What Is the Difference Between Cardigan & Pembroke Welsh Corgis?

Although both developed in the small country of Wales, Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh corgis are distinct breeds with different origins. At one time, crossbreeding between the two was common, accounting for their similarities of appearance. Since 1934, when the breeds were officially identified, crossbreeding has stopped, according to the Pet Place website. Each breed is named for the region of Wales where it was first bred.

  1. Origins of Each Breed

    • The Cardigan Welsh corgi came to Wales centuries before its Pembroke cousin. Records show that Celts from central Europe brought ancestors of the dogs with them when they moved to Wales about 1200 B.C., reports Pet Place. Today's Cardigan Welsh corgi is thought to share bloodlines with the dachshund. Much later, in 1107, the first of the Pembroke breed arrived with a group of Flemish weavers who settled in Pembrokeshire. These dogs descended from a mixture of breeds such as the keeshond, Pomeranian, schipperke and spitz.

    Herding Dogs

    • Both corgis became working dogs, used by tenant farmers to herd and drive cattle. The Welsh countryside was once owned by the British Crown. Farmers were only allowed to fence a few acres around the farmhouse, and their cattle grazed on common lands, explains the Dog Owner's Guide. As the best grazing land was at a premium, the corgis were trained to drive their own cattle to a lush spot and chase the neighbors' herds away by nipping at their heels. Some Cardigans still follow the herding tradition, but modern Pembrokes are mostly bred as pets for families, including the British royal family.

    Physical Differences

    • The most obvious difference between the breeds is the low-set, bushy tail sported by the Cardigan Welsh corgi. The Pembroke is born without a tail, or its tail is docked close to the body. Like its blood brother, the dachshund, only the Cardigan corgi has front feet that turn out slightly. Although both dog breeds have long, sturdy bodies set on very short legs, the Cardigan is both longer and heavier than its Pembroke counterpart. Both breeds display large, erect ears, but the Cardigan's are bigger and more pointed, while the Pembroke's have rounded contours. Despite the Cardigan being larger in most areas, the Pembroke's eyes exceed the size of the other breed's.

    Herder Versus Pet

    • The American Kennel Club (AKC) first recognized both corgi breeds in 1935. In America, Pembrokes have become the more popular pet. Both breeds, but especially the Cardigan, may show a tendency to herd their human family, particularly small children, but luckily they excel at obedience training, assures the Pet Place. The same source calls Pembrokes more tolerant and playful. For balance, the AKC praises the Cardigan as handsome, powerful, intelligent and capable of both speed and endurance.