The Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Welcome to Purebred Star, the weekly blog exploring the wide diversity of dogs out there!

This week:  The Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgi!

My Training Experience:  I have had a few wonderful opportunities to work with Corgis.  They truly live up to their genes as a Herding dog! They NEED a way to exert their abundant energy and use their clever, herding mind or they can become neurotic. Also - as a herding breed, they enjoy a good chase game with small children and cats, so extra care of proper socialization is important from a young age. The Corgi is SO fun to work with! They are very quick to pick up on their training. I always enjoy working with this very clever breed.

Originates From: Legend would say that the Corgi was a gift from the forest fairies and that he breed’s markings were left by the fairies' harnesses and saddles. The facts though, tell us that the Corgi breed originates in Wales. There are two types: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi (being the most popular one) and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. The two are very similar with the main difference being their size.

Bred For:  The Corgi was bred to herd cattle and geese by nipping at their heels as opposed to running circles around them like some other herding breeds. In fact, if charged at they quickly, they'll respond with a nip at the livestock’s nose to get them back on track with the group! While you might think their short stature  would be a handicap for them, it actually helps them avoid being kicked. As such, this breed is known to try herding children and can be extremely nippy with them. If you have young children (under age 10) or other small animals, a Corgi might not be a good match for your family.

Build: The Pembroke height ranges from 10 to 12 inches and they can weigh from 25 to 30 pounds. The  Cardigan is a little larger with an average height  between 10.5 to 12.5 inches and a weight between 25 and 38 pounds. They are a hardy and sturdy small to medium size breed!

Appearance: The most striking thing about a Corgi is their build which is long and sits low to the ground. However, if that didn't given them away already, you can easily spot a Corgi by  their large erect ears!  Sometimes their tail can be long and busy.  Other times it is docked. This is typically dependent on where they come from.  Tail-docking has been banned in some countries. As a result, breeders are attempting to breed the short tail characteristic into the Corgi.  Corgis have a soft double-coat which can be medium to long in length and comes in a variety of colors and patterns such as; brindle, red, sable, blue merle, black, fawn and tan with or without white markings.

Personality: The Corgi is truly a BIG Dog in a small package!!  They are a clever breed so they can be trained easily.  The Corgi has been described as a fun-loving dog that typically gets along with everyone.  They CAN have a stubborn streak about them, but overall they are a very hardworking breed.

Activity Level:  The Corgis are considered  to have a moderate activity level. They're a busy-body that will require an active family - at least one to two walks a day for about 30 minutes or a good jog for 45 minutes.  While walking, the breed can exert their inborn need to herd on children on bikes, scooters and skateboards, so proper training will need to be taken at a very young age. They are a very intelligent breed, not terribly happy to lie around all day. Given this lifestyle,  the Corgi will find a way to entertain itself -   which can sometimes be in a very destructive manner.  If you're interested in a dog for herding competitions, agility or flyball, the Corgi would be an excellent choice!

Health Concerns: A typical life span for the Corgi is 12-14 years.  Health concerns to be aware of with a Corgi are Progressive Retinal Atrophy (aka PRA; Vision Loss/Blindness), Canine Hip Dysplasia, Canine Degenerative Myelopathy (Progressive Spinal Cord Disease), Intervertebral Disc Disease (Chronic Back Pain) and Epilepsy.

Rescue First

Have you fallen for the charms of this short but sturdy little dog? Like the idea of this very spirited breed, who wants nothing more than a "job" to do? With their perky ears and wide smiling grin, Corgi get smiles wherever they go! This breed is devoted to its family, however if your house already includes small children or animals  you'll need to work hard to keep them from herding. They LOVE to be play and are willing to go with you at a moment’s notice!  Because of their size, they are easy to travel with and will enjoy adventures with an active family! Sound like the dog for you? Wonderful!

As you begin looking for your Corgi, please check with rescue organizations for this purebred first. Every year there are millions of dogs being euthanized, not because they are bad dogs, but because there is no home for them and insufficient resources to feed them at the rescues. By adopting a dog, you are truly saving a life.

At the very least, NEVER purchase any dog from a pet store. Unfortunately, those puppies almost always come from puppy mills. Instead, look for a reputable breeder to work with.

And as a final note, it is important to spay and neuter your puppy by 6 months old to have a healthy and happy pet for many years to come!

Photo Credit: luckyno3, Yoshi Home, komehachi888, sarah ..., jmcmichael, mbostock

Resources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_Corgi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembroke_Welsh_Corgi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardigan_Welsh_Corgi

Dog Bible, Edited by Kristin Mehus-Roe, 2005

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