Sources vary on the real meaning of the word, “corgi.” It’s sometimes translated as “dwarf dog” since “cor” can mean “small man,” and “ci” is Welsh for dog, while others write that “Corgi” is simply the Celtic word for dog. For the Pembroke in this picture, however, we suspect it means “working dog.” 

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was originally created to help with herding cattle (with a little side work of corralling chickens, ducks and geese thrown in). The Welsh used the dogs as herders as early as the 10th century, a time when pastures were considered common land without fences, and when a British Crown ruling decreased the size of the land of crofters (farmers) to a few fenced-in acres declaring all other land to be common land.

The Corgi’s style of working actually drove stock farther afield rather than keeping them herded together, and this allowed for a larger grazing area. To keep a farmer’s cattle together and separate from other herds, Corgis also nipped at their legs to get them to move, easily done when a Corgi’s height meant easy access to a cow’s ankles. Then and now, the breed’s “low rider” form helps a Pembroke duck under a cow’s dangerous kick, and avoid the bumps of larger animals. Tenacity and ‘pushiness’ make up for the Pembroke’s lack of size that larger dogs use to intimidate stock, but Pembrokes also quiet herders not prone to barking or growling. This would only irritate cows and scare the fowl.

If this picture isn’t enough to make you take notice of the breed’s working ability, consider a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named “Reba.”  She was the first Pembroke or Cardigan Welsh Corgi in history to get herding championship titles from all three organizations (AKC, AHBA, ASCA), the first Pembroke or Cardigan Welsh Corgi in history to get all three organizations advanced titles in all three stock types (ducks, sheep and cattle), the first Pembroke Welsh Corgi to get an AKC herding championship title, and to our knowledge, was the only Pembroke or Cardigan AKC herding champion to produce an AKC herding champion. Along the way, she earned eight High in Trial titles, seven Reserve High in Trials, and upon her retirement in 2001, received a High in Trial over thirteen other dogs, most of them Border Collies.  She was also became a certified therapy dog visiting hospitals and nursing homes. Sadly, Reba passed away at the age of sixteen in 2007, but her genes live on in her progeny.

This photo by Samantha Ohmann is of her working Pembroke Welsh Corgi taking a moment at a dairy farm in central North Dakota