The Welsh corgi is
a small type of herding dog that started off in Wales. Two specific breeds are
identified: the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Cardigan Welsh corgi, with the
Pembroke being the more frequent. The differences between the two breeds
include bone structure, body length, and size.
Cardigans are the
bigger of the two breeds, with big rounded ears and a 12-inch-long foxy,
flowing tail set in line with the body. Although the Cardigan is allowed more
colors than the Pembroke, white must not rule in its coat. The Cardigan is a
double-coated dog where the outer coat is thick, a little unkind in texture,
and of medium length. The dog's undercoat is small, soft, and thick. The breed
stands about 12 inches (30 cm) at the shoulder, and weighs about 30 pounds (14
kg). The Cardigan is strong, mobile, alert, active, intelligent, steady, and neither
shy nor violent.
Pembrokes feature
sharp ears, and are fairly smaller in build than the Cardigan. Considered a
practical dog, they are low-set, clever, strong and well-built with stamina
sufficient to work a day on the farm. The dog's head is fox-like and the tail
small, which can be accomplished through breeding or docking. In the past, the
Pembroke was a breed with a natural bob tail (a very short tail), and these
days, if the Pembroke has a tail at all, it is generally curly. Due to the
arrival of tail docking in dogs, the bob tail was not aggressively pursued,
with breeders focusing instead on other characters, and the tail artificially
shortened if need be. Given that some countries now ban docking, breeders are
again trying to choose dogs with the genes for natural bob tails. Pembrokes
stand from 10 inches (25 cm) to 12 inches (30 cm), and weigh roughly 28 pounds
(13 kg).
