeders to begin refining the distinct appearance and temperament associated with each breed:

Pembrokes became known for their lighter build, foxier expression, and naturally bobbed or historically docked tails.
Cardigans retained heavier bone, larger ears, and long tails.

This distinction became critical in preserving breed consistency moving forward.

The Breed Standard

General Appearance: The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a low-set, sturdy, athletic herding breed built for endurance and agility. Though compact in size, they should give the impression of strength, balance, and substance without appearing coarse or overly heavy. Pembrokes are known for their bold yet kind expression and intelligent, alert demeanor. They should never appear shy, nervous, or aggressive.

Structure & Size: Pembrokes are moderately long and low to the ground, with a balanced outline that supports free and efficient movement. Ideally, they stand around 10–12 inches tall and maintain proportionate weight and bone structure. The breed should appear athletic and functional rather than exaggerated in any direction.

Breed Timeline

1920's - the Kennel Club (England) recognizes the modern Pembroke Welsh Corgi & Cardigan Welsh Corgi Breed as one breed with two "types" - "Welsh Corgi (Pembrokeshire)" & "Welsh Corgi (Cardiganshire)"

1920-1934 - Both the Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Varieties of the Welsh Corgi competed under the same breed - the "Welsh Corgi". This influences interbreeding between types.

1934 - The Kennel Club decided to officially seperate the Welsh Corgi breed into two distinct seperate breeds - The Cardigan Welsh Corgi & The Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

1934 - The first Pembroke & Cardigan Welsh Corgis made it into American where they were recognized by the AKC.

1934 - The PWCCA was founded February 12th, 1936.

1934 - 1945 - The Breed Standard included "any, other than pure white."

1945 - The Breed Standard was altered to disallow Brindle, Merle, etc

Head & Expression: The head should have a “foxy” appearance with an intelligent and interested expression. Their eyes are oval-shaped and typically shades of brown that complement the coat color. Ears are erect, medium-sized, and highly expressive. The overall headpiece is one of the breed’s defining characteristics and contributes heavily to proper breed type.

Body & Topline: The Pembroke’s body should be strong and moderately long with a level topline. The chest is deep and well-developed, while the rib cage is well sprung without appearing barrel-shaped. The neck should be long enough to create overall balance and flow smoothly into the shoulders.

Front & Rear Assembly: Despite their short legs, Pembrokes should be structurally sound and capable of covering ground efficiently. The front legs turn slightly inward, a hallmark of the breed, while the rear should be muscular and moderately angulated for drive and endurance. Feet should be oval, compact, and sturdy.

Coat: The breed has a weather-resistant double coat made up of a dense undercoat and a harsher outer coat. Coat length is medium overall, with slightly longer feathering around the neck, chest, and hindquarters. The Pembroke should be presented naturally, with only minimal tidying permitted. Extremely long “fluffy” coats are considered a serious fault in the traditional breed standard.

Color: Accepted colors include red, sable, fawn, and black & tan, with or without white markings. White is commonly seen on the chest, legs, neck, muzzle, and blaze. The standard historically places restrictions on excessive white markings, bluie dilution coloring, and certain mismark patterns in conformation showing.

Movement: Movement is one of the most important parts of the breed standard. Pembrokes should move freely and smoothly with good reach in the front and strong drive from the rear. Their gait should look effortless, athletic, and efficient — reflecting their original purpose as hardworking herding dogs capable of long days on the farm.

Temperment: Pembrokes are expected to be confident, outgoing, and good-natured dogs. They should be alert and bold without displaying aggression or fearfulness. A stable temperament is considered essential to correct breed type.

Historical Colors, Genetics & Our Philosophy

The history of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is far more diverse than many realize. While modern breed standards have become increasingly restrictive regarding acceptable coloration, historical records and early Pembrokes demonstrate that recessive traits such as dilute (“Bluie”), chocolate, cream, and fluffy coats have existed quietly within the breed’s gene pool for generations. Prior to modern genetic testing, these traits would appear only occasionally and seemingly at random when two hidden carriers happened to be paired together. Today, advancements in canine DNA testing allow ethical preservation breeders to better understand these genetics and make intentional, informed breeding decisions while still prioritizing health, temperament, and breed type above all else.

At The Adirondack Corgi, we believe there is an important distinction between preserving naturally existing recessive genetics within purebred Pembroke Welsh Corgis and introducing traits that are not historically native to the breed. Traits such as Merle and Brindle are dominant genes and are not naturally occurring within the purebred Pembroke Welsh Corgi gene pool. Because dominant traits cannot remain hidden for generations in the way recessive traits can, their presence indicates historical crossbreeding outside of the breed. For this reason, we do not support the intentional breeding or representation of Merle or Brindle Pembrokes as purebred Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

Our program instead focuses on ethically preserving and improving naturally existing recessive traits already present within historical Pembroke bloodlines, while remaining deeply committed to structure, temperament, health testing, and overall breed integrity. We believe color should never come before quality, and no dog should be bred solely for appearance alone. Every breeding decision within our program is made with careful consideration toward producing healthy, stable, structurally sound companions that still embody the essence and purpose of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

This philosophy is also the foundation of our ongoing Platinum Corgi Project — a long-term preservation effort focused on responsibly developing and refining historically rooted recessive color genetics within the breed. Our goal is not simply to create unique colors, but to preserve the Pembroke’s unmistakable type, temperament, and functionality while exploring the beautiful genetic diversity that has quietly existed within the breed for decades. Through careful planning, extensive health testing, pedigree research, and selective pairings, we strive to produce dogs that are both visually striking and true to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi in every aspect that matters most.

Quick Links

Questions?

The Platinum Corgi