The Cardigan Welsh corgi can be termed as a pure family dog. Affectionate, caring and playful. The evidence of the dog is somewhere around 3000 years in the city of wales
These dogs were used to drive the cattle in the market. Being used as a service dog, they remain a perfect companion dog.
But is it all about the companionship? Or do they also possess qualities of protection and loyalty?
Read the article to know more about the breed
Table of Contents
Corgi Pictures
Corgi Facts
Avg. Weight: 10 inches to 12 inches
Avg. Height: 25 pounds to 38 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Dog Group: Herding dogs
AKC Rank 68
At A Glance
Size: (2/5) they are generally small in size but are very caring and adorable.
Affection Level (5/5) it is very hard to find another breed who would be so affectionate.
Apartment Friendly (4/5) you can easily put them in an apartment without any fuss
Cold Weather Tolerability (4/5) they can tolerate the cold climatic conditions.
Hot Weather Tolerability (3/5) hot weather can be a problem for them in sustenance
Barking Tendencies (2/5) they do not bark at all. In alarming situations, they may bark.
Cat-Friendly (5/5) they bond pretty nicely. They won’t mind playing with them.
Dog-Friendly (3/5) they comparatively bond is less with dogs than that of cats.
Exercise Needs (4/5) they need a good amount of exercise every day to stay fit.
Grooming Needs (3/5) the grooming is them is not much required as they have less fur.
Playfulness (4/5) this breed is very playful all the time. Especially if you have a small kid.
Trainability (3/5) training them is more or less easy but requires patience.
Intelligence (5/5) they are very intelligent and can learn new things easily
Mouthiness (2/5) they have an average tendency to nip, chew and play-bite.
Price Group (2/5) $1000 to $1300
About Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The Welsh word “corgi” means dwarf dogs. The dog was considered as one breed but now the breed has been divided into 2 categories. The cardigan and the Pembroke. Both have amazing and a very long history. The cardigans are recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Besides everything, the cardigan is a bit taller, heavier and bigger than the Pembroke. The female corgis are usually lesser in size than the males.
Having names like the cardigans, cardis or CWC’s, the Cardigan Welsh corgi breed is very friendly and affectionate towards the family and its members.
Cardigans are precisely very affectionate towards most of the animals. They respect everybody’s point of view. They are easy for a pet in the house. Most people opt out of petting a dog if they already have any other pet. Cardigans can promise you that they will take care of all the members of the house.
Where Cardigan Welsh corgi Dogs Come From?
Cardigan Welsh corgi is believed to come from the family of Dachshunds and Basset hound. The history of the Cardigans goes as long as 3000 years when the Celtic tribe migrated to Wales from central Europe.
Some believe that the Viking invaded the land of wales and the spitz dog which they had brought was crossed between the original corgi and the outcome was the Pembroke Corgi.
The Cardigan Welsh corgi was used as a help dog by the farmers in the field. The dog would also take care of the cattle when grazing in the fields to ensure they are safe from any predator.
They were awarded as the guard dogs and these days the dog is believed to be the best family dog. Welsh law states that stealing the dog or trying to harm them can cause a penalty.
They were shown in a show in 1919 and seven years later the English Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association was founded. During that time the Pembroke and Cardigans were considered to be one single breed.
In the year 1920, a dog named Bob Llwyd was influenced by the breed massively. It is also considered that the first breed standard was made on him.
In the year 1931 Mrs. B.P bole was the first to bring the first pair of Cardigan. One of them was the female puppy known as Cassie who was a quality dog and had given birth to a pup called Megan who became the first U.S champion.
In 1935 The Cardigan Welsh corgi Club of America was formed and slowly the dog moved from sports to guard dogs and help dogs and this way the talent was lost. But people who know the worth will surely love them always.
Size
Cardigans are around 10 to 12 inches tall and weigh around 30 to 38 pounds. The size in females is a bit less and can be counted around 25 to 34 pounds.
The growth can also depend upon the food conditions. If they are eating good food then the growth can happen perfectly. Some pups are picky eaters which can hamper the growth.
Trainability
Training a dog is more or less easy but when it comes to training a Cardigan it is very easy and simple to train them. But the key factor that needs to keep in mind is the fact that, patience.
They are averagely intelligent and can pick up the pace of any new learning very quickly. Which makes their training pretty simple.
Being harsh on should be avoided as they are very fond of you. They might not be taking any harsh behavior nicely. Giving them some time to understand things may solve the problem of behavior and respect.
You should treat them with something or the other to make sure that the pup is motivated and ready for anything coming through. You can even use the phrase “very good” if they are doing well.
Colors & Grooming
They get a double coat with a short undercoat and a thick topcoat. They tend to shed a lot so make sure to brush them frequently so that the dead hair removes easily. You bathe them to clean their coating.
The Cardigan Welsh corgi dog comes in almost all the colors available. They get shades of red, black with tan or without a tan and blue merle. They get patches in their chest neck belly and tail
Trimming is also very much needed in these dog breeds. You can trim the neck, ears, and feet. For a hassle-free experience, you can also visit the groomer with an interval of 2 months. One also has to check for the ear wax and clean it with a dampened cotton ball.
