Welsh corgi pembroke and cardigan

Welsh Corgis, both Cardigans and Pembrokes, if not pay attention to differences in their origins, are the onlyherding breed which is breeded so as a dog was able to avoid a cow’s kick. But it is not the only similarity. A careful look at the standards of these breeds will help to reveal their distinctions.

Separated by mountains.
«People must understand that the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi are two separate breeds originating from two different regions of Wales – Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire» , explained Lea James (the breeder of Cardigans and Pembrokes, the breeding nursery «McLea», the judge of American Kennel Club for both breeds). «Since these regions are separated by a chain of mountains, their dwellers did not often travel across it, and thus there were not much interbreeding».

The Cardigan is more ancient breed which appeared around 1000 year A.D. by way of crossing of heeler-like, Shepherd’s and Dachshund-like dogs. (At the latest dig in Cardiganshire were found bones of a dog similar to those of the Cardigan which date back to 9th century A.D. The translator’s comment). The Cardigan can sometimes have buish colour of the coat, as an Australian blue heeler, and its head resembles one of the German Shepherd. « If there is another breed which the Cardigan is similar to, it must be the German Shepherd with shortened legs. The Pembroke is more like the Spitz, and these two dogs are not similar to each other», saisd James in his book «A magic tail of the two Corgis».

«The pembroke, most likely, comes from the Nordic Spitz-like dogs, and its coat protecting it from bad weather is more fluffy. Its head is more clean-cut, his ears are more graceful – this is the pembroke: a real Queen’s dog», thinks Gale Garvin (the owner of the breeding nursery «Garvin’s», the judge for both breeds) – «Queen is keen on the aristocratic pembroke, though the cardigan looks like a «plodder», even if both breeds work well».

Weight and size
One of the most principal and evident distinctions between the pembroke and the cardigan is size. Both corgis give general impression of a stocky, strong and solid working dog, but their size, proportions and substances create differences in appearance which can be seen even at first sight. «On the whole, the cardigan is larger than the pembroke» , tells Doris Salboda, the chairman of the Judges’ Education Committee according to CWCCA and the owner of the nursery «Twinrock», who occupies herself with breeding cardigans more than 34 years.

The general effect of a heavy skeleton, deep chest and mighty silhouette adds to the impressiveness of the Cardigan. His length is twice his height – the Cardigan is really a large dog on short legs. «The Cardigan is more like a brachycephalic breed, because of a large body on short legs, though both dogs belong to real dwarfish breeds», said James. «The Cardigan shall have round bones and many curves, while the Pembroke has more oval bones and sharper lines».

The standard of the Cardigan provides for the height between 26,7 and 31,8 cm with the ideal ratio of length to height of 1 to 8, if measure from a sternum to an ischial tuberosity and from the ground to the peak of withers. The ideal weight is 13,6 – 17,24 kg for male-dogs and 11,34 – 15,42 kg for female-dogs.

The A Pembroke is smaller – according to the standard adopted by the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America (PWCCA) its height shall be within 25,4 – 30,5 ñm, and its weight shall be proportional to the size, but, in any case, shall not exceed 13,6 kg for male-dogs and 12,7 kg for female-dogs.

As well as in case with other breeds, the judges often prefer larger sizes. «A tendency seems to appear of giving preference to larger dogs being at the upper limit of the standard, often disregarding smaller ones, but more regular in proportion!», noted Slaboda Garvin, adding: «The standard allows too much «drift» regarding size, but there are set limits, so let’s stick to them!».

As a breeder and judge James also noticed the tendency that begun to show of eliminating distinctions in size between two breeds: - «I think that Pembrokes are becoming too large and their front becomes more similar to that of Cardigans with shoulders somewhat drawn aside. Some dogs even have forelegs similar to those of the Cardigan!». James also noticed that appeared some Cardigans similar to Pembrokes. «Cardigans shall have large, round bones with great quantity of curves. Pembrokes have more acute angles. Now I more often meet with Cardigans with acute angles. These breeds have not to be similar – they have different substances!», said James.

