WELSH CORGI CARDIGAN
Let’s Talk Breed Education!
CARDIGAN TEMPERAMENT
BY MARIEANN GLADSTONE, ARAGORN CARDIGANS
A VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN THE DECEMBER 1999 AKC GAZETTE BREED COLUMN SUPPLIED BY THE CWCCA JEC LIBRARY OF EDUCATION ARTICLES
F rom its origin and purpose, the Cardigan was bold, fear- less, and determined to stand ground when working cattle. They were quick-thinking and intelligent, with a willing-to-please attitude. A shy, scared, or spooked dog would not be selected either for work, as a companion, or for further breeding . This was the foundation of our breed. In old Wales, the Cardigan was valuable to the farmer and was brought inside the home as a family companion, watchdog, and guardian. They are naturally reserved with strangers. With keen eye and astute hearing, they held their own against any bovine. The Cardigan's large ears were sensitive to the “swoosh” of a cow's kick. They reacted swiftly to sudden noises when work- ing. Survival depended upon this quick, defensive response. This should never be faulted. It is an instinctive part of their tempera- ment and we see this behavior in many ways: CARDIGANS ARE SIGHT AND SOUND SENSITIVE • Moving past a door, a Corgi may refuse to go near that strange, dark, rectangular opening. He may curve away, never losing a step, or he may stop, growl, and bark at the door.
Producing a Cardigan with both sound temperament and sound conformation should be the critical goal to guarantee a sound companion dog.
THOSE LARGE EARS ARE AT WORK AND THE INSTINCTIVE CARDIGAN RESPONDS NATURALLY In the breed ring, judges have had to excuse more and more poorly-tempered Cardigans. Some Cardis are pulling back, fearful of being examined. Shy temperament is just as faulty as a roached topline, straight front or shoulders; no, it is worse! Producing a Cardigan with both sound temperament and sound conforma- tion should be the critical goal to guarantee a sound companion dog. Our foundation breeders never would have bred a dog of shy or spooked temperament; nor should it be bred today. Socialization and obedience are of utmost importance. As the litter begins to become aware of its surroundings, reputable breed- ers introduce puppies to the oddities of life. Early household and community activities are necessary to learn new sounds, smells, and sights. Socialization familiarizes the strange occurrences in life and encourages self-confidence. Eventually, the oddity is no longer the intruder, but an accepted novelty. Cardigans display a sense of humor with their comic, clownish antics. These devoted family members bond in loyal companion- ship. They are happiest at your feet, in your lap, in your bed—or swimming pool! This is a breed that mixes well with other dogs, making them quite habit-forming. A single Cardigan household is a delight; the multi-Cardi home has a ball!
CARDIGANS ARE PROTECTIVE AND AWARE OF SUSPICIOUS SITUATIONS
• At a specialty held in a hotel ballroom, the Cardigan is doing the recall exercise. When called, he moves out purposely, but stops halfway under the ballroom chandelier, looking up at the pretty, shiny lights. Another breed of dog might just stop there and flunk the exercise. This Corgi lowers his head and purposely moves to complete the task at hand; going to his master. CARDIGANS ARE CURIOUS, PURPOSEFUL, INTELLI- GENT, AND WILLING-TO-PLEASE (AND ENTERTAIN) • At an indoor show, Cardigans hop over the wide electrical tape securing mats to the floor. On a rug, they might avoid strange paisley patterning in the carpet. CARDIGANS HAD TO BE AWARE OF THEIR FOOTING OVER UNSURE TERRAIN WHILE WORKING STOCK • As a class circles the ring, a crate is dropped with a sudden crash while the Cardigans are being shown. One Cardi spins to the ruckus, but then returns to the task of showing.
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*AKC ALL BREED STATS AS OF 10/31/20
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CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI
Cardigan, “Is That Your Final Answer?”
