Cardigan Welsh Corgi Dogs

A healthy adult cardigan welsh corgi, showing off it's beautiful, long body

A cardigan welsh corgi showing off it's typically large ears

A beautiful, little cardigan welsh corgi puppy, sitting very neatly

A close up of the cardigan welsh corgi's wonderful, big ears

An adult cardigan welsh corgi with a lovely, brown and white coat

A cardigan welsh corgi on an afghan stamp

A cardigan welsh corgi's lovely, thick, light brown and white coat

A beautiful, little cardigan welsh corgi puppy with a soft, thick coat

A black and white cardigan welsh corgi, showing off it's beautiful, long body

A black and white adult cardigan welsh corgi, enjoying some exercise

A close up of a cardigan welsh corgi's beautiful, big ears

A healthy, brown and white cardigan welsh corgi standing tall in the grass

A healthy adult cardigan welsh corgi enjoying the Snow

A wonderful brown and white cardigan welsh corgi playing outside

History

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi was used primarily as a farm dog to drive and herd cattle. Being short in stature, it could easily avoid being kicked by cows and sheep. It declined in popularity after much of the cattle land in the UK was enclosed in the 18th and 19th centuries. The breed hovered on the brink of extinction, but was saved by a successful breeding program and is now mainly kept as a pet. It is fondly described as 'a big dog in a small package'.

Behaviour

The Cardigan is a fun loving, active little dog with a big personality. They are a very loyal and devoted, perfectly suited to family life. They make good watch dogs as they are always on the alert and will warn you if anyone is approaching. They need lots of socializing and early training to stop them trying to herd other dogs and people. For such a small dog, they need lots of exercise. They can run for miles and have loads of stamina.

Cardigans are good at agility training, flyball, and herding trials, as they love to work and to please their owners. Highly intelligent, this breed needs to do something to keep it's mind active. As with most dogs, without mental stimulation they can become destructive in the home and start shredding the chairs.

These dogs are quick to learn, so training is pretty straightforward and a lot of fun. They never tire of playing and running around, and love long walks. They are very obedient, making them ideal companions for hikers off leash. They are a hardy breed and rarely suffer major health concerns. Corgis might have a short coat, but they still shed a fair amount of fur. A quick daily brush is a good preventative measure.

Temperament

Cardigan Welsh Corgis are fun loving and devoted. They love being part of a family and want to be in contact with them as much as possible. Being a herding dog, they are sometimes tempted to nip at people's heels, something that can be trained out of them if you catch it early. They are fairly vocal but they do make amusing companions.

Most get on well with household pets, but tend to be territorial when it comes to cats and dogs outdoors. You need to keep a watchful eye on them with other dogs as they can be aggressive.

Health Problems

Cardigan Welsh Corgis are prone to canine hip dysplasia (CHD), progressive retinal atrophy (degeneration of the retina that can lead to blindness), and back disorders (this can be exacerbated in obese dogs).