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SO, YOU WANT A CARDIGAN CORGI……A Short Summary of the Breed by Giandarra Cardigan Corgis.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a 3000 year old breed – older than the Welsh Pembroke Corgi. (1000 year old) Energy levels vary widely. Some never tire, others are happy lounge lizards. Cardis are generally a little more laid back than Pembrokes. They are even tempered, super loyal, affectionate and adaptable. Overall balance is more important than absolute size in Cardigans. Expect an average of 12-15kg. You will find them in shades of sable (our reds), brindle (red, brown and black), Tri colour with tan or brindle points (brindle points often appear to look black & white) and blue merle ( with tan or brindle points), with or without white flashing on neck, chest, legs, muzzle and blaze on head.
Most Corgwn (plural of Corgi) don’t like being left alone and will follow you around on your activities, helping hang the laundry, garden and even accompany you to the toilet.
Corgis learn easily, which means it won’t be difficult to teach your corgi to sit, stay etc. It also means they may learn bad habits fast. Set your boundaries early, stick to them and you and your Cardigan will be happy.
Corgis may talk back – this is common. They don’t tolerate manhandling and can certainly give you the cold shoulder or death glare if you’ve offended them. But, they don’t bear grudges for your slip ups. If you are dedicated to this dog, he will be dedicated to you. They thrive on human interaction. Simply being with you is enough for this dog. He won't be happy left on his own always.
A bored dog – no matter the breed – will find a way to reduce its boredom, typically through destruction. Appropriate stimulation and exercise will avoid this outcome. A tired Corgi is a dog that is not causing problems.
Herding, whether you want to or not…. Corgis are a herding breed and the desire to do so will vary between individual dogs. They were bred to herd cattle. Unlike a Border Collie who herd sheep by eyeing and stalking, Corgis control a herd by chasing, biting and barking. CHASING, BITING & BARKING This is INSTINCTUAL and requires a level of intelligence. They are a highly intelligent and perceptive breed indeed. They may try to bend you or others to their will. It’s important to establish rules and not waiver on where the lines are drawn. Consistency is vital for a happy Corgi. Good habits from day one. ‘Quiet’ is #1 on this list if barking will be an issue where you live. Set your expectations in your encounters when socializing your puppy to varied situations, but keep in mind his age also and make those outings appropriate to his stage of development. Your puppy should receive all of his puppy vaccinations before being put down in a public space or interacting with other dogs in areas outside your home situation. By all means, take your puppy on outings earlier, but carry him, and avoid setting him down in 'unclean' public areas to manage disease risk.
At the dog park, a Corgi may run around and bark at other dogs, policing activity. This may not be appreciated by other dogs or dog owners. Off leash dog parks are often not the best places to be and we recommend smaller organised play dates with doggy friends. They are alert and watchful (good barking) but it may not be appropriate barking in some situations. Corgis are OFTEN VERY VOCAL with a repertoire of grumbles, mumbles & moans. (We call it Talking Wookie) They will let you know when something has changed or needs your attention. (good barking) Sometimes this might just be a change in your own back yard by say moving a pot elsewhere…(might be bad barking?) Key is let him know its ok and it will satisfy him that he did his job. This is harder to manage if you are not there, say at work, or you let habits establish. So, move the pot when he can see you do it and it won’t be a problem. Getting the drift on how good a watch dog he can be? His job was to chase strays, foxes and guard the farm, so you will understand where this comes from.
The key to training a good Corgi is to be more stubborn on things that matter and compromise on things that don’t. This is a dog that needs a job to satisfy him, even if it’s putting the chooks away, guarding the homefront from the neighbourhood cats or helping you in your daily routine. Let him know you appreciate his efforts and he will puff up with importance and happiness. Most want to please. All want to do their job.
In groups of dogs, Corgis are often the fun police. They will bark at other dogs and chase them around. They often have a tendency to nip at other dogs while playing. This is completely normal Corgi behavior, but it may not be welcome by other dog owners or dogs. Corgis love playing with other Corgis as they all understand each other.
The Double Coat….Corgis are a double coated breed – warm in winter, cool in summer. They always seem to look well groomed. They have a coat which can be muddy as, and on drying, the dirt will just fall out of their coat. The coat is truly a marvel to behold, but it comes at a price; shed hair and lots of it. Commonly known as Corgi Glitter. A daily brush (or at least weekly) and a good vacuum will be your friend. A Corgi kept indoors with air conditioning, fires etc can tend to shed more than an outdoor Corgi as the environment is truly seasonal outdoors, and shedding will be in keeping with the change of season and daylight hours etc. Fluffies often shed less but will snag more debris and benefit from hygiene and belly clips.
Understanding the Dwarf Mutation…. The dwarf mutation alters the growth and develop of cartilage. Immature, fragile growth plates are very thin, lending themselves to easy injury. Don’t stop your puppy from running and playing, but do stop your puppy from jumping off furniture, jogging and avoid strenuous agility work or repetitive small jumps. A few stairs should not be a problem (unless constantly doing them daily) but carry your Corgi up and down staircases until about 18 months. Early spay/neuter is best avoided in this breed and delaying until growth plates are closed is advised. Not before 12 mths as a minimum and 15-18mths is preferred. We recommend not before physical maturity. Corgis desexed earlier are at a notable greater risk for orthopaedic diseases (inc hip and elbow dysplasia) and Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) Not all situations are the same, so find the happy medium for your home. Talk to your breeder or a vet well versed in dwarf breeds for advice.
Obesity can be a death sentence to a Corgi, pre disposing him to problems that otherwise may not have occurred. Try to keep your Corgi in a healthy weight range combined with an exercise regime to ensure he is in the best condition to offset all problems/risks as much as possible.
Corgis have a few health risks for the breed in general. Health testing of parents or clear by parentage lines helps eliminate these risks. This is why it is wise to choose your puppy from an ethical breeder. Although there is always some risk with health, (just like humans) a reputable breeder has endeavoured to eliminate any risk by careful breeding management. Talk to your breeder regarding genetic diseases and health screening undertaken. (PRA, DM, IVDD are some terms you should be familiar with for this breed) Pet Insurance may be warranted and recommended for dogs. Each home should decide based on their personal circumstances. Surgery and diagnostics for any breed can be significant.
We really hope you enjoy your journey with this wonderful breed if you choose to invite one into your home. And, if you’ve had second thoughts due to what you’ve just read, that’s a good thing, because you are doing your research on the breed to suit your situation. That’s never a bad thing for all involved; you, a puppy and the breeder.
Giandarra is an ANKC (Australian National Kennel Council) independent kennel. We have no affiliation or implied affiliation with any other kennel, registered or otherwise. We do, however, connect with other like minded, internationally recognised, registered, heritage preservation breeders of Cardigan Corgis who contribute to our ongoing journey and are an integral part of our investment back into this wonderful breed.
This page has always been intended to be an educational platform for those seeking information on Cardigans and we encourage the sharing of our posts direct from the page. Personal page content is Copyright of the respective authors and no part may be reproduced or amended without permission.
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