Welsh Corgi Pembroke

Pembroke Welsh Corgis may be small in stature but they are full of character and for their size they have an impressive bark. They are smaller than the Cardigan Corgi but are just as intelligent and thrive in a home environment. 

They have a lot going for them they are small and therefore just as happy to live in an apartment as they are in a country mansion. On top of this the Pembroke Corgi boasts a calm yet fun-loving personality and enjoys nothing more than to be involved in everything that goes on around them.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has been around for centuries with records of these charming little dogs going back to 920 AD. It's thought they were taken to Wales by Flemish weavers and during the 14th right through to the 18th century they were used to drive cattle to market. There is a legend telling how Pembroke Corgis were the mounts of Welsh Fairies and that is how they got their saddle markings on their backs.

The breed was recognised by The Kennel Club in 1928 but at the time both the Pembroke and the Cardigan were classed as being one breed. It was not until 1934 that the two were separated and the Pembroke was recognised as being a breed in its own right. 

Interesting facts about the breed

• The Corgi's ancestry can be traced right back to the 10th Century
• The breed was once known as being an "Enchanted Dog"
• Pembroke Welsh Corgis are quite different to the Cardigan cousins
• Their name "Corgi" actually means "Dwarf Dog"
• Welsh Pembroke Corgis have a very impressive bark for such small dogs
• Traditionally a Pembroke's tail was docked but since the law banning the procedure came into effect in 2007 tail docking is now illegal with the exception being for some working breeds and if a dog suffers from some sort of health issue that requires their tails to be docked. The procedure must be agreed and authorised before being performed by a qualified vet. With this said some Pembrokes have naturally occurring bobbed tails and dogs can be registered with the Kennel Club as such providing the correct paperwork is provided by a qualified vet

Height at the withers: Males 25 - 30 cm Females 25 - 30 cm

Average weight: Males 10 - 12 kg Females 9 - 11 kg

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi like their Cardigan cousins boasts having a low yet very strong body. They give the impression of being sturdy and alert as well as having a heap of stamina when needed. Their heads are quite foxlike with dogs always having a keen intelligent look about their eyes. They have a moderate stop and their skulls are quite flat between the ears. Their muzzles gently taper to a black nose and their eyes are set nicely on a dog's face being round and medium in size. Eyes are usually brown to match a dog's coat colour.

The Pembroke has slightly rounded medium sized ears which they hold pricked. They have a strong jaw with a perfect scissor bite where their upper teeth neatly overlap their lower ones. Necks are quite long with dogs having shorter lower legs that should be as straight as possible. Their forearms mould around a dog's chest and their elbows sit closely to their sides. Shoulders are well laid back and are nicely angulated.

A Pembroke's body is moderately long with dogs having nice level toplines and their chest are broad and deep being well let down to their elbows. Their hindquarters are strong and muscular while being flexible at the same time. Back legs are short showing a good amount of bone right down to a dog's feet. Their feet are oval shaped with strong well arched tight toes with the two middle ones being a little longer than the outer toes. Pads are firm strong and nails short. Their tails are set in line with a dog's topline which they carry slightly above it when excited or alert**.**

When it comes to their coat the Pembroke boasts having a straight medium length coat and a much denser undercoat that's quite harsh to the touch. The accepted breed colours are as follows:

• Red & White
• Sable & White
• Tricolour

Gait/movement

When a Welsh Pembroke Corgi moves they do so with an active and free movement. They throw their front legs well forward without dogs lifting them too much off the ground. They have a lot of drive from their hindquarters with dogs throwing forward their hindlegs.

Faults

The Kennel Club frowns on any exaggerations or departures from the breed standard and would judge the faults on how much they affect a dog's overall health and wellbeing as well as their ability to perform.

Males should have both testicles fully descended into their scrotums and it is worth noting that a dog can be a little lighter or heavier as well as slightly taller or shorter than set out in the Kennel Club breed standard which is given as a guideline only.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi boasts having a fun-loving nature and they like nothing more than to be involved in everything that goes on around them. They thrive in a family environment where the children are slightly older and are not the best choice for people with younger children thanks to the fact they are known to nip at people's heels a trait that's deeply embedded in their psyche from the days when they were used to drive cattle to market.

