Small but strong and characterful, Cardigan Welsh corgis are fabulous pets. They can live happily anywhere and are full of fun. They build wonderful relationships with their owners and are highly intelligent. Unfortunately, this breed is not as popular as it once was and so it can be hard to find a puppy.
Which breed group is the Cardigan Welsh corgi in?
Breed group: Pastoral
Cardigan Welsh corgi breed history
It is believed that corgis were first taken to Wales by Flemish weavers in the 14th century. They were favoured as herding dogs on farms. Two types eventually emerged, the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Cardigan Welsh corgi. These were originally recognised as the same breed by the Kennel Club but as separate breeds since 1934. Research has established that Cardigan Welsh corgis were bred by the Teckel family in the village of Bronant.
Cardigan Welsh corgi breed characteristics
Robust and boasting impressive stamina, Cardigan Welsh corgis are big dogs in small bodies with short legs! They have fox-like heads and alert expressions. Their ears are slightly rounded and they are held pricked. These dogs boast long bodies and long necks. Like the Pembroke Welsh corgi, Cardigans have straight, medium length coats with dense undercoats but these can be a variety of colours. Coasts should not be predominantly white.
Intelligent and easy to train, the Cardigan Welsh corgi is perfect for family life and loves to be involved in everything. However, these dogs are more laid back than their Pembroke cousins. They don’t require a great deal of grooming but do need a generous amount of exercise. They possess a high prey drive which can see them chasing just about anything when they are out and about. It is important to note that these dogs may be heel nippers due to their herding heritage.
- Lifespan: 12-15 years
- Height: up to 33cm
- Weight: up to 17kg
- Long body
- Short legs
- Strong
- Impressive stamina
- Strong prey drive
- Shed extensively
- Loyal and friendly
- Easy to train
- Adaptable
- Need plenty of exercise
- Fun loving
- More laid back than a Pembroke welsh corgi
Health issues with Cardigan Welsh corgi
A robust breed which generally enjoys excellent health, the Cardigan Welsh corgi is, however, prone to obesity and can suffer from the following conditions:
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Hip dysplasia
- Congenital deafness
- Degenerative myelopathy (DM)
- Glaucoma
- Urogenital
- Urolithiasis
- Back Problems
What is the Cardigan Welsh corgi bred for?
Corgis were originally bred to herd livestock. With their short stature, they could nip cattle on the heels and then duck to avoid the ensuing kicks.
What sort of owners does the Cardigan Welsh corgi suit?
Incredibly friendly, fun loving and easy to train, Cardigan Welsh corgis are excellent pets which are good choices for first time owners. They are good with children and fabulous watchdogs. These characterful little pooches may nip at heels and so are not suited to homes with very small children.
Corgis can live happily just about anywhere including small houses and apartments but they do shed extensively throughout the year which can create a significant amount of mess. They can be troublesome barkers and require a significant amount of exercise every day. Cardigan Welsh corgis are best suited to homes where at least one person can be with them all day as they will suffer separation anxiety if left on their own. They can live with other dogs but may chase cats and small pets.