Silhouette and tail.
Besides size, these two breeds differ in silhouette as well. The Pembroke has a long and slightly arched neck, and a strong straight back. The standard describes the body of the Pembroke as bulky, slightly oval and reasonably long. A deep chest doesn’t spoil the impression of solidity. In the USA Pembrokes are docked (though some dogs born dock-tailed).

The Cardigan has narrower hindquarters, a pulled up groin and slanting croup with low set of a tail. «The Pembroke has straight croup and it is an important distinction between Cardigans and Pembrokes», said Slaboda.

The neck of the Cardigan shall be long and muscular, proportionate to the whole body, and blending well into strong and muscular shoulders, his body with prominent ribs and clear-cut waistline. «The Cardigan has to be stocky and long, creating the impression of a beautiful, mighty small dog able to be speedy and enduring, strong, but not coarse», said Slaboda. As compared with the Pembroke, the Cardigan has a long, low set and wide tail. «A tail shall fall below an ankle joint and be well-covered», added she.

The tail of the Cardigan is its distinctive feature and one of reasons why experts choose this breed as compared with those who choose the Pembroke just for its docked tail!

«I like a long, wide tail of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi», said Garvin, «The tail tells much about a dog’s emotions, besides, it is used as a helm and balance at work, certainly, it shall not be coiled up as the Spitz’s one». In spite of the fact that many people prefer a dog with tail, Garvin supports people who like tailless dogs: «I like tails, I like an expressive and happy dog, but the Pembroke is charming even without a tail!»

Head.
The light-boned Pembroke has also more light-weighted head, however, head’s proportions of both breeds have to be equal! «Both breeds must have proportions of approximately 5 (a head) to 3 (a foreface), but as the Pembroke is smaller and not so robust, his head seems to be smaller», said Garvin. According to the standard of PWCCA, the Pembroke’s head shall be «foxy in shape and appearance», while the Cardigan’s one «shall correspond to a dog’s sex and not to be too massive or too graceful to fall out of the harmony with the rest of a dog». A foxy appearance of the Pembroke adds to the expressiveness of a lively, impatient and intellectual expression of the Pembroke.

As a contrast, the Cardigan’s expression, though attentive, is just as friendly, but alert. The Cardigan’s eyes shall be big and dark, with strongly pronounced corners, almond-shaped. Eyes’ colour - dark, in harmony with the basic colour, eye rims dark, preferably black. Marbled Cardigans as compared with the Pembroke may have blue or partly blue eyes. Large and solid ears are also characteristic for the Cardigan! «A distinctive feature of the breed are large erect ears with points slightly rounded , widely set on the line drawn from a point of an ear through the centre of an eye to a nose’s tip», said Slaboda.

Ears of the Pembroke - mobile, react sensitively to sounds, are set not so widely and their points are more acute.The Pembroke’s eyes are oval, without sharp corners, they are set a bit slantwise, and they can not be bulging or deepset. The colour of eyes is at the range of brown tints with dark eye rims. Black, yellow or blue eyes are not desired.

Forequarters and hindquarters..
The most obvious distinction between heavy, mighty Cardigans and more elegant Pembrokes can be seen from the front.

A characteristic deformation of forearms around chest (forearms are bowed following the lines of the deep chest showing that the Cardigan has a common ancestor with the Dachshund).

The Cardigan has slanting shoulders curved around prominent ribs and splay forearms, and strong supple pasterns. Cardigan’s limbs are large and round, slightly splay, but not more that to 30 degrees. Forelegs of the Cardigan shall not be too bowed and turned around in wrist – otherwise a dog will be not able to move normally!