BY DAVID L. ANTHONY, BREEDER-JUDGE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE CWCCA JUDGES EDUCATION COMMITTEE
N o, this isn’t a lost episode of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” with Regis Philbin. But getting the answer to the title’s ques- tion will add a cache of information with rewards, just like the hit TV show. The question, “These characteristics best describe what breed of dog?” may not win you a million dollars, but under- standing the intricacies of this breed may allow you to be won over by the dedicated breeders and owners of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. We are not going to quote directly from the Cardigan standard in this article. Instead, we will assume that you have already read it and are pre- pared to apply that knowledge and understanding to the observation of examples in the show ring. So, let’s start out with some basics. If you placed a Cardigan and a Skye Terrier, which has some very similar characteristics, at the end of a football field, you should be able to determine which one is which, merely by the sil- houette. This unique outline is the starting position for anyone’s evaluation of the breed. After all, one very basic requirement of an example has to have breed type and must clearly exude those characteristics. The colloquialism, “if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck” certainly comes into play here. A Cardigan has flowing lines and no sharp angles. Besides, there is the effect of the Skye’s longer coat and body on the silhouette; this alone should allow you to easily choose the Cardigan from that distance. As much as we breeders would like to think that ours is a very unique breed in its own right, there are a few points of interest that truly are the hallmarks of the breed. Starting at one end and moving to the other, the first thing that stand out about the Cardigan are the ears; those big, beauti- ful appendages that adorn the headpiece like a crown. Be it a judge or an exhibitor, the features do not change depending on where one is doing their scrutiny. A simple rule that applies to most breeds is that expression should be accessed on the ground and not on the table. So, getting those ears up and alert for the judge to see is ever so important for that first feature when returning from the down and back portion of your examination in the ring. Remember, when erect, the tips of the ears are slightly wide of a straight line drawn from the tip of the nose through the center of the eye—a little trick of the trade. The erect ears are large and somewhat rounded at the top, and with heavy leather. For those of you who have an example that gaits around the ring with the ears up, you get a little extra credit for flash, but it’s that expression while standing that gets the most points with the judges. Now we move on to that deep keel that provides the breed with lung capacity for a long day’s work in the rough terrain of Cardiganshire in Wales. An example that doesn’t display this key feature is lacking in breed type. Where the point of the brisket sets is important as well, but the lack of a deep keel that fills your cupped hand upon examination just means this entry shouldn’t be considered. The only exception would be in the puppy classes. However, even at six months of age, evidence of the development of the deep chest should be discernable. This somewhat egg-shaped feature should be wrapped around with the front leg assembly.
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CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI
CARDIGAN, “IS THAT YOUR FINAL ANSWER?”
This leads us nicely to the next hallmark of the breed. We are an achondroplastic breed, meaning we have dwarf characteristics. The short, heavy, round-boned legs cradle the brisket in a close- fitting manner. Some judges have been observed slipping two fin- gers between the upper leg and chest to see if it is a tight fit. As you run your hand down the leg, you should feel the round bone leading down to a rounded foot. A well-known breeder-judge once commented, “Round bone, round feet. Oval bone, oval feet.” So, when you look down and see those hare-shaped feet, you should know that not only are the feet incorrect, but so is the shape of the leg bone. Please don’t reward incorrect feet and bone. Speaking of the front assembly, the next crucial feature that makes the Cardigan we all know and love is the unique turnout of the feet. It can’t be stressed enough that the turnout should not be any more than 30 degrees. Less than that is perfectly fine as long as the wrap is still correct as previously described. More than 30 degrees produces an exhibit that is called eastie/westie. The proper turnout requires the correct shoulder placement and wraparound of the chest. If you see too much turnout, chances are very good that other portions of the front assembly are incorrect as well, and that the exhibit would break down after a long day of working in the field. As we now work our way back, remember that the length of body is mostly in the rib, not the loin. With this, we have reached the end of the dog and the last important feature; that flowing tail that never curls over the back. Envision that perfect silhouette in your mind, the flowing lines from head to tail. How that tail is set and how it’s carried can be two different things. The set at the base should flow off the back slightly, to blend with the croup. An abrupt, lifted tail certainly takes away from the picture of the flowing tail carriage on the gait around the ring. Now it should be clearly understood that the proper Cardi- gan will most certainly have other characteristics that should be accessed during the judging process. Attendance at one of the judge’s education programs reveals 90 minutes of review, involv- ing a detailed breakdown of the breed. Combine this with some quality ringside mentoring with an experienced breed expert, and a well-rounded entry, and you will have a solid understanding of what makes a good Cardigan. In review, we have focused on what many would determine to be a combination of special features of the breed that provide you with the picture of a unique Welsh dog that was bred specifically for its duties; herding in the rough terrain of Wales. As the crowd cheers, and Regis belts out that familiar phrase to provide a climactic end: “Is that your final answer?” you can confidently say—CARDIGAN! No need to phone a friend. You’ve done your homework and you know the hallmarks of this wonderful breed.
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GRANDIOSE CARDIGANS CARD IGANS THAT ARE SOUND IN MIND AND BODY. FOR COMPANIONSHI P, PERFORMANCE EVENTS , OR THE SHOW R ING.
