The Welsh Corgi may have gotten its name from the Welsh word, corrci,
which means dwarf dog or from the Celtic word, corgi which means dog. There
are two closely related varieties, the Pembroke (see Pembroke Welsh Corgis)
and the Cardigan. The Cardigan is not as well known as the Pembroke but
may have come to Cardiganshire, Wales, with the Celts as early as the thirteenth
century B.C. It is distinguished from the Pembroke primarily by its longer
tail, heavier build and longer body. The Cardigan was recognized by the
American Kennel Club in 1935.
The Welsh Corgi is affectionate, loyal, friendly, and good with children.
They are natural herders and were used by Welsh people to herd cattle. They
are loyal, loving and good obedience dogs.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is distinguished from the Pembroke in that its
body is longer and it has a long, brush-like tail. The coat color on a Cardigan
is a blue merle, red, sable, tricolor, brindle or black. They have a white
bib, four white feet and often a white blaze on the face. The eyes are dark,
medium sized and set wide apart. They are generally brown but may be blue
in the blue merle, also. The ears of the Cardigan are large and prominent
in relation to the size of the dog. They stand straight and are slightly
rounded at the top. The Cardigan is between ten and twelve inches in height
and are called the "yard-long dog" in that their length from tip
of nose to end of outstretched tail is the length of a Welsh yard. They
weigh between 25 and 35 pounds. The back is long and strong with a level
topline.
fgood@optonline.net of New Jersey writes:
Steady, protective, and always ready to play.
My wife and I got our female Cardigan from a breeder who had gotten
her from another breeder when she was twelve weeks old and at five months
our breeder put her up for adoption as she wasn't show quality. Our girl
never was walked. We had a lot of problems getting her to walk and not pull
on the leash and when she saw people/dogs outside on our walks she went
into a vicious frenzy if she didn't know them. But when she made friends
and saw them again she would roll on her back to be petted. We are working
with her to get her to sit and stay as the people pass and she is sitting
now as they pass. She really wants to please and is still a very young
dog at at only one year nine months old. Inside the house all she wants
to do is play and has earned the full run of the house as she only chews
on her Nylabones. She has never growled or barked at us and is always up
for petting. She likes her space and will spend time alone in the living
room while we are in the den watching TV. But if we call her she comes
up and sits with us. We have an African Grey parrot who she is very jealous
of yet she is still trying to make friends with the bird and every time
the bird kisses her she trys to smell the bird's rear and in doing so hits
the tail and scares the bird. I trust her completely in the house. The
Cardigan is a steady, loyal dog. very loving who wants to please. I think
in time she will get over her outside frenzy and become the perfect pet.
At the dog park she is solid enough to run with the big Labs and Shepherds
and not get hurt. This is our first dog and while we made some novice mistakes
we are able to correct them with this dog. I can't say enough good things
about the Cardigan. I like the fact that most people have no idea what it
is and think it is a mix of many breeds. She is a great dog and the breed
is one of the biggest secrets in dogdom.
Name withheld by request of Dallas, TX writes:
Gentle-natured, sweet-tempered, and eager to please.
I have a beautiful male blue merle Cardi. I wanted a dog that wasn't
too small or too big. We walk almost every day for 30 minutes and he keeps
up with no problems. Even though they have short legs, they are fast, sturdy
and strong. I've taken him to herding training a few times. It's fun to
watch them in action and see their centuries old instincts kick in. He's
also fine if we just sit on the couch and watch TV. He's pretty laid-back;
I like that he's not hyperactive and constantly needing attention or to
be in motion. He's very alert and is always watching me. His face always
scans mine and I sometimes feel like he knows what I'm thinking. He tries
to herd me by nudging the back of my legs with his nose but it's not really
a nuisance. He's sweet-tempered, gentle-natured, and a sensitive soul. I
rarely have any discipline problems because he's so eager to please me.
The main drawback is that he sheds a lot! During shedding season, I'm out
with the broom/vacuum cleaner almost every day. Still, it's a small price
to pay for a wonderful dog that will give you lots of love and loyalty.
I noticed some people mentioned barking problems. Maybe my dog is unique
but he rarely barks except when he's greeting me home after a long day at
work.
