Welsh Corgi Cardigan

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a small shepherd dog with an elongated body and short, strong legs, which has a strong external resemblance to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The breed was bred in England, has a calm and friendly character.

Short information

• Breed Name: Cardigan Welsh Corgi
• Country of Origin: UK
• Weight: males 14-17 kg, females 12-15 kg
• Height (height at the withers): males 27-32 cm, females 25-30 cm
• Lifespan: 12-15 years

Basic moments

• For the sake of convenience, domestic breeders and fans of the breed have greatly reduced its name, calling all Cardigan Welsh Corgi simply Cardi.
• The short legs of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi do not prevent them from leading an active lifestyle and demonstrating excellent results in agility.
• Like most shepherd dogs, the cardigan has little idea of ​​its life without grazing, so it will vigilantly monitor the movements of all members of the family in which it lives.
• Welsh Corgi Cardigans are born comedians and tricksters, who were especially popular with traveling circus troupes several centuries ago.
• The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a versatile breed that can be kept both in an apartment and in a country house. These short-legged charms are completely undemanding to the dimensions of housing and do not make a tragedy out of the fact that they were walked a little less than they should be.
• For a long time, cardigans were not quoted by breeders who preferred to promote another branch of the Welsh Corgi – Pembroke .
• In 2006, the breed was marked by cynological associations as critically endangered. However, by 2016, the number of animals increased dramatically, which removed the status of a living curiosity from the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
• Properly raised Cardi are quite peaceful and do not conflict with cats and other pets for a place in the sun.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a modest native of Wales, who since ancient times earned his plate of stew by grazing cattle and has not lost his working qualities to this day. Good-natured and non-confrontational, this artistic handsome man willingly makes contact, but at the same time does not suffer from excessive obtrusiveness. As befits a real shepherd dog, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is infinitely devoted to the owner and is very bored if he is forced to lose his company for some time. Cardi is also an extremely inquisitive and sociable “guy”, who manages to make friends even during an ordinary walk.

History of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi

The history of the Welsh Corgi breed is a few hypotheses, a lot of speculation, a couple of legends and almost no reliable fact. For example, some experts believe that the ancestors of today’s dogs appeared in the British Isles along with the Scandinavian settlers in the Bronze Age. Others attribute the breeding of animals to the Celts, who inhabited the territory of England around 1500 BC. e.

With the genetic base, too, not everything is clear, so someone calls the progenitors of the Welsh Corgi Icelandic dogs, and someone refers them to the descendants of the Swedish Vallhunds. However, the Welsh would not be Welsh if they did not give this phenomenon their own, purely mystical justification. In the homeland of the breed, they still believe that the Welsh Corgi gave the inhabitants of Wales fabulous creatures (faeries) who used animals as horses, riding them and transporting their own belongings with their help.

As for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi specifically, this branch was born through the efforts of enthusiasts from the Welsh county of Cardiganshire (Ceredigion). It is generally accepted that in order to breed an unpretentious shepherd shepherd dog, local farmers crossed the ancestors of the Welsh Corgi with Dachshund dogs, which greatly affected the exterior of the animals. In particular, the body of shepherd dogs has become longer, and their paws have become significantly shorter.

The appearance of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed in the 13th century drastically reduced the popularity of Cardigans, since its representatives not only had the same short legs, but also had a more pleasant appearance. In particular, at the end of the 19th century, it was mainly the natives of Pembrokeshire who “lit up” at breeding exhibitions, which extremely annoyed fans of the Ceredigion Sheepdogs. Further – more: the confrontation between Cardigan and Pembroke breeders turned into fights for exhibition places, so in 1934 the KC (English Kennel Club) had to divide the animals into two separate breeds. In the same year, it was decided to stop the tails of the Pembrokes, which became an additional delimiting factor between both Welsh Corgi families.

Nevertheless, despite the long-awaited independence and the opportunity to be exhibited separately at exhibitions, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi has long remained an underestimated breed, hiding in the shadow of its more spectacular and successful relative. And if these funny short-legs penetrated other European countries several decades after the official announcement, then in Russia they started talking about them only in the early 2000s.

Video: Welsh Corgi Cardigan

Why do Cardigan Welsh Corgis have such short legs?

Initially, the dog’s job was to keep the animal from fighting off the herd, and she could do this only in one way: by lightly biting a cow or calf on the leg. Not surprisingly, the herbivore’s response to such actions was a blow to the forehead with a hoof. And since the Cardigan Welsh Corgi always had an extremely low stance, the cow invariably missed.