GABLE
GCHB AL LEGRO GRANDIOSE FRANKLY MY DEAR , RA PT CA BCAT FDC CGCA TKN RATN VC
SPARROW CH GRANDIOSE BUT WHY I S THE RUM GONE? RN FDC TKA
MARVEL GRANDIOSE TWELVE PERCENT OF A PLAN, RN FDC
AINE
CH GRANDIOSE FOOL I SH HEART
LOGAN CH GRANDIOSE IMAGINAT ION AT WORK, BCAT TKN
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CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI
Origin & History: THE CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI By Kathy Schwabe Breeder-Judge & Member of the CWCCA JEC Origin & History T he origins of the Car- digan Welsh Corgi are somewhat hidden in the mist of the Welsh hills. We know that dogs of the same essential body He often had dropped ears and was found in brindle and merle colors, as well as red and sable.
Th e American Kennel Club granted the CWCCA Member Club status in 1935, and we subsequently help our first Nation- al Specialty in conjunction with the Morris & Essex Dog Show in 1936. Best of Breed winner was Ch. Megan! Th e Cardigan was moved from the Non-Sporting Group, to the Working Group and finally to the Herding Group in 1983. In 2006, the breed name was o ffi cially changed from Welsh Corgi, Cardigan to Cardigan Welsh Corgi—further identifying the breed as separate from the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Th e Cardigan was slow to gain popu- larity and recognition both in and out of the show ring. It took 40 years to go from our first AKC Champion to our first AKC Best in Show—that honor being awarded to Ch. Springdale Droednoeth in 1973! History was made again this year, as we celebrated Ch. Riverside TellTail Coco Posh being awarded Herding Group I at Westminster Kennel Club! Undoubtedly the Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s rise to popularity was fueled by the Royal Family’s sponsorship since the 1950s. Th e Cardigan’s increase in popular- ity has been slow, but steady. Th e breed has many devoted breeders and enthusiastic owners. Th e Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America is committed to protecting the future of the breed, supporting its mem- bers and educating Judges. Th e Cardigan Welsh Corgi is enjoying success and recog- nition in every venue; their humble begin- nings as an all-purpose farm dog serve them well for owners who truly want a dog than can do it all, and do it well!
Winds of Change By the late 1800s, the winds of change had blown across Wales. Th ere were far fewer cattle and farmers were raising more sheep. Fences were built and com- mon pasture land was disappearing. Th e Cardigan, that excelled at driving cattle to market, now had to learn new skills such as fetching and penning stock. To meet this need, farmers bred their Cardi- ganshire Corgwyn to the Brindle Herd- er, or Welsh Collie and, eventually, to the Pembrokeshire Corgi. Development of both Corgis contin- ued—the two breeds were interbred into the 1920s. In 1925, the first meeting of Th e Welsh Corgi Club was held, and the breeds were established as two varieties of the same breed. In 1934, Th e Ken- nel Club of Great Britain separated the breeds into Welsh Corgi, Pembroke and Welsh Corgi, Cardigan. Coming to America In 1931, Roberta Bole became cap- tivated by the Cardigan Welsh Corgi while visiting friends in England. Upon her return to her home in Boston, MA, she welcomed the first Cardigans to the US; a female named Cassie and a male named Cadno. In 1933, we had our first AKC Champion, “Megan”, and we cel- ebrate this event at the CWCCA National Specialty with the “Megan Competition.”
structure were recorded as early as 2500 B.C. It is believed by some that the Neo- lithic Man, who arrived in the area we now know as Great Britain in the post-glacial age, brought with him long-bodied, low- to-ground droving dogs. Th e Cardigan is descended from the Teckel group of dogs, and so most closely related to breeds such as the Dachshund and the Basset Hound. By comparison, the Pembroke Welsh Cor- gi is descended from the Spitz group. Th e di ff erences between the breeds in structure and temperament are easier to understand when you keep this basic fact in mind. The Cardigan in Early Wales Th e Cardigan, in his homeland, was a multi-purpose dog. He helped the farm- er move the small, hardy Welsh Cattle on unfenced pasture; he acted as nanny to watch the children while the parents worked the fields; he kept the grain stores free from vermin, and he guarded his fam- ily from intruders at night. Th e Cardigan was called Ci Llathaid , which translates to “by the yard,” referring to their measure- ment of an average of 101.5 cm (40") long from their nose to the end of their bushy tails. Th e Cardigan Welsh Corgi was a larger, longer, heavier-boned dog than the neighboring Corgwyn, the Pembroke.
“Undoubtedly the Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s rise to popularity was fueled by THE ROYAL FAMILY’S SPONSORSHIP SINCE THE 1950s.”