«Cardigans’ major problem nowadays is the forepart with not enough or too bowed leggs. Forearms shall be turned slightly inward, but not too much! This is the problem of the build – too bowed forepart will make a dog «fall to pieces» still young», explained James. Many selection breeders complain that for the majority of breeds it is hard to get a right build of forequarters, and the Cardigan, who has a heavy forepart, needs an especially firm and moderate selection. «More than one third of the Cardigan’s body falls on the forequarters, and therefore this breed needs the deformation of forearms to support a deep chest», said James, «The hindquarters of Cardigans is narrower, proportional to the heavy forepart. A descending slanting croup and pulled up inguinal region are characteristic for the hindquarters of the Cardigan when viewed from the side, and somewhat underline the heavy front of the Cardigan. Rear legs shall be parallel to each other and end with oval paws of smaller size. However, the Cardigan’s hindquarters shall not be weak since his push shall be powerful enough to allow a dog moving freely and effectively on rough ground.

As the contrast to the Cardigan, the Pembroke’s front shall be straight. «Forelegs, when looking at the Pembroke’s front, shall be in the same line with the toes of a front paw directed onward. They shall not have the turn of 30 degrees characteristic for the Cardigan» , said Garvin, «the Pembroke must have no arcuation in ankle-bones, it has not so exaggerated front and its build is balanced with all other parts of body. When looking from the front at the Pembroke’s leggs, the sight shall fall down along the line without stops, whereas looking at the Cardigan your sight would slide along curved lines».

The Pembroke’s built is excellently balanced from front to rear leggs, and ideally has strong and supple rear leggs with moderate angles and well-muscled thigh bones, short metatarsi and parallel set of ankle joints. «The thing really confusing the judges is a pulled up groin. The Pembroke’s abdomen shall not be too tucked-up, while the Cardigan has a tucked bottom-line, which produces an impression that a dog has longer rear legs than in reality. It’s simply a visual effect. Both breeds must have long knees, good muscle bulk and metatarsi perpendicular to the ground for free movement», thinks Garvin.

These distinctions serve for definite purposes and are the result of various styles of pasturage. «A heavy, arched front of the Cardigan helps moving on coarse, rocky ground of Cardiganshire. During pasturage the Cardigan hugs slightly to the ground, hanging his head and drives a herd from side to side wih great force and steadfastness», said Garvin, «from the other hand, the Pembroke has an «alert» style driving a heard along the line jerkily. The Pembroke’s build promotes for quick moving forward».

On the move

When Garvin lets out dogs to the paddock each morning she sees clearly that Cardigans and Pembrokes behave differently. Both breeds preserved their natural instincts of herding and the manner of moving. The Cardigans have the sense of territory, they run round all the bounds of the territory, and then return to me», said Garvin. Pembrokes have another style of herding. «Pembrokes come out, stop in the centre of the territory and watch where I’ll go. They let Cardigans look after the perimeter and watch upon me», said Garvin. Consequently, Cardigans are able to run long distances, Pembrokes are able to run fast! «The Cardigan is an enduring Marathon runner, while the Pembroke is a sprinter, and these two peculiarities are reflected in the build of each breed», noticed Garvin.

Since both breeds herd cows, Pembrokes and Cardigans are to be very active and mobile, move freely and easily. It is impossible to mix up to breeds when dogs work or move in the ring. «Their steps, when viewed from the side, are totally different», explains Garvin. «The Pembroke is more light-weighted dog, its movements are light, active, and smooth. As the Cardigan is longer and heavier, it has no smooth and light moving, movements are strong and somewhat faltering», added Garvin.

Because of bowed forearms, the Cardigan is more inclined to «zigzagging» style of herding. «Such front helps when a dog, squatting a little bit, runs along the herd from side to side. The Pembroke while moving keeps its neck vertically», said Garvin, and added: «You can see it even during playing – the Pembroke runs with a toy between teeth, keeping his neck high, Cardigans prefer a merry romp on the ground!».

Coat and colour.