Name withheld by request of Texas writes:
Best money I've spent.
I've had many dogs and I have to say my Cardi is the "doggy love
of my life." My male Cardi is four years old now. My daughter and I
originally researched breeds to get an idea of what to look for in a mixed
breed dog. But when we came across the Corgis, we fell in love.
A long search for a breeder and about $600 later (cost of the dog plus shipping),
we had our Cardi. My husband and other family members ribbed me for spending
so much on a dog. But I feel I've definitely gotten my money's worth. He's
healthy, has a great temperament and is a perfect fit for our family. The
breeder I found asked several questions about our family, picked out the
best fit from her litter and arranged shipping (via air) to our city.
He was a little difficult to housebreak and we still have a problem with
barking (likes to announce his presence to the neighborhood). But I think
these are training issues with the owner rather than the dog. As a puppy,
he was never destructive and adapted well to crate training. Typically,
Corgis are laid-back, happy-go-lucky dogs. It's like owning a large dog
in a small package with none of the yippy, high-strung small dog temperament.
Ours is a fluff p; a long-haired Corgi. These are not show quality dogs
but are quite beautiful. I have him shaved in summer (which takes care of
winter coat shedding) and he's quite attractive shaved as well. In winter
when his coat is grown out, he requires regular brushing and bathing. Because
the Corgi's ears are upright, they stay healthier and require less maintenance
than floppy-eared breeds. These are naturally active dogs built for speed
and agility. They love walks, love to play and have a strong ball drive.
If you aren't up for play, they can amuse themselves. You haven't lived
until you've witnessed the "Corgi Scampers" (they suddenly take
off and race around and around, pivoting on a dime).
These are friendly dogs, great with children, wonderful watchdogs who take
their role in your family quite seriously. They need to be part of the family
- not relegated to the backyard. They are intuitive, adaptive, intelligent
animals. My family includes a handicapped stepchild and the dog seemed to
know instinctively to be gentler with this child. My Corgi can be a real
clown and a real comfort and seems almost to read my moods. He is constantly
by my side, mindful of my every move even when he seems fast asleep. One
charming aspect of the breed is that they seem to always be smiling - and
they "talk" - mine comments on a wide variety of things.
These dogs are a great choice for people in apartments, condos or houses
with small yards. Not a good choice for frequent travelers or families with
lots of activities that keep them away from home. While Corgis don't require
constant interaction with you, they do need to be around you. As a herding
dog, the family is his flock and he's happiest when he's with them.
Name withheld by request of Texas writes:
A lovable, funny, bright companion for home and travel.
For 50 years together my husband and I always had, and loved, shepherding
dogs; Border Collies, Shepherd mixes and Aussies. Each was unique and wonderful
and shared with us many rewarding years of loving companionship. Now we
are older and our beloved nine-year-old Aussie is slowing down too. Realizing
that he would not always be with us and knowing that our home would never
be complete with out a dear dog, we set out to find a last companion. We
had two requirements; we wanted a smaller dog as we travel in a motor home
and our dogs always accompany us and we wanted a herding breed. What great
good fortune it was to discover the Cardigan Corgi. We have had our little
brindle Cardigan for two years now and she has fulfilled all our expectations.
Our old Aussie has perked up and adapted so well to having a mischievious
puppy deviling him for attention. They play together with great enthusiasm
with the old man often initiating the games. As the Aussie's greatest plesasure
has always been Frisbee retrieving, comical little Cardi must do it too.
She has trouble dragging the Frisbee back but loves to leap high for her
ball and will catch and fetch it back for as long as her person will throw
it. Although she is perky and full of bouncing energy, she loves to lie
on a lap or snuggle for a nap when her people tire. She is eager to travel
in a car, truck or motor home. She does not like to swim and paces along
our lakeshore barking out, "Take care!" when her Aussie enjoys
a refresh romp in the water. Very quickly she learned all the household
rules and habits and has appointed herself "majordomo," barking
to let us know, for instance, that it is ten o'clock and time for a final
walk with a biscuit to follow, then up, up, up the stairs. As others
have found, these wee dogs are good watchdogs but she loves all children
and is a favorite with all the grandkids. Shedding has never been a problem
for us since our house is used to fur. However she must always have access
to something hard to chew, especially cow hooves. Soft toys and Boda Bones
are destroyed in an hour. When she was a puppy, she did chew on some inappropriate
household items but knows the difference now between her stuff and ours.