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CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI
by THE CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI CLUB OF AMERICA
T he Cardigan Welsh Corgi, one of the oldest breeds in the British Isles, descends, as does the Dachshund, from the old teckel breeds of Germany. Think long and low with prominent prosternum and front legs that wrap around the chest. A breed that is more than 3,000 years old evolves over time, but farm- ers who depended on these smart, agile little dogs required characteristics that remain important in dogs we see today: correct conformation, effortless move- ment and solid temperament. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed standard states: General Appearance: Low set with moderately heavy bone and deep chest. Overall silhouette long in proportion to height... General Impression: A handsome, powerful, small dog, capable of both speed and
endurance, intelligent, sturdily built but not coarse. Whether you view a Cardigan from across the ring or out in a field, the dog’s outline must unmistakably say “Cardigan.” Although the standard devotes a lengthy paragraph to the “head”, that paragraph should not dictate a major portion of your decision when you eval- uate a Cardigan. The important features are parallel head planes, the 3:5 muzzle to back-skull ratio and large, erect ears, set so that the tips are slightly wider than a line drawn from the tip of the nose through the center of the eye. Car- digans should also have a black nose (except the acceptable butterfly nose in a blue merle), a strong under-jaw and, preferably, a scissor bite. The wrap-around front is the hall- mark of the breed. The functional front allowed the Welsh farmer’s working
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dog to drop quickly, thus missing a blow from the hoof of a kicking cow. The upper arm wraps around the deep chest; the strong pasterns and feet that support the chest should not be set forward of an imaginary plumb line dropped directly from the withers to the floor. The feet may turn out slight- ly, think no more than eleven and one on a clock face; they should be large and round. The Cardigan should be penalized if it does not have round bone. Round bone is one of the distinct features that differentiates the Cardigan from the Pembroke, along with an outline that is a series of curves. In contrast, the Pem- broke has oval bone and a more angular silhouette. Again, think of the Cardi- gan’s silhouette: a deep chest with a dis- tinct tuck-up at the belly; a level top line that slopes into a long fox-line bushy tail at the croup. Soft curves. The Cardigan’s double coast is harsh, medium length and dense. A soft, long and/or silky coat, even if trimmed, is a working fault and should be penalized. The only permissible trimming is to tidy up the feet. Well scissored grooming may attempt to disguise a long coat but it cannot after a soft or silky texture. Cardigans exhibit a variety of coat colors with white markings on the
head and body, however white should not predominate and should never sur- round the eyes. The dog should appear to have a colored coat with white sports or markings rather than a white coat with colored spots or markings. The Welsh farmer’s Cardigan was a working dog and as such required an easy, effortless gait to do a day’s work. Today’s Cardigan is no different, wheth- er in the show ring or competing in companion or performance events. The standard clearly describes this attribute: Gait: Free and smooth. Effortless. Viewed from the side, forelegs should reach well forward when moving at a trot... Hind legs should reach well under the body, move on a line with the forelegs, with the hocks turn- ing neither in nor out and in one continuous motion drive power- fully behind, well beyond the set of the tail. Last, but definitely not least, is temperament. The standard says: “Even-tempered, loyal, affectionate and adaptable. Never shy nor vicious.” Adaptability is key. A loud noise may cause a reaction, but a well-tempered Cardigan will recover. Some Cardigans dislike the table examination. They tol- erate it, but you can clearly see a return to a confident personality after all four
paws are on the ground, which is where expression should be judged. Although the Cardigan’s popularity has not changed position significantly in AKC ranking, the breed’s successes in the show ring have significantly increased. For many years, the Cardi- gan struggled to gain recognition at the group level. Today, however, Cardigans are placing and winning every weekend in the herding group and BISs are not out of reach for any of these excellent representatives of the breed. The CWCCA invited all those inter- ested in learning about the Cardigan Welsh Corgi to join the club and to attend our National Specialty. Meet our dedicated mentors and club mem- bers who are always available to share information about the breed. First-time attendees are even afforded a special ringside viewing section. The parent club website, CWCCA club , which has recently been rede- signed, is a valuable resource for own- ers, breeders and judges. Click on the drop-down menu under “Education” to access the “Resources” page to view the new movement video, the Judge Edu- cation Committee’s ( JEC) article/posi- tion statement on white markings and a number of articles about the Cardigan in general and judging in particular.
“THE WELSH FARMER’S CARDIGAN WAS A WORKING DOG AND AS SUCH REQUIRED AN EASY, EFFORTLESS GAIT TO DO A DAY’S WORK.”
