The difference between the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and other herding dogs is that the Pembroke drives the herd rather than herding. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is considered the smallest dog in the herding group. They are small, but they are fearless and can drive cattle better than any other herding dog. Their small bodies give then the edge for getting out of the way if any of the cattle decide to kick at them. They are also small enough that it makes it easy for them to enter caves and certain rock formations to hunt and flush out birds.
Tracking Abilities
Not typical of a herding dog, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a great tracker. With a little training, the Corgi can lead the handler on a trail as they track the scent they have been asked to find. This is not common for a herding dog. The Corgi does have unique ability to notice different scents, which makes them an ideal tracking dog. They have been used to track animals as well as humans. They make a great police tracking dog and have been called into service on many occasions to track game for hunters.
Driving Abilities
Unlike other herding breeds, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi drives the animals they are in charge of. They do nip at the heels of the animals they drive. The Corgi is used for different types of animals including geese, horses, ducks, sheep, cattle and pigs. They are very smart dogs and can round up an entire heard and the ones that fall behind faster than other breeds. This makes the Corgi an idea farm dog. They can work with many different animals, which make them very valuable to farmers. They do not hurt the animals they drive even if they are provoked. Geese and ducks are the worst at trying to outwit the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
The Corgi drives the herd by running behind rather than a Collie or Shetland Sheepdog, which runs in circles around the herd. This is what defines the dog from being a driver rather than a herder. Their ability to control the herd from behind is indeed unique. They do bark from time to time while working the herd, but for the most part, they use the nipping of the heels as a way to move the herd. This is what makes them idea for farmers and hunters.
Horses And Horse Track Dogs
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very often seen around racetracks as they are used to drive the horses from the pastures and to guard the stables. The Corgi has a keen sense and is favored as an ideal guard dog of the racehorses. Many dog breeds are used for different things other than herding, but the Welsh Corgi seems to excel in any field they are put into. They seem happy with all activities they do including rodent hunting, bird tracking and flushing and in some cases, you might see a Corgi chasing a fox as well as other wild animals.
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