An 11th-century Welsh cattle herder that nipped at the heels of cows while ducking their kicks, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi exploded in global popularity thanks to Queen Elizabeth II, who owned more than 30 of them over her reign. Bright, bold, and surprisingly athletic for short legs, they are highly trainable and famously photogenic. Trade-offs: heavy seasonal shedding from the double coat, a tendency toward obesity and back problems, and an alert-bark instinct that suits a yard but not a thin-walled flat.
