Side by side
Put a few breeds side by side before you make up your mind.
Pick up to four. The URL updates as you go, so you can send this comparison to whoever you are arguing with.
| Breed |  Great Pyrenees |  Cardigan Welsh Corgi |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | The Pyrenees mountains of France and Spain | The Cardigan Welsh Corgi traces back over three thousand years to the Celtic peoples who settled in Cardiganshire in west Wales, making it one of the oldest herding breeds in Britain. It is thought to share ancestry with Teckel type dogs related to the Dachshund family, which explains its long tail, elongated body and dwarf proportions. For centuries it worked as a drover's dog, nipping at the heels of cattle to move them along common grazing land while staying low enough to avoid a kick. The breed developed separately from the Pembroke Welsh Corgi for generations, and the two were only classed together by the Kennel Club in the early twentieth century before being split into distinct breeds in 1934. The Cardigan remains the rarer of the two in Britain today, prized by those who know it for its calmer temperament and distinctive looks. |
| Group | Working | Pastoral |
| Size | Giant | Small |
| Coat | Thick, weather resistant double coat, long and coarse outer with a dense woolly undercoat, usually white or white with grey, tan or badger markings | Medium length double coat, straight or slightly wavy, weatherproof and found in a wide range of colours including brindle, red, sable, black and tan, blue merle and black, often with white markings. |
| Weight | 40 to 60 kg | 11 to 17 kg |
| Height | 65 to 81 cm | 27 to 32 cm |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 yrs | 12 to 15 yrs |
| Exercise need | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Affection | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Grooming needs | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Barking | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Good with children | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Good with other dogs | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Trainability | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Prey drive | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Copes alone | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Drool | 3/10 | 1/10 |
| Shedding | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Flat fit | 2/10 | 5/10 |
| Running cost | €204 / month | €152 / month |
Great Pyrenees verdict
A calm, independent mountain guardian with a thick coat, a loud bark and a genuine need for secure outdoor space.
Get one if
- · Owners with secure, fenced rural or semi rural land
- · Families with children, given the breed's generally patient, gentle nature around its own family
- · Calm, consistent handlers comfortable with an independent minded dog
Think again if
- · Owners in flats or homes without secure, fenced outdoor space
- · Households in consistently hot climates without good shade and cooling options
- · Anyone hoping for a quiet dog, since barking at night is a genuine, commonly reported trait
Cardigan Welsh Corgi verdict
The original corgi: a long tailed, fox faced herder with a big dog's voice
Get one if
- · Owners who want an alert watchdog that will reliably announce visitors
- · Households able to train a reliable quiet cue to manage barking around neighbours
- · People committed to lifelong weight control and spine protective habits
Think again if
- · Flats or terraces with very close neighbours and little tolerance for barking
- · Households wanting a dog that will not nip at ankles during excited play
- · Owners unwilling to restrict jumping on and off furniture for life