Introduction
Queen Elizabeth II’s love of corgis and other dogs is legendary. She has owned over 30 dogs during her lifetime of over 70 years, and they have been constant companions for the longest-reigning British monarch. The queen grew up around corgis from a very young age, first being given a corgi named Dookie when she was 7 years old and gaining her love of the breed from her father, King George VI (“The Queen and Corgis”, https://www.vetmediation.co.uk/resources/news/the-queen-and-corgis/). The royal family got another corgi named Susan for Princess Elizabeth on her 18th birthday, starting the queen’s famous dog breeding program that would produce generations of her beloved Pembroke Welsh Corgis. While the queen has always adored all breeds of dogs, the corgi holds a special place in her heart and has become the symbol of her long reign.
The Queen’s Bond with Her Dogs
Queen Elizabeth II’s love for corgis began in 1933 when her father, King George VI, brought home a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Dookie. Shortly thereafter in 1934, her family adopted another corgi named Jane, who accompanied the future Queen and the Royal Family on holiday. The two corgis started a lineage of royal corgis that would be cherished by the Queen for decades to come (https://www.britannica.com/list/the-corgis-of-queen-elizabeth-ii).
On her 18th birthday in 1944, Elizabeth received her own Pembroke Welsh corgi puppy named Susan. Susan became the Queen’s faithful companion for many years and even accompanied Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their honeymoon in 1947. Susan was also present for the birth of Prince Charles in 1948 and Princess Anne in 1950 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_(dog)).
The Queen’s passion for Pembroke Welsh corgis began in childhood thanks to her father and first corgi, Dookie. Receiving her own corgi Susan as an 18th birthday gift cemented the Queen’s lifelong love for the breed. The companionship of Susan and the descendants of her original corgis brought the Queen much joy throughout her life.
The Queen’s Dog Breeding Program
Queen Elizabeth II was deeply passionate about breeding and raising corgis, starting from when she was first given a corgi named Susan as an 18th birthday present in 1944. Over the next several decades, the Queen carefully built up a selective breeding program to continue the corgi bloodline.
She kept close track of the pedigree and planned each litter, selecting her favorite pups to keep from each generation. According to Rocky Kanaka, “Some notable names from the Royal Corgi breeding program have included Heather, Tiny, Bushy, Foxy, Brush, Smoky, Rush, Disco, Flamenco, Tinker, Piper, Noble, and Pickle.” [1]
Her Majesty was quite knowledgeable about dog breeding and took great care to thoughtfully continue her preferred Pembroke Welsh Corgi bloodlines. Over seven decades, she bred over 30 corgi puppies that lived as her beloved companions.
The Queen’s Daily Dog Care Routine
While the Queen loved her corgis dearly, she did not handle all aspects of their daily care herself. The Queen had full-time dog handlers on staff to assist with feeding, exercising, and grooming the royal corgis.
According to most reports, the Queen did not personally prepare meals or feed her dogs. Instead, she would consult with the royal chefs to design personalized menus tailored to each dog’s nutritional needs. The chefs and kitchen staff were responsible for preparing the corgis’ meals, which often included fresh ingredients like beef, chicken, lamb, or rabbit 1. The dog handlers on staff would then feed the royal corgis according to the Queen’s specifications.
While the Queen loved walking her dogs, the dog handlers were the ones primarily responsible for exercising the energetic corgis each day. The handlers would take the dogs outdoors for walks or romps on the palace grounds multiple times per day to keep them fit and active.
Grooming was another daily ritual handled by staff. The Queen expected her corgis’ coats to look their best at all times, so professional groomers cared for the dogs’ brushing, bathing, and trimming needs.
So while the Queen did not personally carry out all the dogs’ daily care herself, she remained intensely involved in supervising their routines, menus, and regimens to ensure the absolute best treatment for her beloved pets.
The Queen Training Her Corgis
Queen Elizabeth II was very hands-on when it came to training her beloved corgis. She used reward-based methods to train them and taught them commands like sit, stay, and heel. According to the YouTube video “How to Train a Corgi” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=falrT4ta-jU, positive reinforcement training is the best approach for corgis, using treats and praise to encourage good behavior.
The Queen would start training her corgi puppies at a young age, working on basic obedience. An article on Dogster https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dog-breeds-lifestyle/training-the-pembroke-welsh-corgi notes that corgis respond very well to training if started early and continued consistently. The Queen was said to be very consistent with training her dogs every day.
Even into old age, The Queen would still work on training corgis herself through short, frequent sessions. She believed in establishing a close bond built on discipline and rewards. The Queen’s personal passion for training was key to her dogs’ polite manners and obedient behavior at public appearances and events.
The Queen’s Special Relationship with Her Dogs
Queen Elizabeth II is well known for her love of dogs, especially corgis. Over the years of her reign, she has owned more than 30 corgis, all descended from the first corgi she received as an 18th birthday present in 1944. The queen has a special bond with her corgis, and they have been a source of joy and comfort to her throughout her life.
