Which breed was the favorite dog of Queen Elizabeth II?

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite dog breed.

Queen Elizabeth’s lifelong association with Pembrokes began in 1933, when her father, King George VI, brought a corgi named Dookie into the royal household. For her 18th birthday in 1944, Princess Elizabeth received a Pembroke named Susan. Susan became the foundation of a royal line that continued for generations, and the Queen eventually owned more than 30 corgis during her reign.

Pembrokes originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where they were used as cattle-herding dogs. Their short legs helped them work beneath cattle while avoiding kicks, and their sturdy bodies made them capable working animals despite their small stature. The name corgi comes from Welsh words associated with “dwarf” and “dog.”

A common mix-up is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, a separate breed with a longer tail and somewhat different build. Queen Elizabeth also owned dorgis, which were corgi–Dachshund crosses, but those crossbreeds do not change the answer: her signature purebred choice was the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.