Cardigan Welsh Corgi

The Cardigan is best described as a Corgi with a tail, but he stands out from his cousin, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, in other ways. The Cardigan has larger, more rounded ears and he comes in a variety of colors, including tricolor (black and white, with tan or brindle points), blue merle, brindle, sable, and red. Most Cardis also have white markings on the neck, chest, feet, and tail tip. They weigh between 25 and 38 pounds, making them a little larger than the Pembroke. Although Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis were both developed in Wales, they have different ancestry: twin sons of different mothers, you might say. The Cardigan, nicknamed the yard-long dog in his home shire of Cardigan, shares ancestors with another long breed, the Dachshund. Unlike the Dachshund, the Cardi was used to drive cattle by nipping at their heels. Today, he’s more of a companion and a show dog, but he still has strong herding instincts. This is a loving, good-natured, and active dog, so be prepared to keep your Cardigan engaged. Athletic and tireless, he excels in dog sports, especially agility, herding, flyball, obedience, rally, and tracking. He also enjoys going for long walks and hikes. Due to his herding background, he has a watchful nature and will bark to ward off critters or strangers who approach his domain. And while you may think of him as an outdoor dog, nothing could be farther from the truth — a Cardigan Welsh Corgi loves to play in the yard, but he’s happiest at home with his family. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is believed to be the older of the two Corgi breeds. Although no one knows for sure, his ancestors may have arrived in Wales alongside ancient Celts who migrated from central Europe. The dog that we know today hails from hilly Cardiganshire, which once teemed with farms and valleys that were perfect for raising cattle. His predecessors drove cattle to market, nipping at their heels to get the cattle to move, and pivoting out of the way if the livestock kicked back. Industrialization eventually put an end to the Corgi’s usefulness on the farm, and people began crossing the dogs with other herding breeds, including Collies and early Pomeranians, who were much larger than today’s standard Pom. The Collie cross may have thrown the blue merle coloration into the Cardigan’s gene pool. For a time, it looked as if the Cardigan would go the way of the dinosaurs because he was less popular than his cousin, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. At one point, the two were even considered the same breed, but the Kennel Club separated them in 1934, giving the Cardigan more of a chance to survive on his own. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association wrote a standard for the breed, and thanks to a 1931 importation of some Corgis by Mrs. Robert Bole of Boston, Massachusetts, the dogs became known in the United States. In 1935, the American Kennel Club recognized the breed. The descendants of Mrs. Bole’s dogs did well in the show ring, including Ch. Swansea Jon, CD, who took Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show three years running. Today, the Cardigan is still less popular than the Pembroke — the Cardi ranks 84th among the breeds registered by the AKC — but he’s definitely in no danger of disappearing. The fun-loving Cardi is a classic herding dog: even-tempered, loyal, and affectionate. His true goal in life is to spend time — and please — his people. His moderate size and activity level makes him adaptable to any type of home or family, and he’s sturdy and tolerant of children and other pets. In fact, the company of another dog or a cat is a big bonus for him. Cardigans may not look like athletes, but they are agile. You’ll be amazed at how fast a Corgi can run when he’s chasing a ball or competing in agility trials. If he can twist out of the way of an angry cow, he can certainly navigate A-frames, tunnels, jumps, and other obstacles.