Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Temperament:
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi originally comes from Wales in Great Britain. It is often just called "Cardigan" so as not to confuse it with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a recognized dog breed (FCI Group 1, Section 1, Standard No. 38). This herding dog develops a strong bond with its owner. The earlier it comes into contact with children, the less complicated it is. If it gains good experience with children, it will become an excellent family dog.
Characteristics
This breed is available in almost all colors. However, the proportion of white in the coat should be present in every dog. In the Welch Corgi Cardigen it is less than 30 percent. Its coat is of medium length and weather-resistant. The most common color combinations are red, beige-white, blue-merle, black-white or tricolor.
The adult Welsh Corgi Carigan weighs around 10 to 12 kilograms and should reach a shoulder height of 25 to 33 centimeters.
The upright ears look quite large, like those of a bat. The tips of the ears are rounded. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi looks somewhat unusual due to its short legs.
Its head is flat and broad. The long body with the strong rump appears muscular. The tail is reminiscent of a fox. The medium-sized eyes look at you attentively and alertly. Its life expectancy is 10 to 12 years.
Anyone who chooses a Cardigan Welsh Corgi will love its versatility. He wants to be challenged. In addition to his stamina, this alert herding and driving dog is very intelligent. His behavior is not aggressive. This loving protector is suspicious of strangers. A Cardigan Welsh Corgi only barks in exceptional situations. Despite its robust build, it is agile and fast.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi does not need a large territory and adapts well. If it can regularly exercise outdoors, it can also be kept in a city apartment. One walk is not enough, he needs plenty of exercise. However, because of his short legs, you must make sure that he doesn't have to climb too many stairs. Due to its length, it is prone to spinal injuries.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is more suitable for older children who can already take on responsibility. He gets on well with other pets. However, you should know that he can be a bit of a heel biter. He likes to play when children are affectionate with him.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi needs a non-violent upbringing. However, you should be consistent, as he will try to get his way. When training this lovable dog, the focus should be on obedience. Otherwise he will always question the hierarchy and become stubborn.
This breed has one characteristic - it wants to please. But it also has the instinct to bite your heels. You should break the Cardigan Welsh Corgi of this habit as early as possible.
Nevertheless, he remains a traditional working dog. He has a great urge to move. That's why you should offer him regular play and exercise.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.
Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.
Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.
Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.
Health & Care
The medium-length coat of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi requires intensive grooming. However, this is not complicated. It is usually enough to brush him once a week. As a dog owner, however, you will get a feel for whether your dog needs to be brushed more often. This can certainly be the case during the shedding season in spring and fall.
You should only bathe your dog if he comes home covered in mud and it is not possible to brush the dirt out. Then you can rinse him off with clean water. The water should be lukewarm. Dogs don't like it too hot or too cold.
If the dog has excrement in its coat or has rolled in something foul-smelling, you can use a dog shampoo.
When you buy a puppy, you should get him used to brushing his teeth straight away. There are special toothbrushes and toothpaste for dogs. It won't be long before brushing your puppy's teeth becomes second nature.
The teeth must be checked weekly, as must the eyes and ears. Eyes and ears can be cleaned with a clean, damp cloth or special cleaning agents. Ask your vet which method is best for your dog.
Paws and claws also need to be groomed. After every walk, check whether there are any foreign objects between the pads and remove them. If the claws do not wear off by themselves, they must be trimmed regularly.
Make sure that your dog gets enough exercise and is physically and mentally occupied.
Suitable accessories
A soft, padded leather harness is just right for Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppies. A harness is also suitable for adult dogs. It does not hinder the dog's urge to move on the lead. It prevents excessive pulling on the neck. A sturdy telescopic lead up to 5 meters long is more suitable for him than a short lead.
He will love playing with balls. His agility and intelligence make him a sporty dog. He enjoys games such as driving ball. Intelligence toys for his mental work or simply nose work are sufficient for the dog.
Otherwise, Cardigan wants to decide for himself what he wants to play. As long as he can move around, he is happy. During agility training, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi can really let off steam with its agility and dexterity. If there is a dog playground nearby where he can put his agility to the test, your Welch Corgi Cardigan will be happy.
Other accessories that your dog needs as basic equipment are a dog basket or dog mat as a place to retreat, water and food bowl, tick tweezers, claw clippers, mild dog shampoo, brush and comb or rubber curry comb, toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs, transport box for transportation in the car and a first aid kit. It's best to ask your vet what should be in the first aid kit.
Origin & History
The origin of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi lies in the British county of Cardiganshire. The Welsh word "corgi" means dwarf dog or small, low dog. This type of dog is said to have been known in Celtic times. It is said to have lived in the mountains of Wales 3000 years ago. It is assumed that this herding dog is descended from the dogs of the Vikings.
The Torfspitz is also considered an ancestor of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Farmers valued the Cardigan Welsh Corgi as an attentive watchdog. He guarded the cattle and drove the herds forward. Another task was hunting birds and small game.
The short-legged Cardigan Welsh Corgi ducks under the hooves of the escaping cattle, leaps forward and nips an unruly cow in the fetlocks. He quickly and skillfully dodges the kicks of such large animals. On the farm, he took over the extermination of mice and rats and guarded the property.
Until 1934, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi was crossed with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. After that, breeding was completely separated by breed. It was only at this time that the Kennel Club recognized both as independent breeds.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi had fewer followers than the Pembroke. Not least because the royal family opted for the Pembroke. It was unknown in Europe until 1955. At that time, the Netherlands was importing and registering English dogs.
The Dutch Cardigan breed developed into the leading breed in Europe in the 1960s. Today, German breeding is also strongly influenced by Dutch dogs, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is one of the oldest dog breeds in Great Britain. When most of the land still belonged to the kingdom, the pastures were not allowed to be fenced in. It was therefore the Welsh Corgi Cardigen's job to drive the herds into the fields. When the land was sold to farmers, it could be fenced off. In this way, the Cardigan lost its usefulness and became a luxury.