They are highly intelligent characters that like to be busy although once they have been well exercised a Pembroke is just as happy to chill out in front of a warm fire. They may be small in stature but they boast a tremendous amount of stamina and love to be out and about in the great outdoors as often as possible which makes them the ideal choice for people who live in the country and who lead busy outdoor lives and who enjoy having a canine companion at their side.

They are very enthusiastic about everything that goes on around them which makes them great fun to be around. They are a good choice for first time owners because they are so eager to please and quick to learn new things thanks to their intelligence. However the downside to this is that a Pembroke can pick up bad behaviours just as quickly which is why their training must start early and it must be consistent and fair throughout a dog's life so they understand what is expected of them.

It's important for these dogs to be well socialised from a young age so they grow up to be confident outgoing mature dogs. Their socialisation must include introducing them to lots of new situations noises people other animals and dogs once they have been fully vaccinated. It's also crucial for their training to start early too and it should be consistent throughout a dog's life. A Pembroke is never happier than when they know their place in the pack and who they can look to for direction and guidance. If they don't know who is the alpha dog in a household they may quickly take on the role of a dominant dog which can make them harder to live with and handle.

For such little dogs they have an impressive bark and they make wonderful watchdogs because they are always ready to let an owner know when there are strangers about or when something is happening that they don't like. They can be a little wary of strangers but rarely would a Pembroke show any sort of aggression towards people they don't know preferring to keep their distance until they get to know someone.

Are they a good choice for first time owners?

The Welsh Pembroke Corgi is a good choice for first time dog owners because they are so amenable and people-oriented loving nothing more than to please and to entertain their families. They are particularly good with children and older people too although playtime can get a bit boisterous at times especially when they are still young.

What about prey drive?

Although Pembrokes are very social by nature they have working and herding in their lineage as such they have a very high prey drive. and will chase a smaller animal whenever they get the chance which includes the cat from next door. With this said care should be taken as to where and when a Pembroke can run free off the lead more especially if there are other animals or livestock nearby.

What about playfulness?

Pembrokes have a very playful side to their natures and love to entertain and be entertained. They are known to be a little mischievous when the mood takes them and being so clever a Pembroke quickly learns how to please an owner bearing in mind that they would also tests the boundaries from time to time just for the fun of it.

What about adaptability?

Welsh Pembrokes are highly adaptable dogs and providing they are given enough daily physical exercise combined with as much mental stimulation to prevent boredom from setting in they are just as happy living in an apartment in town as they are living in a house in the country.

What about separation anxiety?

Pembrokes form very strong ties with their families and are never happy when they find themselves left on their own for longer periods of time. They are better suited to people who either work from home or in households where one person stays at home when everyone else is out so they are never alone for any length of time which could see a dog suffering from separation anxiety. This can lead to them being destructive around the home which is a dog's way of relieving any stress they are feeling and a way to keep themselves entertained which could include barking incessantly.

What about excessive barking?

Pembrokes are known to like the sound of their own voices a little too much which is something that needs to be gently nipped in the bud when a dog is still young being careful not to frighten them. Others will only bark when there are strangers about or when something they don't like is going on in their surroundings.

Do Welsh Pembroke Corgis like water?

Some Pembrokes like swimming and will take to the water whenever they can more especially when the weather is hot. However if anyone who owns a dog that does not like water should never force them to go in because it would just end up scaring them. With this said care should always be taken when walking a Pembroke off the lead anywhere near more dangerous watercourses just in case a dog decides to leap in and then needs rescuing because they cannot get out of the water on their own bearing in mind that they have such short legs.

Are Welsh Pembroke Corgis good watchdogs?

