It is fair to say that life could never be dull with a Pembroke. His prick ears and his lovely sharp face give him an appearance of being interested in everything that is happening. The breed has known periods when occasional characters gave it a bad name by nipping people as well as the heels of cattle, but a clause in the standard states that he is outgoing and friendly and this is a very good description of a dog that is born busy and stays busy throughout its long life.

He is possessed of a bark that belies his small stature, and his lungs are clearly built to give him the stamina he needs to do a day’s work as a farm dog. In addition, he is nimble enough to duck away from the retaliatory kick of the cow should his herding instincts cause him to lose patience with his charges.

His coat is truly dense in its undercoat and it would be difficult to imagine a Pembroke feeling the cold, even though he is very happy to share the ‘mod cons’ of his owners if he is living the life of a companion dog. Grooming is therefore not a hard task, although his propensity to plough his way through the muck and the mire of a long country walk means that he does not always come home in a state suitable for immediate contact with the best carpet or sofa!

Being small in size, he does not need a great deal of food, but that does not mean that he won’t eat more than he needs if he’s given the chance to indulge himself.

All in all, this is a thoroughly practical breed that can live with all sorts of households and add a lot to the fun.