Skip to main content

Pastoral group · Wales

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Also called Cardigan, Cardi, CWC.

What makes them remarkable

A long tail helps distinguish this Welsh cattle herder from its better-known Pembroke cousin.

  • Affectionate
  • Loyal
  • Smart
  • Alert
  • Adaptable
AI-generated illustration of an adult Cardigan Welsh Corgi
AI-generated illustration
Size
Small
Weight
11 to 17 kg25 to 38 lb
Lives
12 to 15 years
Energy
Moderate
Trains
High
Barks
High

Training

Training a Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Pastoral breeds. Give the brain a job or it will find one. Chasing, nipping and fixating are the breed doing its work.

  1. Keep the weight down

    Start here

    A long spine needs a lean dog, or the back suffers. Watch the portions.

  2. Redirect Herding Instincts

    May nip at heels naturally, channel this into appropriate activities like herding trials or fetch.

  3. Mental Stimulation

    Highly intelligent breed that needs puzzle toys and training challenges to stay engaged.

The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.

Add your Cardigan Welsh Corgi and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.

Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.

At home

Living with one

Bred to herd and guard livestock. Watchful, responsive, and wired to control movement.

Gets on with

  • ChildrenHigh
  • Other dogsModerate
  • StrangersModerate
  • CatsModerate

Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.

Exercise
1 hour daily. Moderate walks and play, avoid excessive jumping.
Grooming
Heavy shedding. Weekly brushing, daily during shedding season.
Drool
Low
Coat
Double coat, Medium length, DenseBrindle, Blue Merle, Red, Sable, Black & White
In a flat
Can work, with enough exercise outside it.

Health

Things to ask a breeder or vet about

  • Intervertebral Disc Disease

    Severe

    Long back makes them prone to spinal problems

  • Hip Dysplasia

    Moderate

    Joint malformation causing mobility issues

  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy

    Moderate

    Degenerative eye disease leading to blindness

Where they come from

History

One of the oldest herding breeds in the British Isles, brought to Wales by Celtic tribes around 1200 BC. Unlike the Pembroke, Cardigans have a long tail and are slightly larger. Used for driving cattle by nipping at heels.

Similar breeds

All breeds

Allow cookies for the Calendly booking calendar, and let the site send a report to Sentry when something breaks? No names, no email addresses. You can change your choice in Cookie settings below. How we use cookies