History of occurrence
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is distantly related to the Pembroke Welsh corgi, probably sharing a common ancestor, the Swedish Vallhund. Despite this however, the Cardigan is regarded as being of Teckel (dwarf dogs such as Basset, Dachshund, etc) descent whereas the Pembroke is regarded as being of Spitz descent. The Welsh farmers of Cardiganshire developed and kept the breed as a valuable working companion. Their small stature made them ideal to live with in the small cottages, and when herding and protecting flocks & herds they could go in under the stock to bite the heels, never getting injured, as the heels would fly well above their heads. The name “Corgi” as applied to the Cardigan means “cur dog”. Not derogatory, but“Cur” being simply a working dog – or “dwarf dog”. It has been suggested that all small working dogs in Wales were once referred to as “Corgi”. Logically this suggestion has some merit and can be confirmed by the situation of the Cardigan and Pembroke – both small Welsh dogs, originally of no relation, but still both Corgis.
General form
Sturdy, tough, mobile, capable of endurance. Long in proportion to height, terminating in fox-like brush, set in line with body.
Отличительная особенность породы Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Head: foxy in shape and appearance.
Skull: wide and flat between ears; tapering towards eyes above which it is slightly domed.
Stop: moderate.
Nose: black, projects slightly and in no sense blunt.
Muzzle: tapering moderately towards nose.
Jaws/Teeth: teeth strong with scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Underjaw clean cut. Strong but without prominence.
Eyes: medium size, clear, giving kindly, alert but watchful expression. Rather widely set with corners clearly defined. Preferably dark, or to blend with coat, rims dark. One or both eyes pale blue, blue or blue flecked permissible only in blue merles.
Ears: erect, proportionately rather large to size of dog. Tips slightly rounded, moderately wide at base and set about 8 cm ( 3,5 ins) apart. Carried so that tips are slightly wide of straight line drawn from tip of nose through centre of eyes, and set well back so that they can be laid flat along neck.
Neck: muscular, well developed, in proportion to dog’s build, fitting into well sloping shoulders.
Body: fairly long and strong.
Topline: level.
Loin: waist clearly defined.
Chest: moderately broad with prominent breast bone. Brisket deep. Well sprung ribs.
Limbs: strong bone. Legs short but body well clear of the ground.
Forequarters:
Shoulder: well laid, angulated at approximately 90 degrees to upper arm, muscular.
Elbow: close to sides.
Forearm: slightly bowed to mould round the chest.
Forefeet: round, tight, rather large and well padded. Turned slightly outwards.
Hindquarters: strong, well angulated and aligned with muscular thighs and lower thighs; strong bone carried down to feet. Legs short.
Metatarsus (Rear pasterns): vertical when standing, viewed from side and rear.
Hind feet: round, tight, rather large and well padded.
Like a fox’s brush set in line with the body and moderately long ( to touch or nearly touch ground). Carried low when standing but may be lifted a little above body when moving, not curled over back.
Hair: short or medium, of hard texture. Weather-proof, with good undercoat. Preferably straight.
Colour: any colour, with or without white markings, but white should not predominate.
Free and active, elbows fitting close to sides, neither loose nor tied. Forelegs reaching well forward without too much lift, in unison with thrusting action of hindlegs.
Character
Alert, active and intelligent. Steady, not shy nor aggressive.
Maintenance care
The Cardigan is easy to feed, not being known as fussy dogs, but it is extremely important that they are not allowed to become overweight as this puts a strain on their long backs and short legs. To keep in neat condition, an occasional bath is advised and a weekly brush or comb to remove shedding coat. Like all working breeds, they do need good exercise but can be kept on quite a small section if given regular exercise. Their working instinct is still very obvious and they are very capable farm helpers.
Lifespan — 10-16 years.
Dignity
Has a short easy-care coat in a variety of colors.
Polite with guests and makes a sensible watchdog.
Usually fine with other family pets, and especially good with livestock.
Difficulty keeping
Providing lots of mental stimulation that fulfills his desire to work and gives him something productive to do.
Destructiveness when bored or left alone too much.
Territorial aggression toward dogs and cats he doesn't know.
Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge.
Chasing and nipping at things that move: children, joggers, other animals, bikes, cars.
Barking.
Heavy shedding.
Diseases
The Cardigan may suffer from degenerative myelopathy and canine hip dysplasia (CHD). This breed may also be prone to progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and urinary stones. To identify some of these conditions early, a veterinarian may recommend hip, eye, and DNA tests for the dog.