The appearance of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and its differences from the Pembroke

Welsh Corgi Cardigans are mobile, long-bodied “gentlemen” with a soft top line and miniature, strong paws. Outwardly, these squat handsome men are noticeably larger and bony than the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. As an example: the average Pembroke weighs 10-12 kg, while the body weight of Ceredigion natives can reach 14-17 kg. In general, there are much more differences between these two breeds than it seems at first glance. So, for example, dachshund genes predominate in cardi , so they have slightly curved legs, a massive chest and a smoother silhouette line.

Welsh Corgi Cardigans are hardworking dogs, bred not for exhibitions, but for gray working days. It is not surprising that the Pembrokes, who were born a little later and were the “product” of crossing a Spitz with a Welsh Corgi, are inferior to them in terms of performance and endurance, but at the same time win in terms of external charm.

A curious fact: until recently, the cardigan could be identified by the bushy fox tail, which was traditionally shortened for Pembrokes. However, after European breeders abandoned docking, it became more difficult to distinguish between animals. However, if you look closely, you can see that the Pembrokeshire Sheepdogs have a shorter tail (long-term crossing of short-tailed individuals with tailless ones has made itself felt) and less luxurious.

Head

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi has a very proportional head with a moderately elongated muzzle and a broad, narrowed skull towards the eyes.

Teeth and jaws

The jaws of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi are strong, strong, with a scissor or horizontal bite (the first option is preferable).

Nose

The lobe is black, not too large, but not miniature either.

Eyes

The eyes of a shepherd dog are set wide apart, with well-defined corners, not round. The shade of the iris is dark. Blue or bluish-spotted eyes are acceptable for merle-coated individuals.

Ears

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi has large erect ears with rounded tips, which are tilted forward in an alert dog, and slightly set apart in a resting dog.

Neck

Of decent length, muscular, turning into prominent shoulders.

Frame

The body of the cardi should be long, with a well-defined loin line, without bulge or sagging.

limbs

Despite the fact that the legs of representatives of this breed give the impression of a toy, they have sufficient strength and provide a good push when running. The paws of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi are large, rounded, with plump pads. The front paws are slightly turned outward, which is especially noticeable when viewed from the front of the dog.

Tail

The correct tail for a Cardigan Welsh Corgi is set low, carried down. In an excited dog, the tail may be slightly raised (the best option is to the level of the croup or a little higher), while it should not curl into a bagel and be thrown onto the back.

Wool

The smooth, close-fitting “coats” of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi are formed by moderately coarse hair of medium length and a thick layer of undercoat. The dog’s coat should be smooth, but not silky and certainly not hard, like a wire. A shepherd dog whose coat is too lush and soft is considered defective and is called a fluffy.

Color

Breed standards are less demanding on the coat color of Cardigans than on the color of Pembrokes. Simply put, this variety of Welsh Corgi is eligible for any color type, including brindle and blue merle. The presence of white marks on the case is also not punished by exhibition specialists. The main thing is that they do not dominate the main shade.

Disqualifying vices

• Dropped or hanging ears.
• White spots on the body, prevailing over the main color.
• Completely blue or unevenly colored iris (does not apply to merles).
• A lobe of any color other than black.

Photo Welsh Corgi Cardigans

Personality of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Calmness, bordering on a slight phlegm, good nature, an excellent sense of humor – these are the three main qualities that determine the character of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. These pretty short-legged people easily get along with anyone, and they hardly know such a feeling as jealousy. The only thing, unlike the same Pembrokes, Cardi do not really trust strangers and sometimes they are not averse to barking at them. At the same time, in ordinary life, shepherd dogs, if they are properly educated, rarely make noise and only for good reasons.

Against the backdrop of impulsive Pembrokes, Cardigan Welsh Corgis are restraint itself. They are quite energetic, but not hyperactive, contact, but not intrusive, complaisant, but not to the detriment of self-esteem. The best friends for a dog are members of the family in which he lives, so the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is always happy to play pranks with the kids, lie next to the owner on the couch watching a series or run around the park with him. In general, cardi are very dependent on their owner, but this feature should not be associated with a lack of intellectual abilities. In fact, Cardigan Welsh Corgis are smart and insightful creatures, just working side by side with a person for centuries, they have practically lost the desire for independence. But these handsome men are not characterized by ambition, and they will never try to put themselves above the owner.

