Cardigan Welsh Corgi

One of the two Welsh Corgi dogs, the other being the Pembroke Welsh, this one appears to be one of the ancient breeds originating in the British Isles. Its longish, lowly set built earns it the name “Alsatian with short legs.”  Its other distinctive features include a moderately large head, widely set eyes, large erect ears, rounded to the tip and a low set, bushy tail. Originating as a livestock guardian dog, they have turned into perfect house companions at present.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Pictures

History

Named after the Cardiganshire kingdom of Wales, it is one of the oldest herding breeds, existing since 1200 B.C. These dogs have been built in such a way so that they may conveniently be able to nip the cattle at its heels, also escaping their kicks, which would fly over their head and not touch the body. Besides being a farm dog, they were even used for hunting as well as protecting their family. The Pembroke and Cardigans went through interbreeding and was regarded as a single breed in the U.K. until 1934 when they were separated and attained individual recognition. They were imported to the United States in 1931, gaining AKC’s recognition in 1935.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi vs. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

• The Cardigan Welsh Corgi originated in the Cardiganshire kingdom while the Pembroke Welsh was developed in the Pembrokeshire region.
• The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is slightly heavier than the Pembroke Welsh.
• The CWC has oval-shaped feet where the front feet remains curved inwards; the PWC has its rounded feet curved to the outer direction.
• The PWC is more affectionate and a better companion dog than the CWC.

Temperament and Personality

Keeping in mind the kind of work they were developed for, these are agile, intelligent, active and athletic dogs, also excelling as loyal, devoted and affectionate companions.

They are alert guardians, keeping a close vigil on their household and intimating the owner with a bark the moment they spot any stranger or even sense or hear anything unusual. This trait also raises the CWC to the stature of an effective watchdog.

They bark excessively, yelling at anything and everything, a habit that needs to be trained upon, lest they could pose a nuisance to neighbors.

Though they love kids, their herding habit may cause them to nip the little ones at their heels, thus requiring parental supervision, especially when small kids are interacting with these dogs.

They could be a little aggressive with any unknown dogs but share a comfortable rapport with canines they are brought up with. Owing to their herding instinct, smaller animals should be kept at a distance from them.

Care

• Exercise

• Grooming

• Health Problems

If you live in the countryside and have a farm, you could put the CWC to work to tend your livestock, else make sure his daily exercise needs are met well. Take it out on a long walk and allow sufficient playtime in a fenced yard. Most of them enjoy playing with a ball, so a game of fetch would thrill them completely.

Being heavy shedders, they need brushing two times in a week which should go up to a daily combing during the shedding season. Though they have a weatherproof coat constant exposure to heat or cold could affect their skin and also their health. Bathe it only when the need arises as frequent washing may cause the oil in the coat to break. Cleaning its ears and eyes, brushing its teeth as well as trimming its nails are the other grooming needs that should be strictly adhered to.

Though healthy, some of the common conditions they are plagued with are hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and progressive retinal atrophy. They are at a higher risk of a back problem because of their longish and low built. Hence it is essential to keep a watch on their movements so that in play they do not jump off the bed or get down the stairs.

Training

These herding dogs have an independent streak of mind and can at times do things at its will, making training a little challenging. A firm, tactful handler is therefore needed who could channelize their intelligence in a positive way through reinforcements.

• Socializing them is essential since their puppy days so that they may be able to understand who is a threat and who is not. Get them acquainted with other dogs that are vaccinated as well as properly trained, probably of your friends’ would help them build a rapport with all and coexist in a friendly way.
• Teaching them commands like “leave”, “no” is essential particularly to keep their nipping instinct under check. You can also provide non-contact games like tug of war or fetch though ensure that your pet does not get too aggressive in pursuit of play.

Feeding

A good quality dry dog food is needed to keep it healthy. You can add spoonfuls of homemade food to it after consulting the vet, though make sure you do not overfeed your Cardigan. While giving treats choose for healthy options and keep a check on the amount.

Interesting Facts

• The fairy saddle on the back of some of the Cardis translates to the old belief of fairies having ridden on their backs.