Centuries-Old Cattle Herder to Family Pet.
Corgis have slowly gained in popularity, and today, are among the top 50 most popular breeds for family pets. They're also popular with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, who received her first Pembroke Welsh Corgi from her father (King George VI) in 1933. The puppy's name was Rozavel Golden Eagle and was a playmate for Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret. Elizabeth has loved this dogs ever since.
Both Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgi are ancient breeds, possibly dating back to the 10th century (Cardigan to be 2000 years older than Pembroke), which began to disappear from Welsh farms by the early 1900s. In the 1850s, you could find Corgis on almost every farm in Wales- Pembroke with naturally docked tail in the southern region, Pembrokeshire and Cardigan with a long tail in the north, Cardiganshire. The cattle they watched over were smaller than those we see today, due to the roughness of the terrain and generally depressed conditions of the region. Small herding dogs could safely handle such livestock. The faithful Corgi was put to good use in his heyday, acting as a cattle dog, family guardian and pet, as well as vermin exterminator.
When Welsh farmers began to raise sheep in fenced pastures, the original purpose of the Corgi was eliminated. Farmers needed longer-legged dogs to herd their sheep, and Border Collies eventually replaced the Corgi. While Corgis are still used on farms, they mainly serve as companion and show dogs.
In the 1920s, the UK Kennel Club recognized Corgis as purebred dogs. They were officially known as Welsh Corgis when exhibited for the first time in 1925. At that time, Pembrokes and Cardigans were shown in the same class as one breed.
Then, in 1934, the Kennel Club recognized the Pembroke and the Cardigan as two separate breeds.