Despite the fact that today’s Cardigan Welsh Corgis have practically said goodbye to herding activities, the instincts of their ancestors, no, no, and even remind themselves. In particular, modern cardi no longer guard cows and sheep, but family members. This is especially evident in relationships with children. A baby who has deviated from the desired trajectory and gone beyond the border existing in the imagination of the dog will be slightly bitten on the legs. From the outside it looks funny, but it’s better not to forget that while you are laughing and filming the “great confrontation” on video, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi perceives this as an encouragement and will try and bite even more next time.

Education and training

In studies, Welsh Corgi Cardigans show themselves from the most positive side. The main thing is not to overdo it with seriousness and monotony. Due to their moderately lively temperament, cardi enjoy learning what is presented to them in a relaxed, entertaining way and quickly lose interest in commands and actions that imply stupid execution of the master’s requirements. Do not forget that the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a highly specialized shepherd shepherd dog, which is absolutely not intended for service and security activities.

Start educating and socializing a puppy from the first minutes of its appearance in your house, and not at the age of 6 months, as it is advised to do by would-be experts from Internet forums. The training of a 2-month-old baby is built approximately in the following sequence:

• familiarity with the home toilet (tray, diaper) and the ability to use it;
• learning to leash and collar;
• education of obedience and the establishment of boundaries of what is permitted.

At 3 months old, a puppy can and should be introduced to the world around him so that he does not get the impression that he is the only four-legged creature on the planet. To do this, walk more often in places where other animals (cats, dogs) run, and also arrange meetings with people for your pet. At the same time, intelligibly explain to the baby that now the toilet for him is not only a tray and a diaper, but also the nearest bushes.

At 4-5 months, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is smart enough to learn the minimum set of commands: “Next!”, “Sit!”, “Lie down!”. In addition, a 4-month-old puppy must understand that barking without a reason is the height of bad manners, and picking up foreign objects from the ground, even if they smell seductively, is an activity unworthy of a real Welsh Shepherd.

Important: teaching a cardigan circus and acrobatic numbers is not prohibited, unless it is jumping. Climbing onto horizontal surfaces and diving down from them is strictly contraindicated for representatives of this breed (they have paws, if you remember).

In the process of training six-month-old individuals, take into account the peculiarities of the transitional age. During this period, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi may deliberately disobey you and pretend to be incomprehensible. This breed is not inclined to dominance, but a 6-month-old puppy will definitely try to bargain for some concessions. In addition, he may start ruining shoes again, although he showed complete indifference to such things three months ago.

Maintenance and care

Like any shepherd dog, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi will certainly prefer a rustic house with a lawn to the most comfortable apartment. On the other hand, if you settle a representative of this breed in a modest kopeck piece, he will not be offended by you, provided that you are not too lazy to go to the park with him or pick mushrooms in the nearest grove a couple of times a day.

Equipping a corner for a dog in a house or apartment, consider the anatomical features of the breed. For example, the mattress bed for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi should be strictly orthopedic, and the food bowl should be equipped with an adjustable stand so that the animal does not have to bend over too much.

Hygiene

The smooth, hard coat of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi has dirt and water repellent functions, so it is better not to abuse full bathing with this breed. Bathing days are recommended to be arranged no more than once every three months (if you do not have a show dog), and shampoo for washing should be selected specifically for coarse hair.

Cardigan Welsh Corgis shed heavily twice a year. Particularly impressive in its scale is the first adult “wool-fall” of a teenage puppy, which often plunges an inexperienced owner into a state of shock. Do not be afraid of this: with age, everything will settle down, and the cardigan will shed no more and no less than the average shepherd dog. As for the daily care of your pet’s hair, the arsenal of combs to help you. A massage brush, a slicker rake, a comb with long teeth – you will have to spend money on these items because you will have to comb the representatives of this breed every day. In addition, once a week, cardi is also supposed to work out the undercoat well.

Ears are cleaned as needed with good old veterinary lotion and cotton swabs. But the claws of the Welsh Corgi Cardigans will have to be cut more often (optimally – 2 times a month), since they grow quickly and often exfoliate. You should not abandon such an unpleasant procedure for both the owner and the dog as brushing your teeth. But it is better to carry it out as carefully as possible, since the teeth of shepherd dogs are very sensitive.

Walking and exercise

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is an energetic and agile dog, but even its internal “battery” has its limit, so do not bring your pet to exhaustion with daily workouts. The optimal load option: walks at a lively, relaxed pace twice a day and three times a week, agility classes, freestyle or just active outdoor games.

