The Welsh Corgi, like so many other breeds, has a history filled with fact, fiction, and fanciful fun. There is a myth that the Welsh Corgi was a gift from the woodland fairies, and that the breed still carries the marks of fairy harnesses on its coat. One clear fact is that both types of Welsh Corgi, the Cardigan and the Pembroke, originated in the hills of Wales. While there is some dispute over the origin of the breed’s name, most Corgi enthusiasts will tell you that the name is a direct translation of dwarf (cor) dog (gi). Some historians assert that the breed’s name is a translation of the words to watch over (curu) dog (gi). Either translation suits the Corgi well.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi stands 10 -13 inches and weighs in at between 25- 30 pounds. The Cardigan has a long tail. The double coat, consisting of a dense outer coat and soft, thick undercoat, come in a wide variety of colors. Among these are red, sable, black, brindle, and blue merle (a mottled gray with dark patches, probably a result of early crosses with collies). As is typical of many double coated dogs, the Cardigan Welsh Colby sheds and requires quite a bit of grooming attention.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is slightly smaller than the Cardigan, standing only about 10 to 12 inches high, but weighs around the same, between 25 and 30 pounds. A Pembroke’s coat can be found in red, sable, fawn, and black and tan. The medium-length coat needs very little grooming. The Pembroke has a cropped tail and some are born without a tail at all.
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi has a longer history than the Pembroke. There are references to this breed as early on as 1200 BC. In the breed’s early years, they were the close companions to the family guarding their children and helping to hunt for food. Later the dogs were trained to drive cattle. The Cardigan was often responsible for driving the cattle to pasture and watching over the herd.
The Pembroke is the most popular Corgi in the United States. Like their cousins the Cardigan’s, they served as cattle drivers, guard dogs and companions.
Either of the Corgi breeds are excellent dogs for homes with children. They are not so large that one must worry about the size of the dog around the children, but not so small that you fear for the safety of the dog with rough child’s play. The Corgi’s herding and guarding instincts will help to keep a child safe and their playful personality makes them an excellent playmate. As with any dog, pay special attention around children and make sure the dog has been trained in basic obedience before letting them interact with a child.
Both Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis can be prone to eye disorders such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and back problems. Be sure to deal with a breeder who screens her stock well to avoid these genetic issues. The average life expectancy of a Corgi is around 12-15 years.
