Should I be worried about the corgi breed going extinct? If you are curious about this breed finding its place on the endangered species list, continue reading.
Over the past few years, we have seen many animal species disappear from this planet, and we hope that it doesn’t come down to our pups. One person is enough to raise the question:
Are corgis endangered?
For an avalanche of speculations to follow. False alarm. Although corgis have gone through a rough patch, they are not endangered.
If you wish to know more about this breed and its breakthrough in 1934, we’ve got some exciting information for you to read, so stay tuned!
Are Corgis Going Extinct?
Up until recently, there have been some allegations about the corgi breed becoming extinct. These allegations troubled many corgi lovers around the globe; therefore, they raised the question:
Are corgis going extinct?
Fear not lovers, this breed is safe from extinction. The first-ever mention of extinction appeared in 2013-2014 when it was noted that there were merely up to 300 corgis registered in the British Kennel Club.
This piece of information upset corgi owners worldwide, and the topic of possible corgi extinction began.
To make matters worse, Britain’s Kennel Club marked this breed as “vulnerable“. How could this happen?
One potential problem might be tail-docking, but what is this?
For those who are not familiar with this, tail-docking is removing part of a dog’s tail. How does this influence the breeding of a corgi?
In Ancient Rome, it was believed that tail amputation would prevent infections and injuries, and this belief stuck for a long time. However, tail-docking also had a cosmetic purpose, and not necessarily in a good way. By amputating a dog’s tail, you are reducing its mating possibilities, and tails are crucial here.
By tail-docking, the cuteness and importance of corgi tails lose their purpose altogether. So, this might be why the unexpected fall in breeding in 2013 and 2014 happened.
Fortunately, tail-docking decreased in the following years, and the corgi breed escaped extinction.
Recently, the American Kennel Club has released information that over 500 corgis have been voluntarily registered.
The sudden increase of corgis led to a boost of 38% in quantity by 2020.
Here’s another piece of information that goes in favor of the corgi breed.
Namely, you are all more or less familiar with the historical drama “The Crown“, following Britain’s dynasty and the life of Queen Elizabeth II. In the series, she is often in the company of her pet corgis.
Soon after the series broadcasted, an interest in corgis grew by an astonishing 22%.
This should be enough evidence that these cute fluffy pets are safe from disappearing.
Why Do Corgis Exist?
For us to fully understand the development of this breed, we need to dig into its history and maybe even ask some philosophical questions, such as:
Why do corgis exist?
There may not be a scientific answer to the existence of these dogs, but corgi lovers like to think that they exist in order to make our life better by their cuteness – and they’re not wrong.
These dogs really can bring happiness into your life. So, where did their story begin?
The Cardigan Welsh corgi comes from a long line of Teckel dogs that is also connected to the Dachshund breed. It is believed that the beginning of existence for this breed started almost 3000 years ago in Wales.
This corgi soon found its purpose in life and became a “herder” – he was in charge of taking care of the livestock and transporting cattle from villages to English markers. Yes, it was this small dog that did the hard work.
A while passed, and then came the Viking invasion. This took a lot of things, but it brought a Spitz-type of dog to England. This dog breed was bred with the already existing Cardigan Welsh corgi, and that’s how the Pembroke Welsh corgi was born.
In the 1800s, the corgi breed was not very popular, and the Kennel Club grouped these two breeds into one.
It took another 100 years for a major breakthrough. In 1920, the term “corgi” began to be used regularly. After that, in 1925, the investigation concerning the recognition of these two breeds began.
Finally, in 1934, the American Kennel Club separated the Cardigan from the Pembroke corgi.
But the history wouldn’t be complete without an exciting folk tale, and corgis have a lot to offer. Storytime!
According to the legend, the Pembroke breed was gifted with magical powers. Corgi dogs and forest fairies lived in peace and harmony. The corgis used to help them, and fairies used to ride corgis into battle.
One day, children stumbled across these dogs and thought they were foxes. However, they were actually coming back from a battle of the fairy tribes. Unfortunately, the fairies died, and the dogs were left to be cared for by the children.
This is the most popular and well-known folk story you will hear about corgis.
Today, you can feel that their furbelow their shoulders is a bit darker than the rest of their body. People often refer to this as “the fairy saddle“.
Also, if you notice that your corgi becomes nippy at times, this is not without reason. Putting a collar that contains some iron or steel will prevent the corgi from biting its owner. As you might already know – fairies are averse to metals like that.
Most commonly, you will hear that the corgi breed is otherwise called “the dog of the dwarfs“, and that’s all thanks to the fairies.
These dogs have gone through a lot during history, and they ended up getting a day dedicated to them. Yes, I am talking about Corgi Day.
Corgi Day was established back in 2011 when a group of friends gathered together and decided to dedicate a day to their favorite dog breed. They were called The Omaha Corgi Crew.