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A Colorful Corgi Character MARY ELIZABETH GOODNEIGHBOR WAS TRULY DISTINCTIVE
BY DAVID L. ANTHONY
M any of us thoroughly enjoy listening to the veterans in the family reminisce about those unique dog show world charac- ters from the past. One particular Corgi exhibitor, who comes to mind as being truly distinctive, made a lasting impression on those who were fortunate enough to make her acquaintance. The lady belonged to the North Jersey Sector Dog Club and the Pem- broke Welsh Corgi Club of New York. She was from Paterson, New Jersey, and embellished the show ring of Madison Square Garden in the mid-1960s with both Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. She learned early on to dress cautiously when presenting her dogs, because she did not want to com- pete against them. She recalled that a dog she was showing once placed sec- ond because her sweater was a bit too tight and the judge’s wife was watching very closely from ringside! Now that we have you burning your brain about this vixen of the Corgi world, we will reveal her name. Mary Elizabeth Goodneighbor absolutely adored her dogs and was regularly photographed with her many canine com- panions. One of the few pieces of jewelry she would wear on the street was a button with a picture of a dog on it. Common street attire was actually quite unusual for this well-known performer, as most of the time she wouldn’t have had much clothing on to pin a button to! How is that you ask? Well, Ms. Goodneighbor was better-known in the entertainment world as Irma the Body. “Irma” was adamant about keeping her dog show acquaintances separate from the much different world in which she worked. Performing paid the bills (and quite nicely at four figures a week), but in reality, she led a very respectable life off the burlesque stage. We know that Ms. Goodneighbor had several Pembrokes and a blue merle Cardigan that she exhibited on a regular basis. She also had ties to the Cana- dian Corgi world. It seems that the well-known Cardigan fancier Charles MacInnes, from up north, was desperately searching for other Cardigan fan- ciers to find a dog for breeding. Rumors spread about this woman from the US who’d showed in southern Ontario several years before. Mary Nelms, of the historic Brymore Kennels, sold two Cardigans to Ms. Goodneighbor who loved showing them herself. Irma made numerous jaunts to Canada to exhibit her dogs, and she was obviously not an individual whom one would easily forget. She was even quoted as saying that she chose a Corgi for the show ring because she didn’t want a dog that looked better than she did. In 1965, Sports Illustrated magazine reported that Champion Crago's Red San of Cote de Neige, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, had won Best of Breed
at dog shows from New Hampshire to the Lehigh Val- ley, and was entered in that year's Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Mary Elizabeth Goodneighbor, Crago's owner, had also won some titles of her own, among them “Miss Guaranteed All Woman” and “Miss Heavy Armored Maintenance.” Celebrities have long been attracted to the supposed pomp and circumstance of the dog show world, and it has certainly had its share of memorable participants. The great thing is that no matter your occupation or family tree, the love of your favorite breed and the desire to continue its strengths via the sport of purebred dogs will permit each of us to “go down and back” in the ring with equal opportunity. Though just remember what Irma said, “When you’re at the dog show, you can watch my dogs… if you want to watch me, you have to buy a ticket.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORS As a young boy, if you were to have asked David what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would have said a “Dragonpatch.” Not knowing exactly what that meant, it seemed to be destiny that our kennel name would be based on the Welsh dragon and growing a patch. It was 1983 when Deborah pointed out a blue merle Cardigan while strolling through a flea market in NW Pennsylvania. A year later, David and Deborah found a male pup across the state line in New York. The breeders offered to show the boy at an upcoming dog show, and they were instantly hooked. The couple learned from many great mentors who offered advice and direction on
how to be successful as well as on good sportsmen. Their natural progression to judge came when they started with one breed and could only move along at a snail’s pace; something they are proud of. Now they judge the Herding and Non-Sporting Groups, Juniors, Bassett Hounds, and Best in Show. They have judged all over the United States and have enjoyed the sport for nearly forty years now. They still exhibit and are involved with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, as David is the Judges Education Chairman, and Deborah is a past Board Member. As was once told to the couple, “Dogs are not your hobby, they are a lifestyle.”
