Since adopting Winston in January 2020, I’ve lost count of the number of strangers who’ve asked me whether corgis are related to foxes.
That’s because Winston doesn’t look like many corgis you see on TV or social media.
He is leaner and foxier than corgis like Cheddar from Brooklyn Nine-Nine or Ein from Cowboy Bepop. He also has a big fluffy tail.
It’s no surprise then that people wonder whether he’s a different breed altogether.
Or, indeed, if he is somehow related to foxes.
In this article, I’ll reveal the truth about the origins of corgis and explain why some look more like foxes than others.
Let’s go!
Are corgis descended from foxes?
No, corgis are not descended from foxes.
Despite their foxy appearance, Pembroke Welsh Corgis most likely developed from the Spitz dogs brought to Wales by Flemish weavers in AD 1100.
The Spitz family of dogs also produced Pomeranians and Samoyeds.
Cardigan Welsh Corgis, on the other hand, likely developed from the Teckel family of dogs brought to Wales by the Celts around 1200 BC.
Both breeds have long tails and fox-like faces with ears that stand up.
But it’s Pembroke Welsh Corgis that look most like foxes, with their short coat that is red or sable in color.
Do two breeds make up a corgi?
Some people mistakenly think that corgis are mixed breeds.
They’re not.
Pembroke Corgis and Cardigan Corgis are two distinct dog breeds.
They are purebred and recognized as such by the American Kennel Club.
Why do some corgis look more like foxes than others?
My corgi Winston is a leaner, smaller corgi than many others we meet.
That’s why we’re often asked whether he is a purebred corgi (he is) or whether he is related to a fox.
The bigger, chunkier tail-less corgis we see on TV and social media don’t resemble their ancestors as closely as Winston does.
They look more like fluffy potatoes than sleek foxes.
That’s because they’ve been deliberately bred to look that way.
It’s ‘trendy’ to breed bigger, fluffier corgis together to achieve the look that’s become so ingrained in popular culture.
And the peachy corgi butt that doesn’t feature a tail?
That’s not natural either.
It’s a cruel practice that’s been outlawed in the UK and much of Europe but continues in the US and other parts of the world today.
Fluffy corgi vs. a standard corgi
A fluffy corgi or ‘fluffies’ as they’re known, are Pembroke or Cardigan corgis with longer hair than standard corgis.
This is due to the presence of the recessive FGF5 gene (a genetic mutation).
According to the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) official Breed Standard, fluffies are a ‘Very Serious Fault’. For this reason, they are not a recognized corgi breed.
According to the AKC, corgis are supposed to have a medium-length, short undercoat with a coarser, slightly wavy outer coat.
Fluffies, however, have a coat of extreme length with ‘exaggerated feathering on their ears, chest, legs, feet, underparts and hindquarters’.
Related FAQs
Can a corgi breed with a fox?
No, a corgi cannot breed with a fox.
What are corgis closest relatives?
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are members of the Spitz family. Their closest relative is most likely a Swedish Vallhund. Cardigan Corgis are part of the Teckel family. Their closest relative is likely the Dachshund.
What are the Queen’s two corgis called?
The Queen’s remaining living corgis are called Muick and Sandy. They now live with her son Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
