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The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a long, low fox-like dog with large upright ears, a brushy tail, moderate bone, and front legs slightly bowed around a deep chest. His appearance should be  small, sturdy but powerful. The Corgi should be capable of endurance and speed. The average size is handy, approximately twelve inches at the shoulder with females ideally ranging from 25-34 pounds and males from 30-38 pounds. The Cardigan's practical coat is medium length and double with a variety of colors, shades and patterns: brindle (which gives a wood grain effect), red (brown or golden), sable (with black hair tips), blue merle (black and grey marbled) and black. Blues and blacks can have "points" (cheeks and eyebrows) in either tan (for a tri-color) or brindle. White flashings are usual on the neck (as a partial or full collar), chest, legs, muzzle, underparts, tip of tail and blaze. Black masks are acceptable along with some ticking (freckles).

A big dog in a small package, the Corgi's temperament is based upon his original life as a companion and valuable farm helper and guardian, all of which make him an adaptable and outstanding house pet. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a dog who wants to be truly involved with his family. He is full of fun and will shower his family with devotion and sensible affection, although some Cardigans withhold their favors from strangers until they get to know them better. Caring for his people (including children) comes naturally to this intelligent, alert and responsible dog. Because they're expressive and trainable, Cardigan Welsh Corgis are suitable for television and film roles. 

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is the smaller, newer, and more popular of the two Welsh Corgi breeds, but to most people the difference is in the tail! Cardis sport a long tail (remember long like the sleeves of a Cardigan sweater) and Pems have none. 

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the larger, older, and more rare of the two Welsh Corgi breeds, but to most people the difference is in the tail! Cardis sport a long tail (remember long like the sleeves of a Cardigan sweater) and Pems have none. 

A small but hardy dog was found centuries ago in the remote, misty green hills of Cardiganshire in Wales. He was a "Corgi," "Cor" for dwarf (or perhaps "cur" for working dog) and "gi" (with a hard "G" sound) for dog. Sometimes confused with the more common tailless Pembroke Welsh Corgi, the Cardigan is a separate breed of ancient lineage, descended from the Teckel or Dachshund family. During the Viking invasion of 1,000 years ago, and subsequent influx of Flemish weavers, a Spitz-type of dog was introduced into some areas of Wales. These Spitz were crossed with the original Corgi to produce what is known today as the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Those Corgis who resided in areas untouched by such influences, however, retained their basic original blood and were the descendents of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. The earliest Cardigans were heavy, golden or blue merle with perhaps drop ears. Careful crosses were made with working qualities in mind, probably with brindle and red herders; the result was also more refined, dignified and foxy-looking.

The Cardigan's original work was to provide an area for grazing by clearing the way and chasing off potential predators as well as trespassing herds. Later, the Cardi began to act as a herder and driver, working behind the master's cattle and driving them from the Welsh farms to English markets. The original Corgi may have been crossed with local sheepdogs to obtain a more versatile working dog. The faithful Corgi was put to good use in his heyday, acting as a cattle dog, family guardian and pet.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America was founded in 1935. The Cardigan has gone from the Non- Sporting to the Working to the Herding Group.The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is descended from the Teckel family of dogs which also produced the Dachshund. The breed is believed to have been in existence in Wales for over 3,000 years. It was imported in aboriginal form by the Celtic tribes who migrated to Wales from central Europe. This early dog was a transitional form between the Teckel and the Spitz families.

Although the Cardigan Welsh Corgi was first shown in England in 1919 and the English Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association was founded in 1926, the Cardigans and Pembrokes were not finally declared to be separate breeds by the English Kennel Club until 1934. The first pair of Cardigans was imported to the United States by Mrs. B.P. Bole in 1931, with the Welsh Corgi recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1934, and the Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis recognized separately in December, 1934.

Welsh Corgis were imported into the United States. The first bitch to arrive in this country was the famous Cassie who was already a well established producer of high quality Cardigans in England. She was, in fact, mismarked being white with brindle patches, but her ability to produce excellent stock superseded her unfavorable coloration. The first champion of the breed was a red and white bitch, Ch. Megan whelped in 1933. Today, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc. holds an annual contest for champions only, named the Megan Competition.

Although still comparatively rare, the breed has gained public recognition by appearing in TV and movies. Today there are over 500 members of the CWCCA. The Cardigan of today holds his own in all breed competition with several specimens having received Best in Show awards.

Primary source: www.cardigancorgis.com