We love her so much that we will be looking for another Cardigan, a mature
dog, so our girl will not be so bereft when her sweet Aussie crosses the
bar. These lively little dogs with the gentle, loving nature of a large
dog, and with their intelligence are perfect companions.
bubbartlett@hotmail.comm of California writes:
Excellent family dog.
Two years ago I went to the pet adoption place in my area to get my
son a puppy. I chose the Cardigan thinking it was a different breed. That
is until I took it home and really observed how short her legs were. Since
it is not really a popular breed, I had to go to a few places before a veterinarian
told me she was a Cardigan. This pup lived for the first three months or
so in an apartment with me, my wife and son. She only played with toys I
would give her and never chewed on anything else. We now live in a house
in a neighborhood with MANY children. All of the kids absolutely love her,
and she them. She loves to play fetch and run with the kids on their bikes
and scooters. She is very protective of my son around other dogs. She will
be aggressive toward other dogs when he is around. Having never heard of
this breed before, I am extremely pleased with this affectionate, active,
fun-loving dog.
Name withheld by request of Tennessee writes:
Funny, content dog for the family.
A Cardigan Welsh Corgi (CWC) is a very good dog for an active family.
We got ours about six years ago. She is a very beautiful dog. I would recommend
obedience classes for this breed. Our family did not take her to classes.
Because of this, it was hard to correct her for jumping on guests. Now she
has matured and outgrown that. We have had little problems with this dog.
I would recommend brushing their coat when you can. They tend to shed a
lot. She is good with other dogs (those of the same size). She is okay with
cats. CWCs are affectionate but can entertain themselves easily. Few health
problems. They can be aggressive so I would recommend checking out a CWC's
temperament very closely if you have young children. She tried to "herd"
my little sister, who was about four at the time, as a puppy. She is an
excellent guard dog because of her excellent hearing. These dogs are VERY
smart and can be sneaky. Watch out when house-training. These dogs are nice
for the whole family. I would recommend a CWC for a loving, active family
with children eight and up.
Name withheld by request of Wisconsin writes:
We love this breed!
My husband and I got our Cardi seventeen months ago. Neither of us had
had a dog since we were kids. We had always just had cats, since we have
been pretty busy. But as we got older and our schedules quieted down a bit
we thought we would give it a try. I had always been fascinated
by Cardis and thought the breed characteristics suited us. Since we already
have three cats, a bit of shedding wasn't an issue. And the size is perfect
p; not too big, not too small. With our Cardi we got one of the sweetest,
funniest dogs I have ever met. While stubborn (too smart for her own good),
she still has great kindness and sweetness. She never had to be taught how
to take food from people (incredibly polite), is great with kids (doesn't
jump and scare them). While she does bark more than I expected, I think
it's something that we can work on. She loves the dog park and doggie day
care. I have to admit the cats aren't crazy about being herded, but sometimes
I think they encourage her so they can get a good game of chase going. All
in all I would recommend this breed to anyone. But I would say to be sure
to go to a reputable breeder. I could see there being problems if someone
were breeding indiscriminately. But that's one of the nice things about
a breed that's not really popular. The for-profit breeders and puppymills
haven't gotten out of hand.
rlevang@humboldt1.com of California writes:
Absolutely wonderful breed.
I got a four-year-old female Cardigan thirteen months ago and then I
got a male Cardigan puppy who is almost one year old. They are an amazing
breed. My puppy was so easy to raise, in almost every instance he only needed
to be corrected once or twice to be trained not to do something, like chew
electrical cords or shoes. Of course I have watched him and puppy-proofed
the house. They are intelligent with no willfulness. They want to do whatever
you ask and are easy to train. My female is a bit aloof, particularly with
other dogs. The male is outgoing with no aggressiveness. The female took
over the mothering of my puppy and has been very protective and tolerant
of him. They are playful but if you don't want to play with them they are
content to just be in the same room with you, even the puppy. The most outstanding
thing about Cardigan Welsh Corgis that excels other dogs I have known or
had is their willingness and ability to learn. They are sweet-natured and
mellow but also a lot of fun and ready to play. The only drawback with them
is that they shed a lot. The good news is they are very clean and they do
not have a doggie odor. My female loves water, she loves to play in the
sprinkler and both of them love to go kayaking and swimming with me. They
are outside while I am at work and it was important to me to have dogs that
do not bark excessively, disturbing the neighbors. They rarely bark and
only for good cause and they will stop barking on command.
