The Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed of dog is an intelligent, devoted dog formerly used to work cattle. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a long-tailed, heavier-boned Corgi (the Pembroke is tailless). He can be any color and may have white markings. Cardigan Welsh Corgis are low set, with moderately heavy bone and a deep chest. The overall silhouette is a long body with short legs, culminating in a low set, fox-like tail. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a handsome, powerful small dog, sturdily built but not coarse. The head of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is refined, never so large and heavy nor so small and fine as to be out of balance with the rest of the dog. The expression is alert and watchful, yet friendly. The Corgis' eyes are widely set, medium to large, not bulging, with dark rims and distinct corners. Clear and dark in harmony with coat color. Blue eyes (or one blue eye) is permissible in blue merles, but not in a Cardigan Welsh Corgi with any other color coat. Ears are large and prominent in proportion to size of dog. They are slightly rounded at the tip, with strong leather. The Corgi's ears are moderately wide at the base, carried erect and sloping slightly forward when alert. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi's skull is moderately wide and flat between the ears, showing no prominence of occiput, tapering towards the eyes. The cheeks are flat with some chiseling where the cheek meets the foreface and under the eye. The nose is black, except in blue merles, where black noses are preferred but butterfly noses are tolerated. Lips fit cleanly and evenly together all around. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi's teeth are strong and regular. Scissors bite is preferred. The neck of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is moderately long and muscular, fitting into strong, well shaped shoulders. The topline is level, body long and strong. The chest is moderately broad with prominent breastbone. Deep brisket, with well sprung ribs to allow for good lungs. Ribs extending well back, and waist well-defined. Elbows should fit close, being neither loose nor tied. The forearms (ulna and radius) should be curved to fit spring of ribs. The curve in the forearm makes the wrists (carpal joints) somewhat closer together than the elbows. The pasterns are strong and flexible. Dewclaws are removed. The front feet are relatively large and rounded. They point slightly outward to balance the width of the shoulders. Back feet are similar but slightly smaller and point straight ahead. The hindquarters of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed of dog are well muscled and strong, but slightly less wide than shoulders. Overall, the hindquarters should suggest sufficient power to propel this low, relatively heavy herding dog efficiently over rough terrain. The tail of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed of dog is set fairly low on body line and is carried low when standing or moving slowly, streaming out parallel to the ground when at a dead run, lifted when excited, but never curled over the back. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed of dog has a dense, medium length double coat. The outer hairs are slightly harsh, relatively smooth and weather resistant. The insulating undercoat is short, soft and thick. A correct coat has short hair on ears, head, the legs; medium hair on body; and slightly longer, thicker hair in ruff, on the backs of the thighs to form "pants," and on the underside of the tail. Trimming is not permitted except minimally to tidy the feet and remove whiskers. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi comes in all shades of red, sable and brindle, black with or without tan or brindle points, and blue merle with or without tan or brindle points. There is no color preference. White flashings are usual on the neck (either in part or as a collar), chest, legs, muzzle, underparts, tip of tail and as a blaze on head; however, white on the head should not predominate and should never surround the eyes. The gait of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed of dog is free and smooth, nearly effortless. A herding dog must have the agility and endurance to do the job at hand.