Welsh Corgi

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Size

Small

Life span

15 Years

Weight

17 Kg

Group

Pastoral Dogs

Welsh Corgi Overview

The Welsh Corgi is a small breed of dog characterized by short legs, fox-like brush and long body. Its proportion is generally longer than tall. It has a foxy head that is wide and flat between the ears tapering towards the eyes with a moderate stop. The muzzle tapers to a black nose while the dark eyes are widely set with clearly defined corners. It has large, erect ears with slightly rounded tips which are a bit large compared to the overall proportion of the dog. The well muscled neck fits well into the sloping shoulders and carries the head with relative ease. The front legs are short and slightly bowed with outward pointing feet while the equally short back legs have muscular thighs that provide support to a long body. The feet are very well padded which gives cushion to the breed. Another distinct feature of the breed is a fox-like brushy tail which is moderately long and carried low when at rest. The weather-proof coat is short and hard to touch with a good undercoat and comes in any colour with or without white markings.

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Welsh Corgi Characteristics

Size InformationIntelligence
  • 5
Size InformationExercise Needs
  • 3
Size InformationDogs Health
  • 4
Size InformationChild Friendly
  • 4
Size InformationApartment
  • 4
Size InformationShedding
  • 4
Size InformationGrooming Needs
  • 3
Size InformationBarking
  • 2
Size InformationAlone
  • 3
Size InformationTrainability
  • 4
Size InformationEnergy Levels
  • 3
Size InformationDog friendly
  • 3

History & Origin

The Welsh Corgi originated in Wales, United Kingdom and is believed to be descended from Swedish Vallhund brought to Wales by the Vikings. Its name is derived from “Cor gi” which means “dwarf dog” in Welsh and is one of the oldest herding breeds. Since 1934, it is generally categorized as two distinct breeds namely, the Cardigan and the Pembroke. The Cardigan was named after its area of origin, Cardiganshire, Wales and is a bit larger with larger rounded ears and a fox-like brush while the Pembroke has rounded, pointed ears and a bit smaller. The Cardigan was developed from the Teckel or Dachshund, a similarly short-legged and elongated dog breed and originally came in brindle and red exclusively. When collies were added to the mix, tricolours and blue merle began to appear. The Cardigan was originally bred as a farm guardian but was later on given a job as cattle herder. It was first shown in England in 1919. Today, the Cardigan is still being used as an effective flock herder valued for its working and guarding abilities as well as its companionship. 

Welsh Corgi Temperament

Like other herding dogs that are bred to do specific tasks, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi has a tendency to develop its own pastime and can become destructive if not given a job to do. As a cattle dog, the Cardigan is very active and athletic that packs an enormous amount of stamina. It is a joyful and loving breed, never shy nor aggressive, but has a stubborn streak mainly due to its natural instinct to command its surroundings. A naturally alert character and its wariness of strangers make it a good watchdog. The breed is very affectionate and a very devoted companion and is generally good with children and other dogs. 

Welsh Corgi Training

Training should be firm, consistent, varied and with positive reinforcement as the Welsh Corgi is typically an intelligent breed which can get bored very easily with repetitive training.

Grooming

The coat of the Cardigan is weather-proof and generally clean and odourless. Grooming is minimal and very straightforward; once a week brushing to remove loose or dead hair is sufficient. The breed sheds moderately twice a year.

Health

The Welsh Corgi (both the Cardigan and the Pembroke) are among the healthiest and longest-lived dogs belonging to the Pastoral group. The Cardigan has an average lifespan between 12 to 14 years and tends to be more robust and hardier with fewer known inherited medical issues. Chief among them is canine hip dysplasia which can cause severe arthritis of the hips, degenerative myelopathy and progressive retinal atrophy which culminates into blindness. Because of its long stature, the Cardigan should be picked up in a proper manner to prevent from injuring the breed’s spinal cord.

Welsh Corgi Exercise Needs

Despite having a low stature, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi requires a moderate amount of exercise and must not be overfed or it could become obese and could fracture its relatively short legs or damage its very long back. This energetic breed requires a couple of good walks everyday to keep it physically and mentally fit.

Children and other pets

It's strong herding instinct can sometimes manifest by nipping at people’s heels particularly with that of children.