Cardigan Welsh Corgi

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Cardigan Welsh Corgi Breed Profile

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is not as popular as their sibling, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, but they make an excellent pet. They are even said to have slightly better temperaments than the Pembroke. Cardigans are loyal, affectionate and good with children. They are intelligent and easy to train but need a firm hand when it comes to nipping, as they are prone to do so due to their ancestry as herding dogs. Wary of strangers and possessive of their owner's property, they also make a good watch dog. Cardigan Welsh Corgis are easily distinguishable from the Pembroke with their wide and wider set ears, as well as their long tail. Pembroke's tails are docked completely, that is if they are even born with a tail. Cardigans reach one Welsh yard from nose tip to tail tip, which is why they are sometimes called "yard-long dogs". They have longer bodies than the Pembroke, and are much longer than they are tall. Their colors consist of red, sable, brindles, black, tricolor, and blue merle--which legend says came from fairies who brought the color in the night. They usually have white on them with an Irish pattern, but overbearing white is considered a severe fault. They are loving, intelligent, and are hard workers with their high quality obedience skills. They can often appear sprightly in character and are quite confident. Active and devoted, this little dog can be quite amusing in character and appearance at times. They get along with children and other pets, their sturdiness making them suitable companions for even large dogs. Cardigans are said to have the heart of a large dog in a dwarfed body, making them an ideal companion.

Type: Herding Dog

Height: 10.5 - 12.5 inches.
Weight: Females: 25 - 34 lbs.; Males: 30 - 38 lbs.

Colors: Any, with or without white markings, but white should not predominate. They come in all shades of red, sable, brindles, black, tricolor, blue merle, usually with a white Irish pattern. They can have tan or brindle points, often with white flashes on the neck, chest, legs, muzzle and underbelly.
Coat: Short or medium length, with a hard texture, straight, and weatherproof. Short, thick and soft undercoat, with a medium-length outer coat.

Temperament: Cardigan Welsh Corgis are active, obedient, intelligent and alert. They make good watch dogs, as well as good guard dogs. They can be possessive, and can be scrappy with other dogs. But with their friends and family they are playful, affectionate and loving. They may nip at the heels, trying to herd you or your children. They need strong training in avoiding nipping humans, and they learn quickly. They are fun loving, easygoing, and sprightly. Wary of strangers, they remain devoted to their owners and are usually good with kids. They can be amusing with their jaunty attitude. Welsh Corgis are little dogs with big hearts, hard working and affectionate.
With Children: Yes, usually gets along well with children. May try to herd them.
With Pets: The Cardigan needs to be socialized to with other pets, especially cats, but does well with their own kind. They can be confrontational with other dogs occasionally.
Special Skills: Herding dog and family pet.

Watch-dog: Very High. Cardigans are alert and self-willed. They will protect and make sure anything around is made known due to their bark.
Guard-dog: High. Cardigans have the heart of a big dog, making them prone to protect and guard.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Care and Exercise: Brush the Cardigan Welsh Corgis coat twice a week with a firm bristle brush. Bathe only when necessary. Shedding is twice a year. Plenty of exercise at least twice a day as you do not want them to become obese and lazy. Cardigan Welsh Corgis love to have room to run around freely.
Training: Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppies are good listeners and are very attentive, making their training and upbringing easy. They are not difficult to train because of their high intelligence and quick learning ability. They should be socialized early on to avoid confrontation and suspiciousness with friendly animals and humans.
Special Needs: Attention, exercise, a job or activity, socialization and training.
Learning Rate: Very High. Obedience - High. Problem Solving - High.

Activity: Indoors - Very High. Outdoors - High.
Living Environment: Can do well in either apartment or the suburbs if they are exercised regularly. Take note that Cardigans have a big bark. They need enough space to exercise, as they will become obese if they are not regularly active. The best owner for a Cardigan Welsh Corgi would be a dog-experienced, active owner in either city, suburban or rural environment.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Health Issues: Obesity, spinal problems, degenerative myelopathy (neurological disease known to cause lameness) and some inherited eye disorders such as PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy).

Life Span: 12 - 15 years.
Litter Size: 5 - 7 puppies.

Country of Origin: Great Britain
Cardigan Welsh Corgi History: In Celtic, corgi means dog. There are other theories that the name came from the words cor, dwarf, and gi, dog, or possibly from simply the word cur, which means to "watch over". Cardigans are thought to be older than the Pembroke. Some believe they were brought to Great Britain 3000 years ago, while others believe it was as recent as 1000 years ago. The Cardigan is said to have come from central Europe with the Celts when they migrated into Wales around 1200 B.C., while the Pembroke is said to have been developed much later by Flemish weavers in the 10th century. Another theory of the Corgi is that Vikings brought Swedish Vallunds to the Welsh coast in the 9th century, from which the Corgis descended by mixing with the local dogs. Cardigans are named after the area in which they developed, in Cardiganshire, South Wales. Back then, land was given in proportion to how much cattle one owned, therefore making the small droving dog useful, spreading the cattle out. The Cardigan was developed to be short enough to avoid dangerous kicks from sheep, to nip at the heels to drive them, as well as to run underneath the sheep. Welsh legend says that the Cardigan has its blue-merle color due to fairies who brought the color by night. Cardigans are also known as the "yard-long dog", meaning from nose to tail the Cardigan is as long as a Welsh yard. Though their ancestry is not completely concrete, popular belief says that the Cardigan descended in part from the early Dachshund. In the early 1880s Cardiganshire farmers were believe to have crossed the Cardigan with the old Welsh collie. The Corgi was first exhibited in England in 1925, and from there went to America around the 1930s. Until 1934 when the Cardigan and the Pembroke were established as separate breeds, the two Welsh Corgis were interbred and there is still today little differences between them. In 1935 the AKC registered the Welsh Corgi.

First Registered by the AKC: 1935
AKC Group: Herding
Class: Herding
Registries: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 1), KC (GB), UKC

Cardigan Welsh Corgis

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