You should also check his body for any rashes or sores. If found should be immediately addressed to the veterinarian.
Dogs are sometimes too touchy about their feet. They generally do not let anyone touch it. But since you have to clean it, make sure you do everything gently. This grooming session should always put a positive impact on the dog.
Common Diseases
Targeting the Bones
Intervertebral Disk Disease
Cardigans have a long back which makes them prone to fracture the spine. Symptoms include walking problems, weakness, a problem in climbing stairs and too some extent, paralysis.
Targeting the Eyes
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This is a disease where the retina deteriorates slowly causing a problem in vision. It can be perfectly cured only if it has been detected at an early age. Most of the dogs often do well despite having this problem.
Feeding
Cardigan Welsh corgi puppies can be given 1.5 cups to 2 cups of dry organic food divided into two meals. The growth will depend hugely on the amount of food being consumed by the puppy.
Make sure to not give them food in huge quantities so that they can eat whenever they feel like. This will make them obese and can cause a risk of health.
The amount of food necessary also depends upon the age, size, and buildup. Adult dogs may need a bit of additional food to fill up the stomach. The cardigans tend to jump on food if given a chance. It can be best if you can give them home-cooked food.
You have to keep on checking if the dog is getting obese or not. To measure this you can place your hand over their back and your thumb in the spine with your fingers facing downward. You will be able to feel ribs without pressing them. If you can feel it, then they are doing pretty much okay. If not, then you should consider revising the diet chart.
Suggested: Senior Dog Food
Vaccination and Care
Vaccines in all the dogs are same and the Cardigan Welsh corgi can be given the same vaccines
Some of these vaccines are
- Parvovirus
- Hepatitis
- Rabies
- Para-influenza
- Distemper
- Leptospirosis
- Coronavirus
If your pup is falling ill frequently then they might need some additional medicines. Consulting the vet can be an easier option.
Suggested: Guide To Dog Vaccination
Cardigan Welsh corgi puppies can be destructive if they do not socialize well. One has to make sure that the pup is making new friends.
Cardigans need a lot of exercises to stay fit and active you can take them on walks every day and play with them in the backyard to keep them happy and positive all the time.
They should be included in activities that drain a lot of physical strength.
They have a high amount of energy in them which needs to be drained through workouts and exercises.
Monthly Expense Estimation:
To buy the breed, one has to spend around $1300 which is not much depending upon the qualities it has. When you have purchased a dog you also have to make sure that they are keeping themselves healthy and safe.
Additional expenses include their food which can be around $540 a year. Pet insurance and other medical expenses are not much and go as far as $460 a year. Miscellaneous expenses like toys and licenses do not cost more than $215 a year.
We can assume that the total amount of expenditure that can be counted comes around $820 a year.
You may need to spend some more money if the health of the puppy is not well and falls sick often.
Corgi Behavior
Children: They are very much affectionate to humans. Cardigan Welsh corgi breed understands the need of kids very well. They can entertain, love and play with them for most of the hour keeping them busy and allowing you to cook the supper.
Dogs: They are more or less an outgoing dog that enjoys having a good time. They respect other pets and dogs and would not min their company for some time.
Cats: This is weird but Cardigans are very much affectionate towards cats. They can even find it better to spend time with other cats. But one should anyways supervise the moves as cats can turn naughty sometimes.
Overview
Having a history of more than 3000 years the Welsh corgi has proved itself ever since. They were used as guard dogs to protect cattle from intruders. They were brought to Welsh by the Celtic tribe who migrated from central Europe.
They are considered to be very affectionate and playful. The only friend they have is you and other cats. They come in two types one is the Pembroke and the other is the cardigans. The breed once was champion in sports but later was used as service dogs.
Due to their generosity and loving nature, they are known best for apartment livings. They are pretty small in size which makes them easy to carry in your arms.
Training them is pretty easy with a little bit of patience.
The training materials should always be in their favor or else they can get
bored.
They
get shades of red, black with tan or without a tan and blue merle with an
undercoat and an overcoat. They would need grooming which can be done in house.
You only need to brush them regularly so that their furs are tangle-free.
You should also check them for any deterioration in health. If any should be informed to the vet.
They get certain diseases that can be cured only if brought to the notice of the vet at an early stage or else they might lose the motivation.
They should always be given food as mentioned or as advised by the vet. Excess amounts of food can cause obesity among the dogs which will increase the risk of health.
They need exercise followed by a few games and frequent walks. This will help in reducing fat storage and also indigestion.
The vaccines mentioned are must for any puppy and should be duly given to the puppies. Any discrepancy can affect the health of the puppy.
Cardigan welsh corgi may not be the best breed but the friendliness and affection is something that can be pretty hard to find among most of the dogs.
Something Fun About Corgis!
They are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. Evidence of this breed goes around 3000 years ago.
It is believed by the Welsh people that “fairies” ride on these dogs.
Queen Elizabeth II owned one of the Cardigan Welsh corgi puppies.
The Welsh law states that hurting these dogs or trying to steal them is a punishable offense.
It was wonderful having you here, spill your thoughts in the comment section about this adorable breed or ask any questions you have. We would love to hear your thoughts or help you out.
Happy Petting To You Guys!