This group soon significantly expanded, and now it counts around 1,500 members.
Soon, this group went from celebrating the corgi to supporting the breeding process. The Omaha Corgi Crew has helped more than 100 corgis find a loving home. The annual Corgi Day is the 4th of June.
Read Also: When Is National Corgi Day? When Is Corgi Beach Day?
Corgi Royalty
You must have come across some information about the corgi breed practically being royalty. You are not wrong because these dogs have been the Queen’s favorite for a long time.
Here’s what we know about the corgi’s royal background.
It all began when King George VI bought a gift for Queen Elizabeth’s 18th birthday – a Pembroke corgi puppy. The first royal corgi was named Susan, and the Queen absolutely loved her.
She loved her so much that she took Susan with her on her honeymoon. The Queen’s love for corgis grew so strong that she owned more than 30 corgis during her reign. The interesting fact is that they were all descendants of Susan – her number 1.
Although Susan was the favorite, it wasn’t the first time the Queen laid her eyes on a corgi. These dogs have been in the family since 1933. Dookie and Jane were the first corgis to find their place within the royal family, but unfortunately, Dookie passed away, and Jane was run over.
The Queen loved and cared for her corgis so much that she herself took the responsibility of overseeing the breeding program. All of Queen’s corgis were registered under the affix Windsor.
Seems like the Queen had it all planned out for her corgis. She secured proper training by hiring some of the best-known dog professionals at that time. Her team included:
- Thelma Gray
- Mauren Johnston
- Ally Boughton
She also had her two primary caretakers – Nancy and Bill Fenwick. They took care of the dogs when the Queen was not around. The Queen appreciated Nancy so much that she attended her funeral, even though that is not a royal protocol she should take part in.
After many successful years of corgi training, the Windsor breeding program has reached an end. The last in the line, Willow, died in 2012. She was the last descendant from Susan and the royal corgi.
After that, the Queen stated that she would no longer breed corgis, not because she doesn’t love them, but because her age is catching up, and she doesn’t want to leave any dog unattended.
We can all agree that throughout her lifetime of breeding corgis, she gave them some traditional names, such as:
- Emma
- Willow
- Susan
- Monty
- Noble
- Linnet
Of course, there were some cute and funny ones as well:
- Candy
- Sugar
- Foxy
- Honey
- Sherry
- Berry
Although corgis may not be in the royal family anymore, they have certainly not been forgotten. Queen Elizabeth II is marked as the most profound corgi breeder and ambassador of all time.
The impossibility of corgis transferred to the film industry. One of the most popular TV dramas, “The Crown“, featuring the Queen’s life, has included corgis to complete the picture.
Here is an insert from “The Crown” showing the Queen and her corgis:
Corgi Today
Corgis have gone through a lot to get where they are today, but it was worth it. Their adorable faces and fluffy tails make thousands and thousands of owners happy today.
Let’s take a look at what a corgi dog offers us today.
Starting with size and appearance, corgis are not too high, but they are a bit chubby.
| HEIGHT: | 12 inches (male) | 10 inches (female) |
| WEIGHT: | 24 – 28 lbs (male) | 24 – 26 lbs (female) |
Their coat is thick, and they come in various colors.
- The Pembroke corgi comes in: red, red-headed tri-color, black-headed tri-color, and sable.
- The Cardigan corgi comes in: blue merle, brindle, red, and sable.
Besides the primary corgi breeds, we also have the Cowboy Corgi – a mix of the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Australian Cattle Dog. They are more or less the same as your regular corgi; they just don’t bark that much.
As far as their personality goes, there are a few features that stand out. For instance,
- Corgis are needy – They need your attention 24/7, whether it is cuddling, playing, or just being in the same room as their owner.
- Corgis are obedient – These dogs are known for their loyalty. However, this depends on how well you have trained them.
- Corgis are territorial – The corgi breed likes to have everything under control, including their territory. Don’t be surprised if you see some aggressive outbursts, and it can happen.
- Corgis are friendly – You will surely notice that your corgi greatly influences your mental health and happiness. This breed is actually great at making people feel better about themselves.
Veterinary medicine has developed so much that, today, you can get your corgi checked for any dog disease there is, and you can actually prevent a great deal of them. After all, corgis are not blessed with exceptional health.
Your pet corgi will be in your life for almost 15 years, 16 if you are lucky.
Thanks to all their attractive features, cute look, and long lifespan, corgis are a very popular pet choice today, and we hope this doesn’t change.
To Summarize
Don’t worry. Corgis are not among the endangered species. They have indeed had a rough time in history, but they got back on the list of some of the cuteness and wanted dog breeds. Thanks to the Queen, her love for corgis, and their film popularity – there has been a rise in corgis breeding.
Throughout history, corgis have had an important role in herding. They have been connected to numerous exciting folk tales, and nowadays, they even have a day dedicated to them. It’s safe to say that extinction is far from happening.