Name withheld by request of Illinois writes:
Smart and loving with loads of personality.
I had a great dog I found as a pup; she was a fantastic companion for
fifteen years. Great temperament. Socialized easily with other dogs and
people and was very adaptable. Even in her last years she was learning (or
doing) new things I'd never seen her do before then. People always remarked
at her great disposition, and I can't take any credit for training her.
This breed is an ideal companion. They can be very active and hold their
own with other dogs of absolutely any size. They can be "fierce"
when defending themselves or others. The herding instinct and athleticism
is clear. Don't let the short legs fool you, she could keep up with any
dog she ever encountered and steer them in circles until they'd just get
fed up.
A modest to full active lifestyle would be ideal to give your CWC the best
it deserves, though they are patient and relaxed enough to be house companions.
Make a new friend with a Cardigan.
Name withheld by request of Texas writes:
Very sweet-natured and loving.
We have had a Cardigan Corgi for seven years, and I would have to say
that he is absolutely adorable. He is good with everyone, including children.
Anyone who meets him loves him. He is also very good with our cat. I have
heard that this breed can be somewhat reserved with
strangers, and if you are selecting this breed, I would pick one that is
outgoing and friendly. Ours is a very good watchdog and lets us know of
unusual sounds or people. I would really recommend this breed because our
experience has shown it to be a dog with a very sound, sweet temperament.
jocelynantenucci@home.com of Pittsburgh, PA writes on 6/29/00:
Novices be very careful when selecting this breed.
We selected the Cardigan Welsh Corgi as our first dog, after a great deal
of research into the breed and the type of dog that would best fit our lifestyle.
Although we seemed to do everything right in terms of finding a reputable
breeder and training our dog, we were not so lucking in terms of selecting
the right puppy from the litter.
Unfortunately, our adorable puppy suffered from severe food and fear agression
almost from the day we got him. Despite over a year of research, doctors,
and behavior modification attempts, including visits to the Univ. of Penn
Behavioral Clinic, we were told that our dog was not even close to "normal",
showing every type of aggression possible and as extreme a food aggression
as anyone had seen. For our own safety, we ultimately had to put our dog
to sleep after jsut 2 years. The whole experience was extremely traumatic
because despite all of the bad, we adored our little Corgi.
Although we believe our dog's issues may have been one in a thousand, our
advice to anyone considering a Corgi who is not a professional breeder or
experienced with Corgi's is do your homework and carefully screen your puppy.
These are very intellegent and strong-willed dogs and you can not afford
to make a mistake with them.
Calred19561@aol.com of California writes on 6/1/00:
Best dog I have ever owned.
I found our Corgi at the local shelter. This little dog adds so much fun
to our lives. She will chase her toys until she is exausted. She trys to
talk. You will have to hear her to believe me. she is a great watchdog and
herds our three cats into the bedroom. She doesn't believe cats have the
same rights as she does. She plays with the kids and, loves my husband but,
she lets everyone know she is my dog. She is always where I am. She is at
my feet now while I type this and, sleeps with us at night. I have had a
few dogs in my life but, never one that is this loyal,protective and, fun.
I would recommend a Cardigan Welsh Corgi to anyone who has a place for them
to excersise and likes a dog that isn't a couch potato.
seube@gci.net of Anchorage, AK writes on 2/16/00:
Excellent all-around breed.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a multifacited breed. They are comfortable with
a variety of activities, from playing ball to jogging to sitting on your
lap watching television. Temperments are sound and loyal. This is an easily
trained, intelligent dog who asks only to be loved. They do require space
to exercise and I would not recommend apartment dwelling unless you have
access to a fenced area where the dog can be allowed to run freely. Coat
care is minimal. Bi-annual shedding can be minimized with thorough brushings.
They are truly a delight to own.