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Cardigan Pembroke Corgi Mix

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Cardigan Pembroke Corgi Mix

Height: 10-14 inches
Weight: 25-34 pounds
Lifespan: 12-14 years
Colors: Brown, black, white
Suitable for: Fun-loving families looking for an entertaining and loving companion
Temperament: Loyal, Loving, Happy, Intelligent, Bossy

The Cardigan Pembroke Corgi is a cross between the two breeds of Welsh Corgi: the Cardigan and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. As you would expect, the parent breeds are very similar, both in terms of appearance and in their characteristics and traits. Although Corgis are short, they are muscular and strong, energetic, and surprisingly agile. They were bred to be tough enough to deal with cattle and short enough to be able to dart between their legs.

Although they are herding dogs by nature, Corgis do not require lots of high-octane exercise. They do require moderate activity, typically in the form of regular walks but potentially also through agility and other dog sport activities. As well as being great with children, especially school-age children that are willing to partake in playtime, they will also accept other dogs and cats that are part of the family. They may be quiet around animals from outside their family, at least initially, but with consistent training and handling, as well as early socializing, they can learn to adapt to almost any situation.

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Cardigan Pembroke Corgi Puppies

White and Brown Corgi Puppy
Image Credit: Nikola Čedíková, Pexels
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Cardigan and Pembroke Corgis are popular dogs, although less popular in the US than in other countries. They are rarely used for herding or as farm dogs, anymore, but they are popular as pets and companion dogs. They are still shown in competitions, although the hybrid breed cannot be shown at official kennel club shows.

Ensure that you buy from a reputable breeder. Although there is no guarantee, using a good breeder can help avoid some genetic health complaints and it can also give you a better chance of buying a well-adjusted and socially adept dog. Contact breeders and ask them any questions you have about the breed. A reputable breeder will want to ask you questions, too, to ensure that you are the right owner for their puppies.

When meeting the puppy, try to make sure that you meet at least one of the parent dogs, and possibly a sibling or two. Ensure that they are bright and active, and make sure that you see screening and health check documents to confirm that their parents had the appropriate checks.

Corgis are rarely found in shelters, but you may find one. Ask the shelter owner why the dog was put for adoption, but be prepared for the fact that you might not get the full story. Try to meet the dog at least once, and also introduce existing dogs to the Corgi before you take it home.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Cardigan Pembroke Corgi

1. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a world-class herder. 

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi may not look like much of a livestock dog, but he is a world-class herder. The Pembroke Corgi even competes in AKC herding competitions. He is good at herding because he is small enough to be able to duck under the feet of angry and charging livestock. He is tough and rugged enough that he can elicit some degree of control over the livestock once he gets in position. Although they are more likely to be found in a family’s living room nowadays, they do still enjoy the thrill of herding and related physical activities.

2. The Pembroke and Cardigan Corgis are quite different.

Although they are related, the Cardigan and the Pembroke Corgi are two distinct breeds of dog. Both breeds are separately recognized by the AKC and while they do share some similarities, they also have a lot of differences. The Cardigan has a long tail, in contrast to the Pembroke, which has a docked tail. The Pembroke is shorter than the Cardigan and his ears are pointed.

3. The Queen of England is a big fan.

Queen Elizabeth II is a big fan of the Corgi and she has owned more than 30 of the breed since becoming Queen of the Commonwealth in 1952. The Queen was first introduced to Corgis by her father, the Duke of York, in 1933. For her 18th birthday, the Queen received a Corgi puppy named Susan. Susan even went on her honeymoon with Prince Philip. Queen Elizabeth bred Susan and ten generations have followed.

