Welsh corgi cardigan and pembroke: differences and comparison, character and interesting facts

Welsh Corgi are cute dogs, which even in adulthood resemble puppies. This breed is an excellent companion and a favorite of the family. Dogs perfectly coexist in the city apartment, but will be happy and the estate with a vast courtyard. They are playful, easily yield to training. Care for them is very easy. Welsh Corgi were bred in Wales as shepherd dogs. Their main working quality was to be agility. Bark at the cows, but while dodging their hoofs can only a small brisk dog.

The name of the welsh corgi is very eloquent: welsh from the local adverb is translated as "Welsh", cor means "dwarf", and gi - "dog". The dogs of this breed have short legs, and the species itself is rather squat. But the Welsh dwarf has large erect ears. These dogs are distinguished by excellent hearing. The breed is divided into two subspecies: welsh corgi pembroke and cardigan. Differences and comparison of one type with another will be presented below.

Similarities

Let's say at once that subspecies were bred for one purpose (as shepherds' assistants), but in the two neighboring counties of Wales - in Cardiganshire and in Pembrokeshire. These regions are shared by the mountain range. And the natural barrier for a long time served to the fact that representatives of two breeds did not cross. Welsh origins, small growth, short paws and large standing ears - that's probably all that makes a cardigan and pembroke. Even the "source material", which was taken to deduce subspecies, is different. Therefore, if you plant dogs of two breeds close, 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 9th century AD. The main material for the cardigan was the ancient shepherd and hillel-like breeds. Later they were crossed with dachshunds, thanks to which welsh-corgi received shortened and slightly curved paws.

According to the standard, cardigans should be of strong build. Their growth at the withers is about thirty-two centimeters. Weight should not exceed thirteen kilograms in bitches. In inheritance from the dachshund they got a slightly elongated body, however, the back of the cardigan holds smoothly. The chest gives out a working dog. The head of the cardigan is reminiscent of both the German shepherd and the fox. The broad forehead of the shepherd dog smoothly passes into a sharp muzzle with a dark nose.

The eyes of the representatives of the rocks should be of medium size, with a round cut. The standard requires large, erect ears of triangular shape with rounded tips from two subspecies of welsh corgi (cardigan and pembroke). Differences between the rocks touch the tail. The cardigan is fluffy, like a fox. The dog carries it level with the back. Pembroke tail is short from birth or docked. The character of the cardigan is friendly, but serious, discreet.

Welsh Corgi Pembroke: history, standard, temper

In the neighboring county, a shepherd dog was taken out with the participation of northern Spitz. From these pembrokes inherited fluffy, protecting them from bad weather fur and a more elegant head. Despite the fact that this welsh corgi was also brought out for pasture work, the aristocratic appearance of the breed made it "the dog of the British Queen". "A simple workaholic" and an elegant companion of the princess - this is what the Welsh Corgi cardigan and pembroke look like.

The differences between the two breeds become even more pronounced if we look at the muzzles of two dogs in profile. The Cardigan is a miniature German shepherd, also supplied with short paws. Welsh Corgi Pembroke is an enlarged Pomeranian 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 bobtails, so they have a tail from birth or is missing, or greatly shortened. By breed, it is stopped at puppy age.

Pembrokes are distinguished by a cheerful, friendly disposition, but they are excessively emotional.

Differences: size, weight, proportions

Two subspecies of welsh-corgi dogs were successively described above: a cardigan and a pembroke. The differences between them are already apparent in size. The cardigan is larger than the pembroke, and above it at the withers. This also affects the weight of the two dogs. Differences are manifested in proportions. Cardigan inherited from the dachshund received a slightly elongated body, and from the shepherd - the 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. Pembroke from birth are bobtails. If the dog has a small tail and is not stopped (recently it is practiced more often), then it carries it with a semicircle, but not high.

And the similarity of the two subspecies is expressed in the proportions of the body. The head with respect to the body should be a fifth to three. Shortened paws and large standing triangular ears also unite both subspecies.

Color, wool

It is necessary to take into account the "source material", which took part in the breeding of these two varieties of the same breed of welsh-corgi - cardigan and pembroke. Differences are expressed primarily in the woolen coat. The cardigan is short, it can be tough or silky, but always thick. Pembrokam from Spitz inherited a fluffy, soft to the touch coat.

Cardigans deduced with the participation of dogs of marble suits. Therefore, they often have a blue-merle color. There are cardigans of a reddish, dark-tan and tiger suit. White spots are not considered a vice. But the characteristic distinctive feature of pembrokes is the "saddle of elves" - 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 they similar and how are their muzzles different?

The older breed has the look of a typical sheepdog. He is wise and a little wary. Round-almond-shaped eyes of cardigans have clearly defined angles. If they are brown, they are in good harmony with color. In dogs of suits, blue-merle eyes are blue. This is not observed in pembrokes. Their eyes are always brown, and darker colors are preferable.

The view of the pembroke is more open, naive and expresses the desire to play. This gives even an adult dog the look of a sweet puppy. Seeing the pembroke, people immediately try to caress, pat him. At the sight of a "little shepherd" a cardigan with a watchful gaze, they do not have such a desire. The incision of the eyes of the pembroke is more oblique, which gives the entire muzzle a cunning, fox expression.

Differences in the breed of welsh corgi (cardigan and pembroke) also appear in the tips of the ears. At the first they are flattened, rounded. In pembrokes, the tips of the ears are triangular.

Paws

There are more similarities in this for two types of dogs. Paws in Welsh Corgi should be shorter than other breeds of dogs. But there are differences too. And they appear in the front paws. The standard requires from Pembrokes flawlessly straight limbs. The front paws of the cardigan, in whose veins the blood of the dachshunds flow, have a small size. Pembrokes also are related to Spitz. Their paws are small and graceful. But since the dog was taken out to work on pastures, for walking at great distances, the limbs of the pembrokes are strong enough. On his short legs he runs and jumps well.

Character

In the matter of nature Welsh-Corgi pembroke and cardigan are similar. The description of the breed of dogs characterizes them as loyal companions, perfectly suited to the training. But there are differences. If you would like to have a real sheepdog, but there is not enough room for a big dog in your apartment, a cardigan will suit you. This ancient breed was bred to help the shepherds. His character is balanced, calm. He is distrustful of strangers, but does not show them unmotivated aggression.

But the welsh corgi pembroke differs from a cardigan, so it's a carefree affectionate disposition. It is believed that the ancestors of a younger breed were brought to Wales at the beginning of the twelfth century by weavers and artisans from Flanders, whom Henry I invited to settle in their lands for the development of trade. These dogs were originally domestic pets, companions. They get along well with other animals. But it is possible, they will be perceived as rodents in the old manner. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce pembrokes to hamsters and guinea pigs. This subspecies, unlike the reserved cardigans, likes to bark (sometimes without any reason). Pembrokes adore moving games, so they should be started by energetic people.