There are many endearing anecdotes that highlight the queen’s close relationship with her beloved dogs. She has been quoted as saying, “My corgis are family”1. She is also known to refer to the dogs as her “children” and takes an active role in raising them, including training the puppies herself. According to royal insiders, the queen knows each dog by name and personality. She even eats her breakfast with the corgis every morning.
The queen takes the dogs with her on trips whenever possible, and they have a special room for them at Buckingham Palace. She has been photographed over the years walking the palace grounds surrounded by a pack of happy, bouncing corgis. When meeting dignitaries, the corgis are sometimes known to wander into the room, providing some humor and informality to formal occasions.
It’s clear from the queen’s lifelong affection for her dogs that they provide not just companionship to her, but also great joy and comfort. Her corgis have a special place in the queen’s heart and her daily life.
The Queen’s Last Two Corgis
Queen Elizabeth II’s last two corgis, Willow and Candy, were the only dogs left at the end of her life. According to the New York Post, the queen was “extremely hard” when Willow passed away in 2018, leaving Candy as her final corgi. Candy passed away just two weeks before Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022.
There was speculation about what would happen to Willow and Candy after the queen’s passing. Traditionally, the corgis were buried at the royal residence they lived in, but some wondered if Willow and Candy would be buried with the queen at Windsor Castle. Ultimately, it was reported that Willow and Candy were buried at the queen’s estate in Sandringham, where her previous corgis are also laid to rest.
The death of Willow and Candy marked the end of the queen’s long tradition of breeding and owning Pembroke Welsh corgis. At one point she had over 30 corgis, but stopped breeding them in recent years due to her advanced age. Willow and Candy were descendants of Susan, the first corgi the queen received as a teenager. Over 70 years later, Willow and Candy remained loyally by her side until the very end.
The Queen’s Legacy of Dog Breeding
Queen Elizabeth II left behind a remarkable legacy as an accomplished dog breeder of Pembroke Welsh Corgis. She first fell in love with the breed when her father, King George VI, brought home a corgi named Dookie in 1933 (https://rockykanaka.com/queen-elizabeth-ii-became-a-corgi-breeding-legend/). In 1944, Elizabeth was gifted a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Susan for her 18th birthday. Susan became the foundation for Elizabeth’s successful corgi breeding program.
Over the decades, Elizabeth bred an extensive line of corgis that all traced back to Susan. It’s estimated that over 62 corgis descended from Susan during the Queen’s lifetime (https://www.newsweek.com/how-many-corgis-queen-elizabeth-pedigree-shows-long-legacy-1741275). The Queen was incredibly knowledgeable about dog breeding and worked hard to maintain the integrity of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed.
Even after Elizabeth’s passing, the royal corgi line will continue. Two of her final corgis, Muick and Sandy, have been rehomed with Prince Andrew. It’s likely future litters will be bred to uphold the Queen’s legacy as a preeminent corgi breeder. Her expertise and dedication helped preserve and promote the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed for decades.
Did the Queen Actually Feed the Dogs Herself?
Despite her busy schedule as the monarch, the Queen made time to be personally involved in many aspects of caring for her beloved corgis and dorgis. She fed them, exercised them, and even trained the puppies herself.
According to accounts from palace staff, the Queen woke up early to take the dogs for a morning walk around the grounds. She would often feed them herself, pouring their kibble from special containers kept in her private quarters. There are photos of the Queen coaxing the puppies to eat from her hand.
The Queen was very hands-on when it came to training the puppies, believing it established an early bond. She taught them basic commands and how to walk properly on a leash. The Queen carried dog treats in her pockets to reward and reinforce the dog’s behaviors.
While the Queen had staff to assist with caring for the dogs, she made it a point to be personally involved in their daily routines. She derived great joy from feeding, walking, training and just being with her beloved corgis and dorgis throughout her long reign.
Conclusion
Throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth II had a special bond with her beloved corgis. She personally oversaw her prestigious dog breeding program and took great pride in her pups, keeping a close eye on their care and training. While the Queen undoubtedly had staff to assist with many dog-related duties, it’s clear she was very hands-on when it came to her cherished corgis.
From providing them with personalized meals to training and walking the dogs herself, the Queen made sure to be involved in the everyday lives of her pets. She derived great joy from breeding, raising, and caring for her dogs, especially her favorite corgi breed. Even in her final years, Queen Elizabeth remained devoted to her two last remaining corgis, Muick and Sandy.
The Queen’s deep affection for her corgis and commitment to their welfare is a testament to how much they meant to her on a personal level. While she may have had staff to help care for her large pack of dogs, the Queen made sure to play an active role in feeding, training, and bonding with her beloved corgis.