Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi: What's the Difference?

Anyone who is a fan of the royal family is familiar with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi! But did you know there is another older Corgi native to Wales as well? That’s right! There are two types of Welsh Corgis! Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi are native to Wales and despite their remarkably similar names and builds, they are distinctly separate breeds. Want to know the differences between Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Cardigan Welsh Corgis? Let's find out!

Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi: Popularity

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are more popular than Cardigan Welsh Corgis. It's highly likely that the British Royal Family has had some influence over the popularity of Pembrokes. Queen Elizabeth ll got her first Pembroke Corgi in 1933 and owned over 30 more in the years that followed. The first plucky pup was named Dookie. His name originates from his nickname ‘The Duke’ which, as dog nicknames tend to do, evolved into ‘Dukie’ and then finally into ‘Dookie.’

While the Pembroke Welsh Corgi was adored by one of the most famous people on earth which likely vaulted it to its current popularity, it could only be a matter of time before someone with a similar swath of influence starts a love affair with the Cardi breed and the Cardigan comes out on top. The aptly named Cardi B perhaps?

Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi: Origins

Of the two, the Pembroke is the younger breed. It’s roots in the British Isles date back to 1000 AD when it was brought over by vikings. The Pembroke is considered a descendent of the Spitz breeds that accompanied the nordic people who immigrated to Wales at this time.

Cardigan Corgis have a separate family tree and they actually share a common ancestor with the germanic Dachshund. They were originally taken over to Britain several thousand years prior by the Celtic people of central Europe.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi: Appearance

The reason that these two breeds are often confused, besides the fact that they are both ‘Corgis’, is that physically they are quite similar. While they have different ancestors, the breed standards for each didn’t begin to become established until the start of the 20th century, so they were loosely intermingled for about a thousand years prior to their separate classifications becoming official with Kennel Clubs across the world.

Modern incarnations of these breeds adhere to stricter standards that have been defined in the past century by The Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club.

Color differences

Firsty, their coats have different standards for coloring:

• Pembrokes are either tricolor (black tan and white) red or sable.
• Cardigans have a much more varied allowance for color ranging from brindle tan to blue merle.

Tail differences

Beyond their colors, the main distinctions between the breeds are their tails:

• Cardigans have long fluffy tails.
• Pembroke’s tails are traditionally docked.

Size differences

A small holdover from their breeding is their respective sizing:

• Pembrokes measure 10-12 inches in height and weigh up to 30 pounds.
• Cardigans measure 10.5-12.5 inches in height and weigh up to 38 pounds.

Cardigans were bred in a slightly harsher environment that was rockier and harsher which led to their more burly build compared to the Pembroke.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi: Price

If you’re looking to purchase a Corgi and you’re deciding between the two, it’s worth knowing the differences but also the price! They tend to be similarly priced, usually ranging somewhere between $1000 and $3000 depending on the reputation of the breeder and the lineage of the dog’s parents. As Pembroke Corgis are the more popular of the 2 breeds, you might find they're a bit more expensive.

However neither the Pembroke Corgi nor the Cardigan Corgi can touch the most expensive cardigan sweater in terms of price; that title belongs to the cardigan that Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain wore during his MTV Unplugged set which sold at auction for a record-breaking $334,000! Thank goodness Corgi puppies aren’t angst-filled, lead singers of Seattle-based grunge bands or else they might become even more expensive than they are now!

We hope you enjoyed finding out the differences between Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Cardigan Welsh Corgis - hopefully now you can tell them apart! If you or someone you know is head over heels with Corgis, we have the perfect gift for you. Just take a look at our Corgi clothing and gifts and herd one into your shopping cart!