Parent Breeds of the Cardigan Pembroke Corgi Mix
Image Credit: (L) TrapezaStudio, Shutterstock | (R) Jumpstory

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Cardigan Pembroke Corgi 🧠

The Cardigan Pembroke Corgi might be a mixed breed of two different types of Corgi, but the two parent breeds are very similar in a lot of ways. They are excellent herders, but today, they are more commonly found accompanying their owners on long walks rather than being found in the field, herding livestock. They can be trained, do enjoy a good walk, and they will get along with people of most ages.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Corgi will become a loyal and loving member of the family. He will get along with all family members regardless of their age. The Corgi will become quite attached to school-age children because of their penchant for playing. The dog will need to know who in the family is in charge and will require consistent training, but he should be expected to get along with and love everybody.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

As long as your Corgi knows that a dog, cat, or other animal belongs in the family, they will learn to accept and love them. Your Corgi will probably be wary of other animals outside the family unit.

Corgi
Image Credit: Pxfuel

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Things to Know When Owning a Cardigan Pembroke Corgi:

The Cardigan Pembroke Corgi can still be employed as a working dog. He has the skills and temperament to be an effective herding dog, but he is arguably more at home as a family companion. He will get along with all family members, but he still isn’t the perfect dog for everybody. Before adopting or buying a Corgi, there are a lot of factors to consider.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Your Corgi will eat between 1 and 1.5 cups of food per day. This should be good quality dry kibble. It should have a good ratio of protein to other ingredients and the protein should come from meat sources.

The Corgi is prone to overeating, so you should measure the amount of food you give. Keep track of his food intake, split his daily food volume over two or three meals, and if you use food as treats for training then you will have to take those into account.

Exercise 🐕

Corgis may be small, but they are a herding breed. This means that they do still require daily exercise. Expect to provide at least one hour of walks a day. This can be provided as a single walk or spread over two or more walks. Your Corgi will enjoy vigorous exercise. He can take very well to agility classes and other forms of canine sport.

Corgi
Image Credit: Tatiana LM, Pexels

Training 🦮

As well as physical exercise, you will need to keep your Corgi mentally active as well. He is intelligent, and if you do not provide enough mental stimulation for an intelligent breed, they get bored and can become destructive and exhibit behavioral and social problems.

His intelligence will lend aid to his ability to be trained, but be aware, Corgis can have a stubborn streak. Stay firm but always load up on the positive reinforcement. This will prove to be a winning combination for training your Corgi.

Grooming ✂️

Both parent breeds are constant and quite heavy shedders, which means that you will have to put up with dog hair on your clothes, furniture, and the floor. Despite this, they are considered to have only low grooming requirements. Brushing once or twice a week will help to minimize the number of loose hairs and can help prevent knotting and stop hair from becoming matted.

Beyond this, you will need to meet general grooming requirements. This means that you will need to brush their teeth two or three times a week, ideally daily if possible. Their nails will need trimming every month or two — usually you know it’s time when you can hear their nails against hard surfaces.

Health Conditions ❤️

Although generally considered a healthy breed, you should look for signs of the following conditions and get professional help as soon as you do see signs of these.

Minor Conditions
  • Glaucoma
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Von Willebrand’s disease
Serious Conditions
  • Degenerative myelopathy
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Retinal dysplasia

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Male vs Female

There is very little known difference between the male and the female of this breed. Males can be slightly taller than females, but generally speaking, the quirks of the parents are going to have more of an impression on the overall demeanor of your Corgi than their sex will.

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Final Thoughts

The Cardigan Pembroke Corgi is a cross between two breeds of Corgi: the Pembroke Corgi and the Cardigan Corgi. As such, he shares a lot of the traits of the parent breeds. He is active and lively, as is befitting of a herding dog. He still needs these activity requirements met, even if he is not employed as a working dog, which means that he will require an hour or more of exercise each day. And, although he is known as being a heavy and constant shedder, he actually does not have extensive grooming requirements, typically only needing a brush every week.

Intelligent and eager to please, the Cardigan Pembroke Corgi makes a great family pet, is easy to train, although he can be a little stubborn so he will require consistent and positive training if you want to get the best out of him.

The Corgi will make an excellent addition to your family, and he will get on with all family members including those with two legs and those with four.

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Featured Image Credit to: Lisa Nagorskaya, Shutterstock

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