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WELSH CORGIS |
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Although the
Cardigan is not as well known as the Pembroke variety, the Cardi is thought
to be the older, being brought to Wales with the Celts (about 1200 BC).
The Pembroke is a comparative newcomer to the Welsh, entering with Flemish
weavers around the tenth century. Another theory contends that both breeds
descended from Swedish Vallhunds brought to the Welsh coast by Viking
invaders in the ninth century.
The derivation
of the name Corgi is attributed to the Celtic word for dog (corgi).
Other tales passed on through generations say that the little dogs
were named for cor, dwarf, and gi, dog, or for cwr, watch over.
The crofters
of Wales had no land of then-own to graze their cattle, as they were allowed
to fence only small areas around their dwelling. These poor farmers were
granted, however, the liberty of driving their cattle to pasture on the
Crown's open range. An intelligent, hard-working droving dog was an asset.
Corgis met those
requirements
and gave an added benefit: they were short-legged, cattle-heeling dogs,
developed to run under the legs, avoiding dangerous kicks.
The two breeds
are very similar to each other with a few minor differences. In fact,
until the 1930s, Pembrokes and Cardigans were interbred. Since that
time, each breed's fanciers have emphasized the individualities. The
Cardigan is a bit larger, heavier boned and longer bodied, and displays
a long, low tail. The Cardi has been called the "yard-long"
dog, being the same length from the tip of its nose to the end of its
outstretched tail as a Welsh yard. His ears are larger and set wider
than the Pembroke's. Color and coats also differ. Legend says that the
blue-merle color of the Cardi was brought by fairies one dark night.
The dog from
Pembrokeshire has straighter legs and is known for its foxier look,
due to its more wedge-shaped head and smaller, higher earset. Occasionally,
their pups are born tailless. Those that aren't are docked flush with
the body, leaving not even a stump to wag. To remember which is which,
word association can help: the Cardigan has a long tail, like the long
sleeves in a cardigan sweater, and the Pembroke has a "broke"
tail.
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