Pembrokes may be small in stature but they have a strong herding and guarding instinct in their ancestry. As such they are known to be good watchdogs and are always quick off the mark to let an owner know when there are strangers about although they would rarely do this aggressively.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very intelligent which added to the fact they love to please means they are easy to train and in the right hands they learn new things very quickly. However if allowed they will take on a more dominant role which is why their training should start early and it must be consistent so that a Pembroke knows what an owner expects of them.

The downside to them being fast learners is they are just as quick to pick up bad habits as they are the good and it’s essential for them to be well socialised from a young age so they mature into well-rounded obedient adult dogs. Pembrokes are never happier than when they are given something to do which is why they are so amenable to learning new things. The key to successfully training them is to make their training as interesting as possible and to avoid too much repetition. It's also a good idea to keep training sessions that much shorter which helps keep a dog more focused on what is being asked of them.

They do not answer well to any sort of harsh correction or heavier handed training methods but they do respond extremely well to positive reinforcement especially if there are high value treats involved which always brings the best out of these clever little dogs. With this said Pembrokes excel at all sorts of canine sports which includes activities like heel-work to music agility obedience and flyball.

Pembroke puppies are very cute and they are incredibly smart too. As such they are very quick to learn new things which includes the good and the bad. In short owners need to start out as they mean to go on by laying down ground rules so that a Pembroke puppy understands what is expected of them. All dogs should be taught their place in the "pack" and the earlier they do the better behaved they will be when fully mature. The first commands a puppy should be taught are as follows:

• Come
• Sit
• Stay
• Quiet
• Leave it
• Down
• Bed

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are best suited to families where the children are slightly older and who therefore know how to behave around dogs. They are not the best choice in households where the children are younger because these charming little dogs have a habit of nipping at people's heels which is their way of trying to move things along. With this said any interaction between toddlers and a dog should always be well supervised by an adult to make sure playtime does not get too boisterous and rowdy.

They can be a little aggressive around other dogs which is why it's so important for a Pembroke to be well socialised from a young age. If they have grown up with a family cat in a household they usually get on well together but if they would think nothing of chasing off any cats they don't know. Care should be taken when a Pembroke is around smaller animals and pets because they might just see them as "fair game". As such any contact is best avoided.

The average life expectancy of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi is between 12 and 15 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.

The Pembroke can suffer from a few hereditary health issues which are worth knowing about if you are planning to share your home with one of these active little dogs. The conditions that seem to affect the breed the most include the following:

• Von Willebrand’s disease (type 1) - dogs should be tested through AHT
• Degenerative myelopathy (DM) - dogs should be tested through the Animal Health Trust (AHT)
• Hip dysplasia - dogs should be hip scored
• Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
• Cancer
• Monorchidism
• Patellar luxation
• Obesity

What about vaccinations?

Pembroke Corgi puppies would have been given their initial vaccinations before being sold but it is up to their new owners to make sure they have their follow-up shots in a timely manner with the vaccination schedule for puppies being as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

There has been a lot of discussion about the need for dogs to have boosters. As such it's best to talk to a vet before making a final decision on whether a dog should continue to have annual vaccinations which are known as boosters.

What about spaying and neutering?

Many Welsh Pembroke Corgi breeders recommend that dogs be spayed or neutered when a puppy is 1-year old and after a female has had her first season. With this said many vets think that neutering and spaying females should be done when dogs are between the ages of 6 to 9 months old.

Other vets recommend spaying and neutering dogs when they are 6 months old but never any earlier unless for medical reasons. With this said many breeds are different and it is always advisable to discuss things with a vet and then follow their advice on when a dog should be spayed or neutered.

What about obesity problems?

Pembrokes like their food a little too much which can lead to weight gain. It is also worth noting that some dogs gain weight after they have been spayed or neutered and it's important to keep an eye on a dog's waistline just in case they do. If a dog starts to put on weight it's important to adjust their daily calorie intake and to up the amount of exercise they are given. Older dogs too are more prone to gaining weight and again it's essential they be fed and exercised accordingly because obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years. The reason being that it puts a lot of extra strain on a dog's internal organs including the heart which could prove fatal.

What about allergies?

