Welsh Corgi are cute dogs that resemble puppies even in adulthood. This breed is an excellent companion and favorite of the family. Dogs get along well in a city apartment, but they will also be happy with a manor with a vast yard. They are playful, easy to train. Caring for them is very easy. Welsh Corgi were bred in Wales as shepherd dogs. Their main working quality was to be agility. Barking at the cows, but at the same time only a small nimble dog can dodge their hooves.
The name Welsh Corgi is very eloquent: welsh from the local dialect is translated as “Welsh”, cor means “dwarf”, and gi means “dog”. Dogs of this breed have short legs, and the look itself is quite squat. But the Welsh dwarf has big erect ears. These dogs are distinguished by excellent hearing. The breed is divided into two subspecies: welsh corgi pembroke and cardigan. Differences and comparisons of one type with another will be presented below.
Similarity
We say right away that the subspecies were bred for the same purpose (as assistants to the shepherds), but in two neighboring counties of Wales - in Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire. These regions are separated by a mountain range. And the natural barrier for a long time served to ensure that the representatives of the two breeds did not cross. Welsh origin, short stature, short legs and large erect ears - this, perhaps, is all that makes a cardigan and a pembroke related. Even the “source material” that was taken to breed the subspecies is different. Therefore, if you put dogs of two breeds side by side, you will see that they have more differences than similarities.
Welsh Corgi cardigan: history, character, standard
This breed is older than the Pembroke. It was bred around the ninth century AD. The main material for the cardigan was ancient shepherd's and hiller-like breeds. Later they were still crossed with dachshunds, thanks to which the Welsh Corgi received shortened and slightly curved legs.
According to the standard, cardigans must be of strong physique. Their height at the withers is about thirty-two centimeters. Weight should not exceed thirteen kilograms in bitches. They inherited a slightly elongated body from the dachshunds, but the cardigan holds the back evenly. Chest gives out a working dog. The head of the cardigan resembles both a German shepherd and a fox. The wide forehead of the shepherd’s dog smoothly turns into a sharp muzzle with a dark nose.
The eyes of the representatives of the breeds should be of medium size, with a round cut. The standard requires large erect ears of a triangular shape with rounded tips from two subspecies of Welsh Corgi (cardigan and pembroke). The differences between the breeds concern the tail. At the cardigan he is fluffy, like a fox. The dog carries it flush with the back. The pembroke has a short tail from birth or docked. Cardigan character is friendly, but serious, restrained.
Welsh Corgi Pembroke: history, standard, disposition
In a neighboring county, a shepherd dog was bred with the participation of northern Spitz. From them, Pembrokes inherited a fluffy coat that protects them from the weather and a more elegant head. Despite the fact that this Welsh Corgi was also bred to work on pastures, the aristocratic appearance of the breed representatives made her the "dog of the British Queen." “A simple hard worker” and an elegant companion of the princess - this is how the cardigan and pembroke sitting next to the Welsh Corgi look like.
The differences between the two breeds become even more pronounced if we look at the faces of two dogs in profile. Cardigan is a miniature German shepherd, also set on short legs. Welsh Corgi Pembroke - an enlarged Pomeranian. Its size at the withers should be 25-30 centimeters, and weight - 12.7 kilograms in bitches and 16.5 - in males. Pembrokes were bred with the participation of bobtail, so their tail from birth is either absent or greatly shortened. By breed, it is stopped in puppyhood.
Pembrokes are characterized by a cheerful, friendly disposition, but are overly emotional.
Differences: size, weight, proportions
Above, two subspecies of Welsh Corgi dogs were sequentially described: a cardigan and a pembroke. The differences between them are already apparent in size. A cardigan is larger than a pembroke, and above it at the withers. It also affects the weight of two dogs. Differences also appear in proportions. The cardigan inherited from the dachshunds a slightly elongated body, and from the shepherd dog a smooth inclination of the back to the croup. The silhouette of the Pembroke is oval, with a long arched neck. The tail of the cardigan is flush with the back. Pembrokes from birth are bobtail. If the dog has a small tail and is not stopped (recently this has been practiced more often), then it carries it in a half ring, but not high.
And the similarity of the two subspecies is expressed in the proportions of the body. The head relative to the body should be one fifth to three. Shortened paws and large erect triangular ears also combine both subspecies.
Color, wool
One should take into account the “source material” that took part in the breeding of these two varieties of the same Welsh Corgi breed - cardigan and pembroke. Differences are expressed primarily in the coat. In a cardigan, it is short, it can be tough or silky, but always thick. Pembrokes from Spitz inherited a furry, soft-touch fur coat.
Cardigans were bred with the participation of dogs of marble suit. Therefore, they often have a blue merle color. There are reddish, dark tan and tiger cardigans. White spots are not considered a defect in them. But the characteristic feature of the Pembrokes is the "elven saddle" - a red or brown large spot on the back. Their color can also be deer, sable, red and black-brown tricolor.
Welsh Corgi pembroke and cardigan: how are their faces similar and how do they differ
In an older breed, the look of a typical shepherd. He is wise and a little wary. The round-almond-shaped eyes of cardigans have distinct angles. If they are brown, then they are in good harmony with the color. Blue merle dogs have blue eyes. Pembrokes do not observe this. Their eyes are always brown, with darker tones preferred.
The Pembroke look is more open, naive and expresses a desire to play. This makes even an adult dog look like a cute puppy. Seeing the pembroke, people immediately try to caress, stroke him. When they see a “little shepherd dog” cardigan with a wary, testing look, they don’t have such a desire. The pembroke's eye section is more oblique, which gives the entire muzzle a sly, fox-like expression.
The differences between the Welsh Corgi breed (cardigan and Pembroke) are also manifested in the tips of the ears. In the former, they are smoothed, rounded. Pembrokes have triangular ear tips.
Paws
Two types of dogs have more similarities in this. Welsh Corgi paws should be shorter than other dog breeds. But there are differences too. And they appear in the front legs. The standard requires Pembrokes immaculately straight limbs. The front legs of a cardigan, in the veins of which more blood of dachshunds flow, have a small size. Pembrokes are related to Spitz-like ones. Their paws are small and elegant. But since the dog was taken out to work on pastures, to walk long distances, the limbs of the Pembrokes are quite strong. On his short legs, he runs well and jumps.
Character
The Welsh Corgi Pembroke and Cardigan are similar on the issue of morals. The description of the breed of dogs characterizes them as loyal companions, amenable to dog training. But there are differences. If you would like to have a real shepherd dog, but there is not enough space for a large dog in your apartment, a cardigan will suit you. This ancient breed was bred to help shepherds. His character is balanced, calm. He is distrustful of strangers, but does not show unmotivated aggression to them.
But how the Welsh Corgi Pembroke differs from a cardigan is a careless affectionate disposition. It is believed that the ancestors of the younger breed were brought to Wales at the beginning of the twelfth century by weavers and craftsmen from Flanders, whom Henry I invited to settle in their lands for the development of trade. These dogs were originally pets, companions. They get along well with other animals. But perhaps they will perceive rodents in the old fashion as pests. Therefore, it is not worth introducing Pembrokes with hamsters and guinea pigs. This subspecies, unlike restrained cardigans, likes to bark (sometimes without any reason). Pembrokes love outdoor games, so energetic people should start them.