CARDIGANWELSH CORGI THE
1. Where do you live? 2. What do you do “outside” of dogs?
Does the average person in the street recognize the breed? When I first got into Cardigans in 1995, I would definitely say that it was rare to meet someone on the street who knew what this breed was. Most of the time it’s an Australian Shepherd on short legs or a Collie mix, sometimes I get a Dachshund mix. Us breeders I think have done a great job of putting out more education opportunities and I think the general public will recognize more then the used too but we still get those odd conversations where the person inquiring is convinced our breed doesn’t exist. In placing puppies, you have to be really careful still. My other breed being Border Collies, most people know if they want a BC what they want it for. Cardigans you get a lot of people who have only seen the breed on the internet or took a quiz online and it said it would make the perfect apartment dog. Cardigans were bred to herd cattle, they can be difficult to train at times as they can be stubborn and are super great at outsmarting you. So I tend to do a lot of education still, my home is always open to a visit to meet the Cardigans and get to know them more for someone who has inquired about the breed. How has the breed adapted to civilian life? I would question the fact that few of these dogs really work anymore, they may not all be outside herding but they were bred to be a farm dog and they did other tasks as well around the house that we definitely see today. For instance, family companions, they love their family and want to be with their people. They excel at so many performance activities and have fun doing it. Some of the newer fields have really taken off in our breed and we have many dogs titles in barn hunt, lure coursing, and scentwork. All skills that you could trace back to their days on the farm. What about the breed makes them an ideal companion? Over the years I think we have improved temperaments. You no longer see a ton of extreme shyness or extreme aggression in our breed. But what I say we do see is owners not being the boss and Cardigans figuring out how to get their way. The most important part of them being a great companion is raising them to be a good canine good citizen and not letting them rule the roost too much. Does the breed’s energy level and active brain keep you on your toes? Most Cardigans come in the house, lay around and are happy to be next to you or at your feet. If you get up though and want to go outside they hop up and are ready to play and do fun things. As puppies you might have more activities to do with them to keep them out of trouble but they are definitely great at lounging around. What special challenges do breeders face in our current eco- nomic and social climate? I think our biggest struggle is educating the public on our breed and making it known how much effort we go too to make sure our puppies are healthy, live great lives, and how picky we are with choosing that next generation. It takes a lot of love, sweat, and tears to be a good breeder and financially never make a profit. At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? Cardigans being a dwarf breed have a lot more challenges than long-legged breeds. I start evaluating at birth, usually my puppy evaluations last until ten weeks or so. Then we say a prayer that they will hold their potential and most of the time I don’t fully know that potential until my line is at least two years of age or sometimes longer. At birth though I can tell you which puppies I’ll be watching and which I can pretty much rule out as companion puppies. What is the most important thing about the breed for a novice to keep in mind when judging? Since I am part of the CWCCA judges education committee, I get asked this question a lot by aspiring
3. In popularity, these hard-working friends currently rank #68 out of all 192 AKC-recognized breeds. We think everyone on earth should be a fan, but does the average person in the street recognize him? Is this good or bad when it comes to placing puppies? 4. Few of these dogs really “work” anymore. How has he adapted to civilian life? What qualities in the field also come in handy around the house? 5. A strong Herding dog requires a special household to be a perfect fit. What about the breed makes him an ideal companion? Drawbacks? 6. We’ve seen him work in the field and he’s nothing short of fantastic. Does his energy level and active brain keep you on your toes? 7. What special challenges do breeders face in our current eco- nomic and social climate? 8. At what age do you start to see definite signs of show-worthi- ness (or lack thereof)? 9. What is the most important thing about the breed for a novice to keep in mind when judging? 10. What is your ultimate goal for the breed? 11. What is your favorite dog show memory? 12. Is there anything else you’ d like to share about the breed? Please elaborate. EMILY (FISH) BARNHART Emily grew up show-
ing and breeding dogs under the Pawcific prefix. Her breeds are Cardigan Welsh Corgis and Border Collies (which she co- breeds with her mother, Kathy Fish, and sister, Jennifer Fish). She has bred many group win- ning dogs, specialty win- ners, and also multiple dogs with top perfor-
mance titles. She is a parent club approved mentor in both breeds. Kathy Fish also breeds Papillons under the Joyvnture prefix and Emily has co-bred multiple Champions in that breed as well. She started judging in 2010 and enjoys being a younger mem- ber of the judging community. As a breeder judge, she has had the opportunity to judge multiple specialty shows across the USA and in 2019 judged at the Border Collie Nationals in Australia. Earlier in November she was granted permit status on the Balance of the Herding Group. She looks forward to being a lifetime student and learning more about each breed. She also the membership chair of Oregon Dog Judges. I live in Camas, Washington. I have my Masters in Music in vocal performance and have a private studio of voice students. Most of my outside time though is devoted to my blended family of five children ranging from 8-16 years of age. I’m also a 4-H dog project leader.