Some Pembrokes are prone to suffering from allergies and it's important for a dog to see a vet sooner rather than later if one flares up. Allergies can be notoriously hard to clear up and finding the triggers can be challenging. With this said a vet would be able to make a dog with an allergy more comfortable while they try to find out the triggers which could include the following:

• Certain dog foods that contain high levels to grain and other cereal fillers
• Airborne pollens
• Dust mites
• Environment
• Flea and tick bites
• Chemicals found in everyday household cleaning products

Participating in health schemes

All responsible Welsh Pembroke Corgi breeders would ensure that their stud dogs are tested for known hereditary and congenital health issues known to affect the breed by using the following schemes:

• Testing for Von Willebrand's disease through the Animal Health Trust
• Testing for degenerative myelopathy (DM) through the Animal Health Trust

What about breed specific breeding restrictions?

Pembroke puppies with naturally occurring bobbed tails can be registered with the Kennel Club which was decided back in October 2008 as a way of identifying dogs that carry the tailless gene and to keep a register of bobbed tailed Pembrokes. To register a naturally bobbed tailed Pembroke a vet must provide the relevant documentation with the registration form.

What about Assured Breeder Requirements?

Currently there are no Kennel Club Assured Breeder requirements and there are no BVA screening schemes or DNA tests available for the Welsh Pembroke Corgi. However breeders can contact the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and have dogs tested for the following:

• Von Willebrand's disease (type 1) - through the Animal Health Trust (AHT)
• Degenerative myelopathy (DM) - through the Animal Health Trust (AHT)
• Hip dysplasia – dogs can be hip scored

As with any other breed Pembrokes need to be groomed on a regular basis to make sure their coats and skin are kept in top condition. They also need to be given regular daily exercise to ensure they remain fit and healthy. On top of this dogs need to be fed good quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives.

Caring for a Welsh Pembroke Corgi puppy

Pembroke puppies are boisterous and full of life which means it's essential for homes and gardens to be puppy-proofed well in advance of their arrival. A responsible breeder would have well socialised their puppies which always leads to more outgoing confident and friendly dogs right from the word go. With this said any puppy is going to feel vulnerable when they leave their mother and littermates which must be taken into account. The longer a puppy can remain with their mother the better although it should never be for too long either.

It's best to pick a puppy up when people are going to be around for the first week or so which is the time needed for a puppy to settle in. Puppy-proofing the home and garden means putting away any tools and other implements that a boisterous puppy might injure themselves on. Electric wires and cables must be put out of their reach because puppies love chewing on things. Toxic plants should be removed from flowerbeds and the home too.

Puppies need to sleep a lot to grow and develop as they should which means setting up a quiet area that's not too out of the way means they can retreat to it when they want to nap and it's important not to disturb them when they are sleeping. It's also a good idea to keep "playtime" nice and calm inside the house and to have a more active "playtime" outside in the garden which means puppies quickly learn to be less boisterous when they are inside.

The documentation a breeder provides for a puppy must have all the details of their worming date and the product used as well as the information relating to their microchip. It is essential for puppies to be wormed again keeping to a schedule which is as follows:

• Puppies should be wormed at 6 months old
• They need to be wormed again when they are 8 months old
• Puppies should be wormed when they are 10 months old
• They need to be wormed when they are 12 months old

Things you'll need for your puppy

There are certain items that new owners need to already have in the home prior to bringing a new puppy home. It's often a good idea to restrict how much space a puppy plays in more especially when you can't keep an eye on what they get up to bearing in mind that puppies are often quite boisterous which means investing in puppy gates or a large enough playpen that allows a puppy the room to express themselves while keeping them safe too. The items needed are therefore as follows:

