Online Guide to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Dog Breed

Common Misspellings: Cardigan Welch Corgi

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a very old breed. Some historians place the ancestors of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi on the shores on South Wales as early as 3000 years ago. Physically, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi closely resembles his sibling; the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and, to a lesser extent, his cousin the Dachshund. Temperamentally, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi has been described as a big dog in a small body. He is bold and courageous, intelligent and hardworking. Indeed the Cardigan Welsh Corgi�s charming constitution towers over breeds twice his size.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Dog Breed

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Size Variations: No variations
Cardigan Welsh Corgi Colors: colors
Cardigan Welsh Corgi Exercise Needs: Moderate
Cardigan Welsh Corgi Grooming Needs: Minimal
Cardigan Welsh Corgi Life Expectancy (Lifespan) :12 to 14 years
Are Cardigan Welsh Corgi Dogs Good With Children?: Yes, with supervision.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi Training: Easy

Cardigan Welsh Corgi History

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi was brought from central Europe to the shores of South Wales many centuries ago. More precisely, it was brought to Cardiganshire, from where this breed gleans its name. The Cardigan's exact lineage is unknown, but experts agree that the likely ancestors for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi include the English Turn-Spit, a now extinct dog whose kitchen duties were to turn a spit.

Early on, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi was mainly used for protection and as hunter dog. Sometime later, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi found his true calling as a cattle driving dog. Driving cattle, rather than herding was the forte of the Cardigan. His low stature allowed him to nip at the heels of unruly cattle and duck to avoid a hoof to the head. This proved invaluable to farmers whose cattle grazed far and wide and needed reigning in from time to time. This occupation was so closely associated with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, that the word Corgi is believed to be derived from Cor, meaning to gather, and Gi, meaning dog.

Later, when farmers took to dividing, fencing and selling large parcels of farm land, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi found itself unemployed, so to speak. Luckily, it was welcomed as a companion dog and many dogs returned to their guarding duties. But, as economic hardships worsened, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi became a luxury that few could afford. The breed was saved from extinction when it was crossed with a brindle herder of unknown specification. The present day Cardigan Welsh Corgi was thereby established. Until 1934, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi were considered one breed. Then, with its acceptance into the American Kennel Club, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi gained distinction from its counterpart.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Appearance

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a markedly low-set dog that is nearly twice as long as it is tall. Its length was once strictly protected as being one Welsh yard. This was not to be confused with the slightly shorter English yard. Today there are slight length and height variations.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is more agile and powerful than it�s squat legs would imply. He is capable of astonishing speed, a throwback to his days chasing cattle. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi has large, slightly rounded ears and a moderately flat head.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi has a rather harsh, medium length outer coat and a soft thick undercoat. Its tail swoops downward and is about 1/5th its length.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Temperament & Personality

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a congenial pet. He is fun-loving and easygoing with his family, but he can be wary of strangers. With other dogs, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is seldom intimidated and he can be scrappy. After all, if a herd of fully grown beef cattle can be policed by a single Cardigan Welsh Corgi, then surely he can muscle his will onto any dog.

As a herder, Cardigans are typically intelligent and athletic and, they are curiously responsible. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi tends to be highly devoted to his owner and will go to great lengths to please him. This courtesy tends not to be extended to other pets, especially to cats. At times, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi can bark unreasonably. This can and should addressed early training.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Exercise Needs

The modest grooming requirements of your Cardigan Welsh Corgi are offset by his rigorous exercise needs. While you need not think you will be running a daily marathon, do expect to walk up to 10 kilometers per day. So, if fitness and exercise have played second fiddle to chocolate treats lately, then the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the solution. An off-leash dog park may bridge the gap between how far you are willing (or able) to go and how far your Cardigan wants to run, but Cardigan Welsh Corgis can be foul tempered with other dogs.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Grooming Requirements

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi has simple grooming requirements. A daily brush and a occasional bath will do. The exception to this rule is as the seasons change and your Cardigan sheds his winter coat. Much more frequent brushing will be needed to curb mounting dust bunnies.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Training

You can rely on the Cardigan Welsh Corgi's intelligence when the time comes to train him. He is an attentive student and will aim to please his owner as soon as a command is understood. The savvy Cardigan Welsh Corgi owner will use tasty liver bits or a similar treat to reward and to indicate when a command has been obeyed. This treat should be reserved only for training and if your Cardigan Welsh Corgi loves the treat sufficiently, he will be more apt to work for it.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Health Information

Common health concerns for your Cardigan Welsh Corgi include; CHD, degenerative myelopathy, PRA and urinary stones.

Finding A Responsible Cardigan Welsh Corgi Breeder

Now that you have decided that the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible Cardigan Welsh Corgi breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Cardigan Welsh Corgi breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring Cardigan Welsh Corgi breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter and companionship.

Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...

Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.

Additional Cardigan Welsh Corgi Information Resources

There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn more about the Cardigan Welsh Corgi dog breed. We've compiled a list of Cardigan Welsh Corgi information sites to assist you in quickly locating quality information about the Cardigan Welsh Corgi dog breed, while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general. If you know of an Cardigan Welsh Corgi information site that offers unique, quality information and photos of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.