Both breeds have weather- resistant coat of medium length with thick and fluffier undercoat slightly thicker and longer ruff around the neck, chest and on the shoulders. The Cardigan’s tail shall be well covered. But both breeds shall not seem too fluffy. Because of influence of the Spitz, Pembrokes may have a tendency to have softer coat, but that, according to James, is not really a good thing. «I think that Pembrokes’ selection breeders should pay attention to the right coat selection. Many a Pembroke has soft coat, which lost its protective feature» , he said.

Both breeds have a seasonal shedding, but the real distinction in hair between two breeds is in their colour. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has following colours: red, sable, cervine or black-brown with or without white speckles. White speckles are allowed on leggs, chestt, neck, foreface, lower part of the body, and at the head as a narrow «tongue of a flame». Judges shall reveal and penalize Pembrokes with white basic colour with red and other spots, as well as dogs with bluish or smoky tint.

Cardigans are characterized by the variety of variants of colours among all nherding breeds, including those which can never be found among Pembrokes – tiger and blue merle. The standard of the Cardigan states: «White colour at the head shall not prevail and shall not be seen around eyes». Garvin explains: « Cardigans may have of white colour more than allowable, and more than the Pembroke can have. But if white is the basic colour, such a dog shall be disqualified».

One more difference between two breeds is pair selection by colour. At present the Code of ethics of CWCCA prohibits colour mixing. «There was a great discussion within the club at adoption of the Code of ethics regarding colour mixing. According to the Code of ethics one can not mate dogs of different colours, and this limits the variants of the gene pool for several selection breeders», said Garvin. It relates not to the colour blue merle, because it carries a recessive gene, which, in a homozygous state, at mating dogs of the same colour results in blindness, deafness or lack of vitality of descendants.It doesn’t concern Pembrokes as they don’t’ have the colour blue merle, and Pembrokes of any colours mate each other perfectly.

Characters.
And finally, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi have different characters as a result of their selection for primary goals. James recalls: «a breeder of Cardigans, Norma Chandler used to make an example: «At meeting new people the Cardigan asks: «I’m sorry, do we know each other?», and the Pembroke says: «Oh, damn! Once more new people liked me!»».

Always wary, may be because of being used as a guard dog at Welsh farms, the Cardigan tends to be more distrustful of strangers. «I can’t say that Cardigans are «braked», but this dog will consider the situation as a whole and calculate all possible consequences prior to do something. From the other hand, the Pembroke shall not be “hyperactive”, but it «takes a bear by the tooth» faster», said Garvin.

Though both breeds are not used nor trained as guard dogs, they will always warn of strangers appearing. The analysis of Cardigans’ predisposition to guarding shows that selection breeders must work to preserve friendliness in stocks. «the Cardigan selection breeders should pay attention to breeders’ characters and socialization, which is very important for any domestic animal», said James.

«As regards Pembrokes, they will most likely try your patience», - said James. Cardigans are more cautious and wait untill understand what people want from them, Pembrokes do first and only then will ask questions. They often do what they want, and when the owner doesn’t like it, they can simulate deafness for not to execute commands. Slaboda describes Cardigans’ character as faithful and notes: «They are true to their love and affection for family members and friends, and they don’t like being far from “their” people. To my mind, the Cardigan is calmer dog, without those extremes which sometimes has the Pembroke». The Pembroke barks shrilly, while the Cardigan has a «richer voice». Both breeds are attached highly to their owners and their families, but the Pembroke will always pay attention to all people. For example, in the ring a Pem will look around, take an interest in people standing nearby the ring and in the judge, while the Cardigan will be fully concentrated on the handler ignoring others.

Whom to choose?

It depends on what you want to see in your pet. If an active, friendly buddy, who moves quicly and plays with exultation? So, your choice is the Pembroke. A reliable, faithful companion who will accompany you everywhere you go, but not too playful? Then it’s the Cardigan. But any Corgi is the best friend for the whole life! Garvin says: «The greatest distinctions between two breeds are in colour, size and character. As soon as you have clarified your preferences, you will know whom to choose to be your friend!».

Added:  Tuesday, July 25, 2006
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