• Good quality puppy or baby gates to fit on doors
• A good well-made playpen that's large enough for a puppy to play in so they can really express themselves as puppies like to do
• Lots of well-made toys which must include good quality chews suitable for puppies to gnaw on bearing in mind that a puppy will start teething anything from when they are 3 to 8 months old
• Good quality feed and water bowls which ideally should be ceramic rather than plastic or metal
• A grooming glove
• A slicker brush or soft bristle brush
• Dog specific toothpaste and a toothbrush
• Scissors with rounded ends
• Nail clippers
• Puppy shampoo and conditioner which must be specifically formulated for use on dogs
• A well-made dog collar or harness
• A couple of strong dog leads
• A well-made dog bed that's not too small or too big
• A well-made dog crate for use in the car and in the home that's large enough for a puppy to move around in
• Baby blankets to put in your puppy's crate and in their beds for when they want to nap or go to sleep at night

Keeping the noise down

All puppies are sensitive to noise including Welsh Pembroke puppies. It's important to keep the noise levels down when a new puppy arrives in the home. TVs and music should not be played too loud which could end up stressing a small puppy out.

Keeping vet appointments

As previously mentioned Pembroke puppies would have been given their first vaccinations by the breeders but they must have their follow up shots which is up to their new owners to organise. The vaccination schedule for puppies is as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would only be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

When it comes to boosters it's best to discuss these with a vet because there is a lot of debate about whether a dog really needs them after a certain time. However if a dog ever needed to go into kennels their vaccinations would need to be fully up to date.

What about older Welsh Pembroke Corgis when they reach their senior years?

Older Welsh Pembroke Corgis need lots of special care because as they reach their golden years they are more at risk of developing certain health concerns. Physically a dog's muzzle may start to go grey but there will be other noticeable changes too which includes the following:

• Coats become coarser
• A loss of muscle tone
• Pembrokes can either become overweight or underweight
• They have reduced strength and stamina
• Older dogs have difficulty regulating their body temperature
• They often develop arthritis
• Immune systems do not work as efficiently as they once did which means dogs are more susceptible to infections

Older dogs change mentally too which means their response time tends to be slower as such they develop the following:

• They respond less to external stimuli due to impaired vision or hearing
• They tend to be a little pickier about their food
• They have a lower pain threshold
• Become intolerant of any change
• Often an older dog can feel disorientated

Living with a Welsh Pembroke Corgi in their golden years means taking on a few more responsibilities but these are easily managed and should include looking at their diet the amount of exercise they are given how often their dog beds need changing and keeping an eye on the condition of their teeth.

Older Welsh Pembrokes need to be fed a good quality diet that meets their needs at this stage of their lives all the while keeping a close eye on a dog's weight. A rough feeding guide for older dogs is as follows bearing in mind they should be fed highly digestible food that does not contain any additives:

• Protein content should be anything from 14 – 21%
• Fat content should be less than 10%
• Fibre content should be less than 4%
• Calcium content should be 0.5 – 0.8%
• Phosphorous content should be 0.4 – 0.7%
• Sodium content should be 0.2 – 0.4%

Older Pembrokes don't need to be given the same amount of daily exercise as a younger dog but they still need the right amount of physical activity to maintain muscle tone and to prevent a dog from putting on too much weight. All dogs need access to fresh clean water and this is especially true of older dogs when they reach their golden years because they are more at risk of developing kidney disorders.

Welsh Pembroke Corgis boast having easy maintenance coats. As such a twice weekly brush is all it takes to keep things tidy and to remove any loose and dead hair. They do shed quite a bit all year round only more so during the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent grooming is usually necessary to stay on top of things.

It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax builds up in a dog's ears it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.

The Pembroke is an active intelligent dog and as such they need to be given the right amount of daily exercise and mental stimulation for them to be truly happy well-rounded characters. They need anything from 40 to 60 minutes exercise a day with as much off the lead time as possible. If they are not given the right amount of mental stimulation and exercise every day a Pembroke would quickly get bored and could even begin to show some destructive behaviours around the home which is their way of relieving the stress they are feeling and not necessarily because they are being naughty.

A shorter walk in the morning would be fine but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must with as much off the lead time as possible. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However the fencing must be extremely secure to keep these active little dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence they will soon escape and could get into all sorts of trouble.

With this said Pembroke puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing. This includes not letting a dog jump up and down from furniture or going up or down the stairs. Too much pressure placed on their joints and spines at an early age could result in a dog developing serious problems later in their lives.

