Pembroke Welsh Corgis were developed to be the all-round farm dog, capable of performing a myriad of tasks with an easy-to-care-for coat and needing minimal amounts of food to boot (despite what they would like us to believe!) As such, the breed is well suited for performing the full range of AKC activities open to it: obedience, tracking, herding, and agility. We know they would also do retriever work, lure course, go-to-ground, and so on, but AKC restricts those activities to the breeds that were historically developed to do them. That does not exclude other non-AKC activities such as Frisbee catching and flyball and we all know that a Pembroke is the world’s best therapist. And of course there are the conformation and junior showmanship rings for Pembrokes and their owners who are so inclined.

Your Pembroke needs to be in good condition to successfully compete in performance activities. Take a critical look at weight (many corgis are just too fat) and nail length and get to work on both early on. Remember that your vet is used to seeing dogs that are overweight so don’t take his or her word that yours is just fine. A corgi can weigh 25 pounds and be fat!

Your corgi needs to be well socialized, as it will encounter all types of dogs, people, and conditions as you travel and participate in classes, matches, trials, and tests. It goes without saying your dog should be up-to-date on all necessary vaccinations; heartworm and flea preventatives and worm checks should be routine. A neutered corgi will solve some of the problems associated with being in heat at the wrong time (both males and females!) Horsemen use a "fitness for use" exam and you may want to consider whether your corgi is structurally suited for a particular activity, but give them all a try first and let your corgi help you decide.

All corgis need a reliable come off leash, sit/stay, down/stay, and a "wait" command to be a pleasure around the house along with walking on a loose leash and paying attention to you. They need these basic skills in the various performance areas, although some areas demand a more polished version. It is very frustrating to deal with a dog that won’t come to you when you are trying to herd sheep or go on to the next agility obstacle.

Next let's consider you, the handler! Consider your physical condition and limitations as well, although many agility, obedience, and tracking classes are really aerobics in disguise! You may need to trim up as your dog tones up! AKC is most encouraging of handicapped handlers. You will see people in wheelchairs and on crutches doing obedience, agility, and tracking. You should also consider whether your shots are up-to-date and get a tetanus booster if you will be around livestock or wire fences.

  Where to Begin

A quality obedience class might be the best place to start so that you and your corgi can acquire those basics skills previously mentioned. Many training groups also offer a Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) test as a graduation ceremony. While a CGC is not an official AKC title, you can list your dog’s name in its CGC Archives and you will receive a nice certificate to frame or put in a scrapbook. Some pet visitation groups have CGC certification as one of several requirements for membership.You will next need to find a class or private trainer or mentor to help you to your goals. Many people have trained dogs to titles solely from a book, but a class or the cost of private lessons will generally prod you into doing the suggested training. There are also practical considerations. For herding, you will need livestock and for agility, you will need a lot of equipment. People will attend classes solely for those reasons as most of us do not have livestock nor do we have the space for all the agility obstacles. (Many people will go on and at least acquire some of the items needed; one friend bought a small farm so she could have livestock!)

Attend a dog show, agility trial, obedience trial, or a match and watch the performances of the dogs and handlers. When you see something that you like, once the team is done showing, ask for suggestions for classes. Keep in mind where you live and your weekly schedule. Some people drive two or more hours each way to attend a class, but a newcomer is not likely to devote that much energy! You will probably get several suggestions. Go watch a class or two and decide if the setting is right for you and your dog. You may be better off with private lessons at first before going into a group class. Again time and economics will be major factors. Also remember that you get what you pay for. If several people recommend the same instructors to you, those people might be better choices than a class just down the street from you. For herding and tracking, you may need to rely on a grapevine. You can ask those same people at the shows who tracks or herds and get references that way.

Many people and their dogs can handle training multiple activities but others can only do one thing at a time. Your first goal might be a Companion Dog (CD) title but you also work in agility at the same time. You might be really interested in herding but the practicality of driving a long distance to work your dog who will tire very quickly in those initial stages of training may make you put herding aside for the time being.

People who tell you that you can’t do (fill in the activity) because it will ruin your dog for (fill in another activity) have never done what they are telling you that you and your corgi can’t do! Don’t believe such naysayers for even one second! When you are training certain very selective exercises or are getting ready to compete with your corgi for a title, you may need to be careful. For example, tracking involves encouraging the dog to work well away from you. Fine for agility but not a good idea to start at the time you are getting ready to show in obedience where the dog has been taught to watch you for directions. You can give multiple commands in herding, tracking, and agility, but not in obedience, where a second "come" command will result in a non-qualifying score. Dogs are situational and they respond to the situation as well as the command, but that is after you and your dog are somewhat experienced. Your dog may sit on the agility pause table but won’t sit on command in an obedience class!

You might try attending a "fun day" or clinic and try the activity. Your corgi (or you) may fall in love with the activity and be a natural. Other times your corgi may need repeated exposures to the activity to learn that it is okay, especially herding. Just because your corgi doesn’t turn on to sheep the first time it sees them does not mean that it is a dud in herding. If you have multiple dogs, ask for help in selecting the one that might be the easiest to train in the activity you want to pursue. If you and your corgi quickly progress in an activity, you will be more likely to continue with it than if you are dealing with a difficult to train dog.

 A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. It’s up to you to take that first step. Who knows? In a couple years, you may be receiving YOUR Versatile Corgi certificate at the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America annual banquet!

About the Author
I acquired my first Pembroke, Tiffy (the Tiff in Tifflyn), in 1968. Eight months after her death in early 1982, I acquired my first show dog. McKinley and I went from Novice A to the coveted CH UDT title. He taught me more than I ever taught him. He made me become a better trainer and the successes of my later dogs are due to him. Callie came about a year and a half after McKinley and made me famous. Callie is the breed’s first Versatile Corgi Excellent (VCX) and I was thrilled to have her included in The New Complete Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Her grandson Cruiser gave me not only another breed first but an AKC first as well when he became the first breed champion of any breed to be a Champion Tracker (CT). Cruiser is featured in About Turn: The 1997 Obedience Year in Review, was honored on the front cover of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America Newsletter (June 1998 issue), and is the featured corgi tracking on the PWCCA Performance Page on its website. Yes I work full time too; I teach high school mathematics. My performance articles are dedicated to those who have taught me best, my Pembroke Welsh Corgis: