The Cardigan is a small but hardy bred dog. It originates from Wales. As a highly valued breed, it initially only served to assist in herding cattle and sheep. Throughout the decades, however, it has also become very valuable as a family dog, serving as protector and companion as well.

The Cardigan is a totally separate breed from the tailless Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The Cardigan is a descendent from the Tekdal or Dachshund family. It is a long, low fox-like dog. A high quality  Cardigan should have large upright ears, a brushy tail, and moderate bone structure with the front legs slightly bowed around a deep chest. The length of a Cardigan is a Welsh yard. That is they range from  36 to 43 inches from the tip of their noses to the tip of their tails. The average shoulder height of a male is 12 inches, with the females being slightly shorter.

We try to produce Cardigans that mirror the AKC Standard, which states, "… a small, sturdy, but powerful dog capable of endurance and speed."  

WHAT MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED WITH A CWC?

As stated in our Legacy Cardigan contract, the Cardigan should be provided with a daily exercise regimen to insure good health.  A routine exercise program, a good diet, fresh water, and inside living accommodations are a must. The dog should also have annual veterinary visits and vaccinations according to AVMA guidelines. Cardigans require minimal grooming. The double coat repels dirt that is easily removed with a fine pin brush. The Cardigan coat is an all weather coat and is generally clean and odorless. It often amazes new Cardigan owners when they put their wet, dirty corgi in their crate, only to return and their dog is clean. The coat of a Cardigan naturally repels dirt and it simply falls off. All that remains is a small amount of dirt in the bottom of the crate. The ears should be kept clean and the nails cut short. I bathe my dogs every two weeks on the average. They shed once or twice a year.

Many Legacy Cardigans have gone to homes that have other dogs in the home. These dogs may either be Cardigans or different breeds. They really enjoy the companionship of other dogs. Cardigans are like potato chips, you can’t have just one! Many puppy buyers have returned to purchase a second or even third Cardigan!

Both sexes make loving, loyal, devoted pets. Females ideally range in size from 25-34 pounds, with males ranging from 30-38 pounds. All pet puppies are sold on limited registration and neutering and spaying is required. Once this is done the males will not mark their territory and females with not attract unwanted males. 

The average lifespan of a Cardigan is 12-15 years. However, just as some people live longer, so do some Cardigans. It is not unheard of for a Cardigan to live up to 16 years of age or longer.

The Legacy line rarely displays hereditary defects of other breeds, such as disk problems, cornea cysts, and V. M. D. Our breeding stock is PRA clear, which means Progressive Retinal Atrophy. In a nutshell, our dogs are healthy and live long full lives.

First note that the Cardigan and the Pembroke come from totally different origins dating back to the beginning of time. The Pembroke originated from the same lines as Terriers, Spitz, and Schipperkes. These dogs have a tendency to be hyperactive and yippy. Many Pembroke breeders will not recommend their pups for homes with young children.

The main difference between the two breeds is the Cardigan's obvious tail, which is absent on the Pembroke. The ears of a Cardigan are bigger and rounded more than the smaller, triangular shaped ears of the Pembroke. The Cardigan is a larger dog and is longer than the Pembroke. A high quality Cardigan front should have forelegs that bow out a bit to surround the chest cavity. The Pembroke has a much straighter front. The Cardigan has a deeper chest to enable a larger heart and increased lung capacity. This enables the Cardigan to perform his work on the hills of Cardiganshire, Wales.

The Pembroke is much easier to find due to the large number of litters bred each year.  We are striving to insure that only top quality Cardigans are bred.  Thus we stand behind our Legacy Cardigan Welsh Corgis, and maintain our breeding to be sound and within the AKC standards for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed. Because we use only sound breeding procedures, those established as AKC standards, we stand behind our Legacy Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

As opposed to the Pembroke, Cardigans come in a wide range of colors. Colors currently accepted in the standard include: tri-color (black, white with tan or brindle points), blue merles (with tan or brindle points), brindles of various shades, and closely resembling the Pembroke are the sable and reds. The Cardigan normally has white flashings on the neck, chest, feet and tip of the tail. The blue merles, a Legacy specialty, are my personal favorites!

A correct Cardigan should have large and prominent ears that are in proportion to the size of the dog. Their hearing is extremely acute, and they easily distinguish between strange noises and familiar sounds thus making them excellent watchdogs. As working dogs, they use their acute hearing to hear the approaching kick from a cow or sheep. They would then roll out of the way with the use of their long bodies and short legs. When they are young pups their ears droop. There is a wide range in the time frame that Cardigan ears begin lifting. Most start showing signs of trying to stand between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks. When young puppies teethe, the ears may droop, this is perfectly normal.

 Our children were raised with our Cardigans in the home. Cardigans make excellent family pets! The corgis would often try and ‘herd’ our children and their friends. They tried their best to get them in a central location. Cardigans make excellent pets for children. However, young children should not be allowed to pick up a Cardigan. Children should be taught the correct way to pick up a Cardigan. Their center of balance is just under the chest. Put one hand under the chest behind the front legs, with the other hand supporting the hindquarters. Never allow a young puppy to jump off furniture or go down flights of stairs in the beginning. Remember that going downstairs is hard for a Cardigan due to their short legs.

I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, IS A CARDIGAN RIGHT FOR ME?

Legacy Cardigans are living in the country with lots of acreage and in high-rise apartment buildings in New York. One of our Legacy’s Cardigan is a fulltime resident of a nursing home where he works as a therapy dog. This breed can ADAPT to your lifestyle! They do not require a lot of exercise. Long walks or running around the backyard are fine. They also get a lot of exercise playing about the house, especially, if they have another dog or cat for a companion.

We strongly recommend crate training to housebreak a puppy. The Cardigan is a dog that wants to be truly involved with his family. He is full of fun and will shower his family with devotion and sensible affection. Caring for his family comes naturally to this intelligent, alert, and responsible dog. Cardigans are highly trainable and often are housebroken before they are 8 weeks of age. We strongly recommend basic obedience classes for all new Cardigan owners. This training can start as soon as the new puppy has settled in to their new home. Obedience classes are fun and will help to develop a deeper relationship between you and your Cardigan.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc. is the AKC Parent club for the breed. Members receive a club newsletter and the CWCCA Bulletin, a small booklet, to keep you abreast with the news of the Cardigan. There are also regional and local Cardigan Clubs. My husband and I are both members of the CWCCA and strongly suggest all new Cardigan owners to join.

Thank you for considering a Legacy’s Cardigan Welsh Corgi for your next pet, companion, or show dog. Legacy’s Cardigans excel in obedience, tracking, agility, herding, and therapy work. We always shine in the show ring with the majority of our show puppies finishing from the puppy classes. Many of our Legacy’s Cardigan Welsh Corgis have taken Best of Breed over specials from the 6-9 month old puppy classes.

I will be glad to mail you an information packet if you email me your address or I can send a packet via email. We also welcome scheduled visitors to meet our dogs!