The Delightful Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Queen Elizabeth II’s were with her when she died
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I’ve always loved dogs of all types, but herding dogs tend to be my favorite. I’ve had rough collies and German shepherds, but another option I have considered is the corgi.
A friend of mine had one, and I’ve also seen them in dog parks. They are adorable and cheerful dogs. When they run, their butts are unbelievably cute.
They are a good breed for someone who wants a herding-type dog but doesn’t want a larger breed. The word “corgi” is apparently means “dwarf dog”. Despite their diminutive size, they were very useful to farmers.
Believe it or not, these small but feisty dogs herded everything from ducks and sheep to cattle. Fast and agile, they flowed low to the ground and nipped the heels of larger creatures.
Speculation is that the breed originated with the Vikings, who brought them to the British Isles where they were bred with native dogs.
There are even fairy tales about the breed. Two Pembroke Welsh Corgis (the type favored by Queen Elizabeth II) were given to two human children by the “wee folk”, who used corgis to pull magical carriages. One version of the story is that the children were given the dogs after they accidentally came across a fairy funeral service.
From what I’ve seen, these dogs are good with children. They naturally herd them as well as any other pets in the household. Because of their energy levels, they can be a lot of fun for active, playful people.
In addition to being fun loving, they are affectionate, loyal, and intelligent. However… while they are easy to train, they have a stubborn streak. Sometimes they like to think for themselves. They can be good watch dogs as they will alert their owners to potential intruders.
The Queen’s Corgis
Queen Elizabeth first got a corgi when she was Princess Elizabeth, in 1944, for her 18th birthday. She named the dog Susan. When she and Prince Philip were married, the dog was hidden under lap rugs in the royal carriage.
The Queen bred ten generations of dogs from Susan and personally owned more than 30 of them. The dogs slept in cushion-lined baskets and…
