Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the older of the two Corgi breeds, a cattle dog from Cardiganshire with a long fox brush of a tail, larger rounded ears and heavier bone than its…
About the Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)
The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the older of the two Corgi breeds, a cattle dog from Cardiganshire with a long fox brush of a tail, larger rounded ears and heavier bone than its Pembroke cousin. The two were shown together until 1934 and have been entirely separate breeds ever since, with no interbreeding permitted on the register.
Dogs stand around 30 cm at the shoulder and are longer and lower than the Pembroke, in brindle, red, sable, tricolour or blue merle, usually with white markings. Blue merle is where the care is needed: a merle stud must not be used over a merle bitch. The temperament is more reserved and less pushy than the Pembroke's, and a stud should be confident with strangers rather than merely tolerant of them.
The DNA tests that matter here are rcd3 progressive retinal atrophy, which is the Cardigan's own form of the disease, and degenerative myelopathy; ask for both results. Hip scores and a current eye certificate belong with them. A long back on short legs makes intervertebral disc disease a fair question, so ask whether it has occurred in the line and whether the stud is kept lean.
Health & breeding
We check every hip, elbow, eye and DNA result you give us against the Royal Kennel Club’s public records by hand, and we record who checked it and when. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Breed Right’s summary — under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard
Health tests for the Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)
This panel is Breed Right’s summary of the testing that matters for the breed under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard. The Health Standard is the Royal Kennel Club’s guidance for breeders, not a registration rule. It describes tests to ask about — it is not a report on any individual dog. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Best Practice — further tests it recommends
Completing these as well as the Good Practice tests is what the Royal Kennel Club calls Best Practice.
| Test | Type | Scheme | What’s involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNA test — rcd3-PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy, rod-cone dysplasia 3) | DNA test | Laboratory | The result printed on the laboratory certificate. |
| Hip score (BVA/KC) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC | Total of both hips, 0–106. Lower is better. |
| Eye testing (BVA/KC/ISDS) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC/ISDS | Result printed on the eye certificate. |
Breed hip median
Breed median 14 (BVA Hip Dysplasia Scheme breed statistics 2025 — 5 years, 8 dogs scored — indicative only, from a small sample). Lower is better. Source · How hip scores work
At stud now
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) stud dogs
No Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) studs are listed right now
When a Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) on the Royal Kennel Club Breed Register is listed at stud, it will appear here.
Also available
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) litters
No Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) litters are listed right now
Litters appear here as breeders list them. Check back soon, or browse other breeds.