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CardiganWelsh Corgi Q& A
Emily (Fish) Barnhart continued
Cardigan judges. My answer is silhouette. Until you can properly see the curves, go over a correct front assembly, and clearly know a Cardigan is a Cardigan, please spend more time with mentors. Our breed is a great one but easily not understood. As I always say, I am more then happy to sit down with someone wanting to learn about our breed and help them out. What is my ultimate goal for the breed? That’s a big question to answer—I think our breed has improved tremendously and it’s my hope that we continue learning, growing, and teaching the newer breeders. We have an awesome community of breeders and I am honored to be a part of this wonderful breed. My favorite dog show memory? Definitely this past May when King, MBIS MBISS GRCHG Int/Am/Can CH Pawcific I Walk With The King PT JHD BCAT CAA CGC TKN, won the CWC- CA National Specialty under breeder judge Jonathon Breckenridge- Mitchell with a record entry of Cardigans. King has a tremendous story and I’m always thankful to his entire Team for believing in him, especially to his handler Kelly Shane and his co-owner Marian Mizelle. DAVID L. & DEBORAH L. ANTHONY A friend once commented that dogs were not our hobby, but our lifestyle. Deborah and I truly believe that is true as well. Our life centers around what show, seminar, specialty, match, numer- ous kennel club meetings, judges education or other dog related event that is coming up on our calendar. Luckily the family has succumbed to the idea that dogs are a priority in our lives and that we thoroughly enjoy all aspects of the sport. As long time dog lovers and admirers of purebred dogs, we made the leap into showing dogs in 1984. This is when we purchased and showed our first herding dog; a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. We won’t go into the details of that very first show dog as many of you can attest to, it has its ups and downs! It has been passed about that if a person stays in dogs for five years, then they will probably be in the hobby for their life. Again, we believe this is true as well when you look about the shows and the faces that you see appear on a regular basis. It really is an extended family. We have owned and shown a few different breeds including Bri- ards, Dachshunds, Australian Terriers, and Skye Terriers. We have imported several outstanding dogs from New Zealand and Holland and have bred numerous top ten Cardigans both here and abroad. Our dogs have competed successfully in some of the top shows in the Country. Our love has always been for the herding breeds and when we decided to make the move into judging in 2003, but now we have added a new passion to our judging by including the Non- Sporting group to our list of assignments. We have judges numerous regional and national specialities and David had the honor of judg- ing the Cardigan National Speciality in 2018. We both belong to the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America (CWCCA). David is the chairman of the Judges Education Com- mittee and Deborah has served on the Board of Directors for many years. We are truly dedicated to the breed.
Deborah and I live near Erie, Pennsylvania, in the land “Lake Effect Snow”. Luckily, Cardigans LOVE snow. We both work for local government, David is the manager for Washington Township in Erie County, Pennsylvania and Deborah in charge of Community Development. We get the comment quite often that nearly everything we do revolves around our dogs. Dogs are pretty much our life and we are quite happy with that. Although we only have pups when we are ready to add to our own family of show dogs, we are not concerned about the popular- ity of the breed as much as the quality of homes we place puppies in. We have an extensive network of owners that are dedicated to seeing that those that become part of our Dragonpatch Cardigan family are prepared to offer the best conditions possible for their Cardigan. It is a lifetime commitment. Our four-legged kids have us quite well trained. Demanding a serious game of cross-country, full-contact ball at least three times a day. They have to release energy somehow. A romp in the back- yard with the crew is essential in stress relief as well. Being able to let the local wildlife know who is in charge of the neighborhood commands a lot of their attention too. Their keen sense of hearing and quick reactions are perfect for letting us know if the neighbors are out and about and who is walking on the road out front with- out checking with them first. These are typical characteristics of the breed. The devotion to our family is amazing. They do not warm up quickly to strangers. They seem to wait and see if we are accept- ing of them first then suddenly the green light comes on and they are okay with them. They are very competitive amongst themselves too. It is of utmost importance to be the first one out the door and the one that gets the ball to us. Without proper leadership, this dominance can cause problems. You must be firm but fair in your corrections and requirements of them. We seem to see two sides of the breed. First is the “we have a job to do and we are not stopping until that’s done” and second is the “game over time for naps don’t bother me”. Although a very adapt- able breed, the best home has varying activities to keep the mind and body sharp. Because we have been long established in the breed, over 36 years, we have an excellent reputation and always have a lengthy waiting list for potential puppy owners. Some have waited years for a dog from us. We are extremely cautious about with whom we place a puppy and follow up on a regular basis. We hear almost daily from one or more of our owners. We maintain a private list- serve that is only for those people who own our dogs. This allows us to monitor the fun times and also the difficult situations that always arise. We, along with the other members, praise, support and mentor each other to ensure that the dogs are getting the very best options and guidance needed to ensure a happy long life. From simple things like how to housebreak to supporting a top therapy dog that’s displaying wonderful breed characteristics while helping elderly and children alike. Not to mention the agility and confor- mation participants amongst the many well-loved pets. At ten weeks things get very serious when determining who is of show potential or not. Without obvious faults, it is at this time that we closely look at front assemblies and rear drive. The amount
“THEY DO NOT WARM UP QUICKLY TO STRANGERS. THEY SEEM TO WAIT AND SEE IF WE ARE ACCEPTING OF THEM FIRST THEN SUDDENLY THE GREEN LIGHT COMES ON AND THEY ARE OKAY WITH THEM.”