If you get a Pembroke puppy from a breeder they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.

Older dogs are not known to be fussy eaters but this does not mean they can be given a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day once in the morning and then again in the evening making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.

Feeding guide for a Welsh Pembroke Corgi puppy

Puppies need to be fed a highly nutritious good quality diet for them to develop and grow as they should. As a rough guide a Pembroke puppy can be fed the following amounts every day making sure their meals are evenly spread out throughout the day and it's best to feed them 3 or 4 times a day:

• 2 months old - 153g to 161g depending on puppy's build
• 3 months old - 179g to 193g depending on puppy's build
• 4 months old - 191g to 209g depending on puppy's build
• 5 months old - 194g to 213g depending on puppy's build
• 6 months old - 194g to 213g depending on puppy's build
• 8 months old - 157g to 191g depending on puppy's build
• 10 months old - 139g to 147g depending on puppy's build

Once a puppy is 12 months old they can be fed adult dog food.

Feeding guide for an adult Welsh Pembroke Corgi

Once fully mature an adult Welsh Pembroke Corgi must be fed a good quality diet to ensure their continued good health. As a rough guide an adult Pembroke can be fed the following amounts every day:

• Dogs weighing 9 kg can be fed 129g to 176g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 10 kg can be fed 139g to 189g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 11 kg can be fed 149g to 196g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 12 kg can be fed 159g to 209g depending on activity

The cost of insuring a male 3-year-old Pembroke in northern England would be £22.86 a month for basic cover but for a lifetime policy this would set you back £44.25 a month (quote as of February 2018). When insurance companies calculate a pet's premium they factor in several things which includes where you live in the UK a dog's age and whether they have been neutered or spayed among other things.

When it comes to food costs you need to buy the best quality food whether wet or dry making sure it suits the different stages of a dog’s life. This would set you back between £20 - £30 a month. On top of this you need to factor in veterinary costs if you want to share your home with a Pembroke and this includes their initial vaccinations their annual boosters the cost of neutering or spaying a dog when the time is right and their yearly health checks all of which quickly adds up to over £800 a year.

As a rough guide the average cost to keep and care for a Welsh Pembroke Corgi would be between £50 to £80 a month depending on the level of insurance cover you opt to buy for your dog but this does not include the initial cost of buying a well-bred healthy Kennel Club registered pedigree Welsh Pembroke Corgi puppy.

When visiting and buying any puppy or dog there are many important things to consider and questions to ask of the breeder/seller. You can read our generic puppy/dog advice here which includes making sure you see the puppy with its mother and to verify that the dog has been wormed and microchipped.

Pembrokes have consistently remained a popular breed both in the UK and elsewhere in the world which means that well-bred puppies can often command a lot of money. As such with Welsh Pembroke Corgis there is specific advice questions and protocols to follow when buying a puppy which are as follows:

• Beware of online scams and how to avoid them. You may see online and other adverts by scammers showing images of beautiful Welsh Pembroke Corgipuppies for sale at very low prices. However the sellers ask buyers for money up front before agreeing to deliver a puppy to a new home. Potential buyers should never buy a puppy unseen and should never pay a deposit or any other money online to a seller. You should always visit the pet at the sellers home to confirm they are genuine and make a note of their address.
• As previously touched upon Pembrokes are among some of the more popular breeds in the UK. As such there are many amateur breeders/people who breed from a dam far too often so they can make a quick profit without caring for the welfare of the puppies their dam or the breed in general. Under Kennel Club rules a dam can only produce 4 litters and she must be between a certain age to do so. Anyone wishing to buy a Welsh Pembroke Corgi puppy should think very carefully about who they purchase their puppy from and should always ask to see the relevant paperwork pertaining to a puppy's lineage their vaccinations and their microchipping.
• Prospective owners should be very careful when considering buying a Welsh Pembroke Corgi with a bobbed-tail and should ask breeders for the relevant documentation proving that a puppy does have a naturally occurring bobbed-tail and has been registered as such with the Kennel Club.