What Is a Corgi? A Kid's Guide to the Dog in the Book
Every reading of Rally Takes the Train ends the same way: "Is Rally a real dog?" Yes. He lives with us. He is a corgi. And here, for every kid who asked, is what a corgi is, why they look like that, and why there is fur on page 9.
The short version
- A corgi is a small herding dog from Wales with short legs, big ears, and a lot of opinions.
- There are two kinds: Pembroke (usually no tail, like Rally) and Cardigan (long tail).
- They were bred to herd cattle, which is why they're low to the ground and bossy.
- They shed. Constantly. In the book this is called corgi glitter.
A corgi is a dog with a big job and short legs
Corgis come from Wales, a small, green, rainy country next to England. Hundreds of years ago, farmers there needed a dog that could herd cows. Cows kick. So the farmers wanted a dog low enough to the ground that a cow's hoof would sail right over its head. That is the corgi: a full-size dog's body and bark on very short legs, built to nip at heels and duck.
The name probably comes from Welsh words meaning "dwarf dog." Nobody tells the corgi this. A corgi believes it is the largest animal in any room.
Two kinds of corgi
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Pointy ears, foxy face, usually a very short tail or none at all. Red and white, or tricolor. This is Rally.
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Rounder ears, a long fluffy tail, and more colors, including blue merle. A little bigger and a little older as a breed.
If you see a corgi with a tail, it's probably a Cardigan. If you see a corgi with a wiggling, tail-less back end, that's a Pembroke doing its best.
Things corgis do
- The sploot. Lying flat on their belly with both back legs stretched straight out behind. Rally is doing it on page 1.
- Herding. Corgis will try to herd kids, other dogs, and the vacuum. It's not naughty, it's their job.
- Talking. Corgis grumble, groan, and sigh. A corgi being asked to get off the couch sounds like an old man being asked to get off the couch.
- The ears. Enormous, upright, and pointed at whatever is most interesting, usually food.
- Loving their people. A corgi wants to be in the room where everyone is. That's the whole reason Rally gets on the train.
The truth about corgi glitter
Corgis have a double coat: a soft layer underneath to stay warm and a tougher layer on top to keep rain off. Twice a year the soft layer "blows," which means it comes out in handfuls, and the rest of the year it comes out in a steady drift. There is no corgi house without fur in it. In the book, Rally walks down the aisle and leaves a trail behind him, and we call it corgi glitter because that sounds nicer than what it is.
"As he walked down the aisle he didn't mean to litter, but he left a trail of furry corgi glitter."
Page 9
Meet Rally in the bookA hand-painted picture book about a real corgi, his first train ride, and the grand-paw-rents at the end of the line. $13.99.
Buy on AmazonIs a corgi a good dog for kids?
Usually, yes, with two notes. They have a lot of energy for a small dog and need real walks, and the herding instinct means a corgi might nip at a running toddler's heels until it's taught not to. A well-trained corgi is a patient, funny, deeply loyal family dog that will follow your kid from room to room for fifteen years. Rally has been that dog for us. He is also, for the record, not a fan of early mornings, which is where the book begins.
Questions parents ask
Is Rally a real corgi?
Yes. Rally is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi who lives with the author's family in Southern California. Illustrator Leslie Dunn painted him from photographs, which is why the book's corgi has his exact ears.
Why do corgis have short legs?
They were bred in Wales to herd cattle, and being low to the ground let them nip at a cow's heels and duck under a kick. The short legs are a working feature, not a flaw.
Do corgis shed a lot?
Yes. They have a double coat that sheds year-round and heavily twice a year. The book calls it corgi glitter.
What's the difference between a Pembroke and a Cardigan corgi?
Pembrokes have pointed ears and usually little or no tail; Cardigans have rounder ears, a long tail, and come in more colors. Rally is a Pembroke.
How big is a corgi?
A Pembroke corgi like Rally usually stands about 10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder, which is shorter than a grown-up's knee, and often weighs somewhere around 25 to 30 pounds. Cardigans are a bit longer and heavier. So a corgi is a sturdy, medium-weight dog on very short legs, which is why Rally needed a boost up the big train stairs.
How long do corgis live?
Healthy corgis commonly live about 12 to 15 years, so a corgi puppy can grow up alongside a child from preschool into high school. Daily walks, a healthy weight and regular checkups help, and keeping a corgi trim is good for its long back. Your vet is the best person to ask about how to keep a particular dog healthy for as long as possible.
Why don't some corgis have tails?
Some Pembroke corgis are born with very short tails. In some countries, puppies' tails have also been shortened by a vet when they were tiny, which is called docking. Cardigan corgis keep their long, fluffy tails, and in places where docking is not allowed, many Pembrokes have full tails too. Either way, a happy corgi wiggles its whole back end.
Did Queen Elizabeth have corgis?
Yes. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom loved Pembroke Welsh corgis and kept many of them during her long reign, starting with a corgi named Susan she received as a young woman. Her corgis lived at the palace and often appeared in photos with her. That royal fame is one reason so many people around the world know what a corgi looks like.
How can kids help take care of a corgi?
Even young kids can have a corgi job with a grown-up nearby. At 3 to 5, they can help fill the water bowl, toss a ball and put dog toys away. At 6 to 8, they can help brush (corgis shed a lot), hold the leash on a walk with an adult, and practice simple commands like sit. Always let a sleeping or eating dog rest.
How do you draw a corgi for kids?
Start with a long oval for the body and a smaller circle for the head. Add four very short legs, two big triangle ears pointing up, a pointy nose and a fluffy round back end. Color it red-orange and white like a Pembroke. For a head start, our free coloring pages include Rally the corgi, ready for crayons.