Only one breeder has championed this breed, but as that breeder also happens to be the Queen of England, it is worthy of note. Elizabeth II has displayed a lifelong passion for Welsh Pembroke Corgis. She even took one with her on her honeymoon. She has bred them repeatedly, but the puppies that she keeps for herself are always female. This fact did not escape Pipkin. , the male Miniature Long-haired Dachshund belonging to her sister, Princess Margaret. On one of his friendly visits to the Queen’s home, he achieved the impossible performing an illicit sexual act inside the precincts of Buckingham Palace. The result of his wanton disregard for royal protocol was a litter of seven delightful little puppies. The Queen found them so appealing that, instead of having them secretly whisked out of a side entrance by palace staff, she christened them Dorgis and became their determined champion. She even arranged repeat matings with some of her other Corgi bitches, to carry on the tradition. One of Pipkin’s problems was that his legs were too short, but royal help was now at hand. When Norman Parkinson, the royal photographer, asked how such a tiny Dachshund could achieve such glory, the Queen explained: ‘Oh, it’s quite simple. We have a little brick.
The Dorgie is one of the few cross-breeds ever to have found favour in royal palaces. Traditionally, all the kings and queens of Europe have kept dogs with pedigrees as long as their own. Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth is also the Patron of the Kennel Club in London, the very heartland of pure canine breeding. This gave rise to an embarrassing situation when the royal portrait was being painted, to hang in. the club’s entrance hall. As she was to be depicted surrounded by her beloved dogs, it was politely pointed out to her that among all the famous dog paintings hanging in the club’s fine rooms, there was not a single cross-breed on view. As the Kennel Club was totally committed to pure breeding, it would not be possible for the Queen’s Dorgi to be included in the portrait. They were sure she would understand and were startled by her blunt reply: ‘No Dorgi, no portrait!’ They had little choice but to concede to their Patron’s wishes and so it is that a royal Dorgi, of undeniably mixed parentage, takes pride of place in the august club’s entrance.
The then secretary of the Kennel Club was overheard to comment dryly: ‘The Dachshund was evolved to chase badgers down holes, and Corgis to round up cattle. If anyone loses a herd of cattle down a badger hole, these are just the dogs to get them out.
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