Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of the Rockies

For everyone who owns or loves Pembroke Welsh Corgis

Herding with your Corgi

2008 Herding Instinct Test Application

Although most Corgis are no longer used to drive cattle to market or work on the farm, their herding instincts can still be demonstrated in herding tests and trials. As herding dogs, Corgis work differently than border collies. Instead of gathering the stock, they drive them forward, nipping at the heels when necessary and, on their short legs, nimbly avoiding stray kicks. They work a herd from behind, in semi-circles, rather than running around the livestock. A bossy Corgi will stand his ground even against animals that outweigh him many times over.

 

Zia herds ducks

"Corgis are great herding dogs. Unfortunately, herding instructors are few and far between so most corgis have to be satisfied with herding the cat and keeping squirrels out of the yard. Unlike certain other of the herding breeds, however, corgis usually don’t herd children."

PWCCR member Julie Yamane

Jim deKieffer with Beth Merrill's Tia

PWCCR sponsors a Herding Instinct test once a year to identify those Corgis that still retain the herding instinct. There’s nothing more thrilling than to see the light bulb go off in your Corgi’s head as she meets a pen full of sheep for the first time.

Jim deKieffer with Francis Dahm's Gweni