Welsh Corgis in Decline?! These Photos of Queen Elizabeth With Her Precious Pets Illustrate Why That Would Be Terrible News

Happily, per Business Insider, the American Kennel Club says there are plenty to go around

By Natalie Finn Feb 10, 2015 10:31 PMTags
Queen Elizabeth II, dogs, CorgiSTF/AFP/Getty Images

Welsh corgis aren't just cute, perpetually smiling bundles of fluff—they're downright regal!

So it's understandable why the favored dogs of the British monarchy making the U.K. Kennel Club's list of "vulnerable native breeds" would be alarming. It would just be so friggin' not adorable if there weren't corgis running around willy nilly in Britain.

But happily, Business Insider insists that there's no reason to freak out, or start storing Corgi DNA in freezers or anything drastic like that.

Sure Queen Elizabeth II supposedly has decided not to acquire any more of the dogs herself for fear that she might trip over them, but even if their numbers are declining across the pond, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is thriving in the U.S.

Keystione/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

"Its happy, agreeable nature and adaptability have perhaps played a role in the breed staying consistent at the 24th most popular spot in the US over the past decade (plus or minus a spot or two from time to time)," American Kennel Club spokeswoman Hillary Prim told BI.

"The UK cited breed misconceptions as a factor in the breed's decline, and this is conceivable. To the naked eye, the Corgi's short legs and sturdy body may lead you to think he is a low-energy couch potato. In fact, Corgis are happy, energetic, active dogs that make great pets for a diverse range of owners, particularly those who can keep him moving."

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The queen has historically maintained a four-Corgi crew around her, but she is reportedly down to two.

In explaining the 88-year-old royal's purported rationale for deciding that she won't be adding to (or replacing lost members) of her canine brood, a "senior courtier" told the Express, "Her corgis are getting on a bit and move along at a sedate speed but a young dog would obviously be very lively and much more active.

"Her main fear is that if she fell and broke her arm or even a leg she would not be able to perform her duties for many weeks if not months, and that would upset her greatly."

Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The animal-loving queen of England has kept Corgis since she was a young princess, at one time having as many as eight.

Sure, that may seem excessive, but it's not as if they didn't have enough room to run around.