Corgi and…

“Your dog, it’s a corgi and…”

“Is that a border collie corgi mix?”

“The queen has those dogs!”

“I’ve never seen a black and white one, are you sure she’s a corgi?”

“A korki?”

And so many more. So to clear up any further confusion, here’s the what for on Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

1. There are 2 breeds of corgi. Both have Welsh in their name. Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Pembrokes are sometimes referred to as PWC or Pems. Cardigans are referred to as CWC or Cardis. Saying “oh my friend has one of those Welsh Corgis” doesn’t help clarify if your friend has a cardi or pem, except by the fact that you are saying it I know you mean your friend has a PWC, because people who understand there are 2 different breeds, know how to clarify correctly.

2. The Queen used to have Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Last I heard, they have all since passed away and the line of queens Corgis is now deceased.

3. Easy way to remember, at least here in the states where docking of tails is still the norm. Pembroke Corgis have no tail, the tail “broke” off (it didn’t really, it was surgically removed at age 3 days old). Cardigan Corgis have a tail, like long sleeve cardigan sweaters.

4. Pembrokes come in a variety of colors, red and white most common. Also sable, and black tri. Cardigans come in even more colors than Pems, in addition to red and white, in Cardis there is black and white with tan points, black and white with brindle points (Zora’s color), blue Merle (with tan or brindle points), and brindle. There is no “brown” corgi. Ok that’s a lie, there is but it’s uncommon and not a showable color last I read the breed standards, and I forget the genetics of it, but comes with a brown nose. I can’t remember if people call it liver or chocolate or brown. There is no Merle color in Pembrokes, only in Cardigans. So a Merle being sold as a Pem, is either a mix breed, or not a Pem.

4. Pembrokes usually have a rather fox type look to them. Their ears are usually set more Fox like and their facial feature angles are rather Fox like. Cardis have softer facial angles and larger rounder ears on average. Their front end assemblies are also very different.

5. Cardigans are larger than Pembrokes. Even Zora who is tiny for a female cardigan is larger than a comparable female Pembroke. For example Zora is 10.75″ at the withers and a very svelte in shape 23#. My friends Pem who was about Zora’s height, at her fittest agility weight was 19#.

6. Both breeds usually have a short dense, fairly water resistant top coat, with thick undercoat. But in either breed, there is a coat type that can occur called “Fluff”. Which is a long feathery often cottony coat type. It’s a cute look, but at least to my knowledge, a bear to take care of and maintain.

7. Both breeds of corgi are herding dogs. They are not terriers. Or dogs of leisure. They are active tough little dogs. Originally Bred long and low to herd Welsh cattle. Short so if a cow kicked, it missed the dog, kicking right over the dog. And as an all purpose farm dog, so though not true terriers, many would make fine vermin hunting dogs. As herding dogs, they are active, enjoy a good chase, controlling, motion sensitive, environmentally aware, and can be barky. They usually need a job. Once mentally and physically satiated, well then they can be quite the dog of leisure

Zora sleeping on a pillow

Zora snoozing on a pillow, the princess that she is.

And there you have it, some base similarities and differences in Corgis, Pembroke and Cardigan. And Zora will have you know, she’s all corgi. Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Not like the Queen’s. She is The Queen. Now where’s her crown?

0 thoughts on “Corgi and…

  1. The things I get asked about Brèagha are “is she an Australian Shepherd” and “is she a Collie.” Though to be fair most people mean ” Border Collie” when they say “Collie.” If I had a Malinois, people would ask me if it was a GSD, and if I had a Weimeraner people would ask me if it was a ” Silver Lab, ” (yes I have heard Weims being misidentified as “Silver Labs.”) And if Brèagha was a Smooth Coat B. C. everyone would think she was a mix, LOL.

    1. This is entirely true. The best one I ever got was someone asking if Niche (my liver colored flat coated retriever) was a dalmatian. Seriously, he was a solid brown dog with long hair, where the heck did they get ‘dalmatian’ from? LOL

        1. LOL have you seen that car commercial where the woman has a “No he’s a berna labra cocka irish english ….. doodle” I roll my eyes every time.

  2. I have a couple of friends who have/had red and white Pembrokes, but I’ve always been more of a fan of Cardigans. I think it’s mostly the tail. Zora’s happy tail in your videos always makes me smile.

    I am constantly asked if Violet is an Australian Shepherd, but I think that’s just because most people around here aren’t aware that Border Collies can come in blue merle. Weirdly though, I also get asked quite often if she’s a blue heeler. Now, of course, I may not be the best judge, but to me, ACDs look nothing like my floofy girl.

    1. I agree on the tail, it’s so freaking cute lol. I also find the cardi attitude and demeanor to be a bit more comical than the Pem’s.

      I can imagine with the merle color the questions you get. Yea, no totally not a cattle dog LOL at all.

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