Description
Like most herding breeds, they are active, intelligent, and athletic dogs despite their short legs and stocky body. The short legs may seem to be a disadvantage, but they can run and jump just as well as any other dog of comparable size. They were originally used to herd sheep, horses and cows by nipping at their heels. Its low profile allowed it to roll away from a cow's kick.
Though still sometimes used as a working dog, today they are more commonly kept as companions. These dogs are amazing companions for children, bonding more with them than they might other members of the family. Pembrokes are extremely intelligent and quick thinkers, which can make them easy to train, but they are not subservient — for instance, they might not respond to "come" if they have found something such as a gopher hole that interests them more than the reward offered. Pembrokes are quite obedient, because of its want to please the owner. In training, the most success has been found using treat-based praise as the Pembroke has an insatiable appetite to a fault. Corgis can become overweight quickly, so with treat-based praise, one should use low-fat treats (such as low-fat dog treats, Cheerios, or small pieces of carrot). Clicker training is an extremely effective means of training corgis and can be used for simple household training and on through upper level obedience and other competitions. (See Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog" for information on training with positive reinforcement). Another way of training uses a training chain or a pinch collar. Although the name may sound bad, used responsibly (and under the supervision of an obedience instructor or professional dog trainer) this might help owners to train their dogs. Cesar Millan introduced this training in year 2000 or earlier and calls his work Dog Psychology.[citation needed]
Sable Pembroke doing agility teeter-totter
Although short, Corgis are fast runners and, like most herding breeds, need a minimum of a two hours' exercise daily[citation needed]. They should be walked daily, and also tended to. They are, contrary to appearances, a medium-size dog and should never be thought of as a toy dog or one who needs less attention and activity.
As always, prospective Pembroke owners should never purchase an animal from a pet store, as these dogs frequently come from unhealthy environments (such as puppy mills and backyard breeders) and are at much higher risk for health and behavioral problems[citation needed]. A local dog club or kennel club can usually recommend a reputable breeder or rescue organization.
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