The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the “corgi with a tail”, and an entirely separate breed from the Pembroke. Cardis (as they are affectionately called) are a dwarf breed, and as such are a big dog in a small dog’s body. Don’t let his short stature fool you… these are sturdy dogs originally built for herding and working on farms. Affectionate and loving, Cardis make fantastic companions as well as working dogs when they are given a job to do.
Cardigans are wary of strangers when they first meet a new person and will take time to make sure the person is ok before showing them any affection. With those whom they already know, including their family, they are much more outgoing. They are most loyal and dedicated to their immediate family whom they live with. They get along well with children and their very short stature makes them less likely to bowl over a small kid (although be aware they might try to nip at the heels of adults or children because of their high herding instincts). Cardis also get along very well with other dogs, as well as cats. They have no problem living with dogs even much bigger than themselves, although care should be taken with giant clumsy dogs to make sure they don’t get stepped on!
Cardis generally tend to have long lifespans, with 13 or 14 being the norm. Some even live to 16 or 17! They are generally free of most genetic health problems although PRA (an eye disease), Von Willebrand’s Disease (a bleeding disorder) and Degenerative Myelopathy (a disease of the spinal cord) are occasionally seen. As with all dogs, the quality of care is important to make sure they are able to live a healthy life. Along with normal vet care, an owner only needs to take a few extra precautions – not allowing a Cardi puppy to jump off of high places, for example. Their unique front structure can be easily hurt while they are still growing. Furthermore, make sure to fully support this long-backed breed when picking him up.
Once mature, Cardigan Welsh Corgis don’t require a ton of exercise. If the owner lives in an average-sized house, many Cardis will get plenty of exercise just moving around from room to room, and having a short jog in the yard. They are great for apartment-dwellers as well, since outside potty breaks are usually all that they need. This said… the breed absolutely loves to get out and go for walks, so ideally an owner will provide plenty of outside walks and exercise as well. Many people are surprised just how athletic this breed is – even though he has short legs, he can chase a ball just as fast as most big dogs! Overall, these are very adaptable dogs and are able to live in almost any setting as long as their needs are met. 
The coat of the Cardigan doesn’t usually have a bad doggy odor, and the short length means he’s not likely to get dirty very often. Although he does shed twice a year, it isn’t too excessive. Keeping the coat brushed out once a week or so will keep the shedding to a minimum, as well as ensure the coat stays healthy and shiny. The coat comes in a variety of fun colors, including blue merle, sable, tricolor, brindle, or red. All of the colors are equally easy to take care of. Just make sure to keep ears clean and nails clipped regularly, and perhaps trim the bottoms of the feet to keep him from sliding, and that’s all there is to it!
The Cardi is an intelligent dog and easily trainable. Crate training should be done as a puppy in order to make future training and housebreaking easier, and he should also be given extensive socialization to the outside world. Once that’s done, the sky is the limit as most members of the breed are very willing to please and eager to learn, as well as having high play-drives. This is one of many reasons why the breed works well for novice dog owners. Take note that some have a stubborn streak, so help from a trainer to get past the stubborn phases might be a good idea.
Cardigan Welsh Corgis are natural watchdogs, and their giant ears mean that they are able to pick up the sounds of people outside the house with ease. They will learn what the normal everyday noises of the house are, and will alert when something sounds “off” (it should be noted that some tend to be fairly vocal no matter what is happening). Cardis can use their watchdog skills whether outside or inside. While it is highly recommended for the breed to spend most of the time in the house, they are able to spend long stretches outdoors as long as the weather is cool.