In summer, you will have to look for a more shady place for walking, because due to too thick and dense wool, cardi can overheat in the sun. During the off-season, another problem comes out – the dirt that accumulates on the dog’s stomach during walks (thanks to the short legs). So if you don’t want to drag your ward to the bathroom after each exit to the street, sew a tailor-made raincoat for him according to individual sizes – in pet stores the assortment of clothes for representatives of this breed is extremely poor.

When choosing four-legged playground friends for your Cardigan Welsh Corgi, make sure they are medium-sized dogs. The fact is that cardigans are very brave by nature, and in the event of a conflict, the dimensions of the enemy do not hold them back at all. Accordingly, if your ward is walking in the company of a “Caucasian”, you are taking a big risk, since for a wolfhound such a short-legged is an unfortunate misunderstanding that is easy to remove from the path with one click of the jaws.

Feeding

Welsh Corgi Cardigans are happy to absorb dry food, so if the owner has neither the time nor the desire to make a balanced diet for his pet, this option can help out a lot. True, in some cases, the dog’s body can react to store “drying” with allergies, a change in coat color (white hair becomes pink), and problems with the intestines.

With natural food, things are easier. Feed the cardigan lean frozen meat at the rate of 20 g of product per kilogram of dog body weight, as well as liquid cereal porridges cooked in meat broth, and your ward will be healthy and happy. Just don’t overdo it, because Cardigan Welsh Corgis are those gluttons who love to fill their stomachs beyond measure and ask for more.

Foods that should be included in the diet of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi:

• fat-free kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese;
• vegetables (carrots, zucchini);
• apples;
• vegetable oil (as an additive, but not more than 1 tablespoon per day);
• rice and buckwheat groats.

1-2 times a week, the cardigan menu can be varied with offal, boiled chicken, fish fillet, egg and breadcrumbs.

Prohibited:

• tomatoes, eggplant, grapes;
• mushrooms;
• bakery products;
• nuts;
• sausages;
• sour cream and any fatty dairy products;
• millet and semolina;
• bird bones;
• pasta;
• sweets.

Health and Diseases of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi

One of the weakest points of the breed is the teeth, which are often affected by periodontal disease. The metabolism of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is also not the most outstanding, so they often overeat and, as a result, quickly get fat. As for genetic ailments, there are few of them in shepherd dogs. Basically, animals inherit from their parents eye diseases (cataracts, dislocation of the lens, glaucoma, keratitis), as well as hip dysplasia. Among other things, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi has a predisposition to food allergies and various kinds of eczema.

How to choose a puppy

Cardigan Welsh Corgis are somewhat inferior in popularity and demand to Pembrokes, so there are not so many kennels breeding them. Take this fact into account and approach the choice of a pet carefully, armed with a standard of appearance, and even better, with the support of a specialist from the kennel association.

When choosing a Cardigan puppy, we recommend that you follow a few rules.

• Cardigan Welsh Corgi males are more trusting and dutiful and more willing to learn. Bitches are more cunning and flexible, so it is easier for them to adapt to the mood of the owner.
• Cardies inherit the athletic abilities of their parents, so if you need a future agility champion, ask the breeder for working diplomas of his ancestors.
• Responsible breeders usually test for dysplasia the bitch and dog they plan to breed. Play it safe and ask the seller for test results to protect yourself from buying a puppy with a bad heredity.
• The optimal age for selling/buying a Welsh Corgi puppy is 8-12 weeks. Despite the fact that kennel clubs allow 45-day-old babies to be put up for sale, self-respecting kennels do not enjoy this privilege, preferring to keep the dog a little longer so that it receives the necessary vaccinations and gets stronger.
• It is best to take puppies in kennels practicing suburban cultivation. This means that the kids will not be locked in cramped cages and they will have enough space to play and develop.

Remember: experienced breeders and kennels take the sale of their wards very seriously and rarely offer auctions or puppies for reservation. The offer of the seller to “negotiate” about the price is an alarming signal, because such concessions are usually made if the dog has serious defects that you have not yet had time to see.

Photo of Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppies

How much is a welsh corgi cardigan

A Welsh Corgi Cardigan with a normal pedigree, all the necessary vaccinations and a chip (brand) by definition cannot be cheap. You will have to get used to the fact that prices for this breed start at 800$ and end somewhere in the region of 1200 – 1600$.