Facts About Corgis With Long Tails

Are you one of those Corgi fans stalking Corgi’s pictures and videos on Instagram? And are you confused when you see one Corgi with a long tail but the other one with a shorter one?
Well, you are not the only one. Everyone has got confused about this once in their lives until they got to know the secret.
There are two types of Corgis: Cardigan Welsh Corgis and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Both are short-legged, tiny fur babies, and it cannot be easy to tell the difference at one glance. However, if you look at the right place, you can know. The primary difference between Cardigan and Pembroke Corgis is their tail.
The tail on Cardigan Welsh Corgis would appear thicker and longer, giving them a fox-like look. On the other hand, Pembroke Welsh Corgis have short tails. Looking at the tailless Corgi’s pictures, people assume that Corgis are born without tails. But when they see Cardigans, they get confused.
However, some Pembroke Welsh Corgis can be seen with full-length tails, which might confuse you again. The reason why Pembroke Welsh Corgis have shorter tails than Cardigans is ‘tail docking.’ Tail docking is a practice in which the animal’s tail is cut.
As bizarre as it may sound to you, AKC has issued a breed standard for Pembroke Welsh Corgis in which they are required to get their tails docked on their birth.

To understand more about tail docking, you may read this article: https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/ear-cropping-and-tail-docking#1.

Why tail docking?
Yes, you must be wondering why does a cruel thing like tail docking even exists? In Roman times, people believed that docking tails help in removing the dog’s rabies.
Even today’s world, with all the vaccinations available for dogs, tail-docking still is a part of corgis’ lives. However, many countries like Australia and significant Europe have banned tail docking. In nations like the United States, tail docking, ear cropping, and declawing are still considered normal.
According to AKC, “Tail docking (is) done some time after birth, when the puppy’s nervous system is not completely developed. Therefore, he does not feel any pain, and no pertaining health issues are also found.”
AKC believes that people who oppose tail docking think it is a painful procedure, so they demand to ban this. Some people say that a dog’s tail has an essential role in its behavior, and by docking tails, we remove a vital communication tool among dogs.
Let’s see how Corgis are different with longer tails.

Origin: Cardigan Welsh Corgi are known to be the oldest herding dogs. It is said that this breed was brought to Wales from Central Europe many centuries ago.

According to a dog researcher, Cardigans Welsh Corgis were found within the rough, rocky terrain of Cardiganshire in southwest Wales.

Size: Cardigans are a bit more oversized with a heavier bone structure than the Pembroke breed. A male cardigan’s average weight is around 38 pounds. In addition, the Cardigans have a curvy look due to their round bone and sloping rear.

Coat: Sharing the double coat feature, the Cardigan has more colors than the other breed. Pembroke has only red, sable, and tricolor with white markings available for their coat. Cardigans are also less conservative in their white markings than the Pembroke.

Ears: The shape of Cardigan’s ear is round.

Grooming

Cardigan Corgis have a double coat and soft fur. They do not need regular bathing but do not forget to comb their fur every two days. Hair fall can be a big issue in getting a Corgi. Besides, brushing their teeth and cutting their nails is also essential.

Here is a tutorial of how to brush your dog’s teeth at home: https://youtu.be/PsNlLLSBWLU?t=136

Behavior and personality

Corgis are generally well-behaved, obeying, and loving towards their owners. Besides their playful nature, they like to be dominant too. They are quick learners and are great at watching your house and your safety. Cardigan Welsh Corgis can be a little reserved, and they do not like to react fast. They are very observant and take time to gel in the surroundings. You might want to start your dog’s training soon so that he does not get weird around strangers.

Barking:

Corgis bark a lot. Coming from an origin of herding, barking, and watching out for their owners is their nature. You can train your Corgi to control their barking, but it is a little tricky.

Exercise

Corgis are full of energy and need to be involved in some physical activities almost all the time. So, if you are going to get a Corgi, be prepared to be on your toes.
This breed also gets bored quickly, resulting in frustration, anger, and further destruction. Therefore, it is essential to explore new activities to keep them busy.
As per the need for physical exercise, this breed requires a set routine of daily physical exertion. So, do take your dog on a long 30-45 minute walk at least twice a day. This would exert him and help you get away from their destructive behavior. Plus, even because of their body structure, exercising is essential.

Health problems

Corgis are healthy, but some issues might come with age or maybe genetically transferred. Obesity is the most important one. Hence, the exercise routine needs to be taken care of properly. Apart from that, a Corgi is prone to medical issues like hip dysplasia, cataracts, epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and von Willebrand’s disease.

Here is a detailed piece on health issues suspected in Corgis: https://dogsandclogs.com/corgi-health-problems-and-issues/

Do check their genes test and health reports while adopting one.

Corgis are the most popular dogs on the internet today, and any family would be lucky to have these dogs. Just see the differences between Cardigans and Pembroke before making a choice. To read about their differences here.