Cardigan Vs. Pembrokes

[adkmehrman]

I wondering if anybody who owns both or has owned both can tell me what the main personaluty differences are between the two.

[Fluffypants]

Debbie (glencorgi) or Susan (milles2) could probably help you out on that.

[Cardiguy]

I have a Cardigan and not a Pembroke so I am only speaking from what I have read. The Cardigan is more laid back, less excitable, more aloof, more discriminating regarding friendships, and more territorial than the Pembroke. My Cardigan is very calm in the house, very territorial, very suspicious of strangers and likes her space, but one would be hard pressed to find a more loving, loyal girl (to me and my wife) than my Ruby.

[jprechel]

We also only own a cardi. We read up on both breeds before deciding on the cardigan because they seemed to fit us better. We were looking for a more laid back type of corgi. Pems are more outgoing and impish than the cardigans. (Plus Jim wanted a dog with a tail!) Cardiguy's personality description is very good. I'm sure we would have been happy with either breed but we're glad we chose our cardi Ace!

[Michael Romanos]

There really are lots of differences between Pems and Cardis. Despite what Cardiguy said about his Corgi, Cardis are generally better natured with everyone - dog and man. A friend of mine has moved from Pems to Cardis because she wanted a batch of Corgis and found that Cardis get on better as a group than do Pems. She now has six Cardis. Otherwise, Cardiguy has told you some of the comparisons. A Pem - male in particular - will get a lttle excitable over something, such as passing a dog who makes objectionable noises, and the Pem will want to wee a little immediately after the encounter. In the same circumstances, a Cardi will just carry on as though nothing untoward had occured. Cardis are slower yet physically bigger and are not so athletic. They are quieter, less yappy.
I'll let someone else have a go now.

[glencorgi]

Okay Cardigans compared to Pembrokes in personality:

Similar, but night and day and keep in mind these are in broad generalities. I know Pembrokes which fit more in the Cardigan description and Cardigans which fit more into the Pembroke descriptions.

Pembrokes are the 3 Stooges and Robin Williams rolled into one; Cardigans are the Marx Brothers.

Pembrokes believe the world is a party just for them; Cardigans wait for the invitation to a great party.

Cardigans look before they leap; Pembrokes run off a cliff and then figure a way to get out of it.

Pembrokes will run with scissors; Cardigans don't.

I wouldn't say that marking after getting excited about a perceived insult from a passing dog is a true trait of Pembroke males, I know Cardigan males that might do the same, especially intact ones; but don't see that much in either breed really.

Pembrokes rarely meet a stranger - they're just friends they haven't met yet and might go home with anyone who has the treats; Cardigans tend to wait to be introduced before they have a new friend and will accept "candy from a stranger" usually after owners give an okay; but they're going home with "mom or dad."

Both breeds can be territorial, but I believe what Cardiguy is seeing in Ruby is the owner loyality that shows a little more in Cardis, than in Pems.

I'd trust my well being and safety more with my Cardigans than with most of my Pems. IF my Pems react negatively to someone, then I really take that as a serious character assessment.

Personality and temperaments can even be related to structural differences -
Pembrokes have a little "sharper edge - their ears are "triangular" and their bone is oval. Cardigans have "oval" ears and their bone is round. (Or supposed to be.) Pems come from a Spitz background, Cardis from a Teckel or hound (Doxie/Bassett) background and it shows in their looks and personalities and barks.

I saw a good example of the differences between the two breeds today at a corgi gathering today. There was a puppy of each breed inside a fence watching people milling and cleaning up. Neither one of them was missing a trick or a movement. The Pembroke was up on all fours, standing alert and at attention watching so as to not miss a thing. The Cardigan was lying on its tummy, nose pressed up against the fence exposing its teeth as if making a face and just taking all the activity in. A Cardi and a Pem can be doing the same activity, there will just be a different nuance to the way they do it.

IF you want more, I'll keep going.

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

I can concur with other Corgi owners from my own experiences, that Pems (males in particular) will want to wee as a relief from something that has excited or stressed them and is a trait of that breed, and that Cardis are unlikely to want to do the same in similar circumstances. Thank goodness this trait in Pems does not overtake the control Pems have when in a situation where relieving ones-self is not permitted eg in a car, in a building.

It is that extra background of the introduction of spitz-type into their breeding equasion, that makes Pems different from Cardis. Both Pems and Cards of course carry the short legged, long back hound genes.

[tandemgal]

removed by T-Gal

[jprechel]

T-Gal - I say go for it! I am trying to do the same! Ace will need a play mate soon and I am pushing for a pem! I think it would be neat to have both breeds.

[tandemgal]

removed by T-Gal

[corgimom]

T-Gal, I have been through the Hermit crab thing also - twice

From what I have read about Cardigans, I think it would be a great dog to have also.

[tandemgal]

Linda,

Hubby bought Herbie & Shelly summer b4 this - Shelly finally died a month ago from stuborness. She refused to move into a larger size shell (been there done that!) and was squeezed to death. SO I thought we were almost finished with them but then her Dad brought in two more small ones... Leah loves them ...