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CardiganWelsh Corgi Q& A
“One analogy between the Cardigans and the Pembrokes is, ‘the Pembrokes are the party goers and the Cardigans are the Butler.’”
David L. & Deborah L. Anthony continued
evaluation about nine weeks old and then start making choices of where puppies will go. I have bred dogs with a huge amount of herding instinct and so I need to place dogs accordingly. My proud- est moments are watching the Glasshouse pups grow up and be out winning with their people. Bringing people into the breed and watching them catch the passion of being with their dog, no matter the venue, is what makes me happy. ELIZABETHHILLEBRAND I have been exhibiting
of bone. angles, tailset/carriage and very importantly the tempera- ment of the dog is watched very closely. A new judge should be focused on the overall dog. Don’t fixate on one particular characteristic and base your decisions on that. Many come away from multiple breed seminars and remember only one or two key points of the breed and tend to think that if they find or eliminate those couple of things, they will have understood the breed. That is not the case. Our ultimate goal for the breed is to produce a dog that matches the breed standard as closely as possible. We hope that by continu- ing a successful breeding program, we can ensure the longevity of this breed. Our favorite dog show memory? At the very first show we attended on our own, we traveled to the Polo Grounds outside of Cleveland, Ohio. That show was large at that time and we had a good entry. As a complete novice exhibitor, David placed the dog on the table backwards and stood back just as proud as can be of our little boy. The judge was kind and did the examination that way and gave me my blue ribbon. We did hear a few snickers from outside. The observers were mortified and quickly informed us as such outside of the ring once completed. I laughed and said “oh well it was fun” and have kept that idea of fun in our heads for more than 36 years. If it isn’t fun, my and wife and I won’t be doing it. LORI FROST I currently live in Ventura, California with my Cardigan Welsh Corgis. I own my own company where I operate and maintain water districts and do specialized plumbing. It allows me a bit of a flexible schedule to work with the dogs. Cardigans are a breed who are incredibly versatile, and I believe this is one reason they are becoming more popular. Many people can recognize the “Corgi” (a Welsh word that means dwarf dog) by the short legs, but the different look and having a tail throws them off and they start thinking they are mixes. It gives a chance to describe the differences between a Pembroke and a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. We do notice over the past year or two, more people so rec- ognize them as a Cardigan. I fell in love with the breed as my first was such a great all-around dog and superb with my children. This breed was a farm dog; they played with kids, watched the homestead, did vermin eradication, drove stock to market, and kept strange stock away. They are smart, active clowns who love being with their people. Had my first litter in 2007; and since that time, there have been numerous dogs with the Glasshouse prefix who have titled in conformation, herding, agility, barn hunt, lure coursing and nosework. Several are therapy and support dogs and one is a hearing service dog. The breed is one who is very owner/family oriented. They are smart and can be a bit overwhelming for a first-time dog owner. One analogy between the Cardigans and the Pembrokes is, “the Pembrokes are the party goers and the Cardigans are the Butler.” A breeder needs to know their dogs and figure out the appropriate home for the puppies. A high drive working dog shouldn’t be placed in a home where the people are sedentary. I can see structure on a puppy at birth, and then I let them grow up and check on temperament and activity level. I do a final
since 1996 and breeding Cardigans since 1998. I currently breed Cardigan Welsh Corgis under the pre- fix Cadnoclun in conjunc- tion with my best friend and professional handler Marian McShane. Marian is a lifelong breeder of Best in Show and Specialty win- ning St Bernards, Rottwei- lers and and German Wire- Hair Pointers. Together we
© Taylor Elizabeth Photography
have bred one litter of Beagles as well. I am a Registered Nurse and I am active in my my local kennel club, where I currently hold the office of President, and I am a former Board member of the Cardi- gan Welsh Corgi Club of America. I love the sport of purebred dogs! Photo credit for the photo goes to Taylor Elizabeth Photogra- phy, INC, https://www.taylorelizabethphotographync.com/. I live in Mocksville, North Carolina. Outside of dogs I am a certified Critical Care Registered Nurse specializing in surgical patients. Does the average person in the street recognize the breed? The generic term “Corgi” is highly recognized by the general public, mostly due to fascination with the British Royal family and Queen Elizabeth’s participating in breeding and owning Pembroke Welsh Corgis for most of her life. Our Cardigans are much fewer in num- ber, and as breeders of Cardigan Welsh Corgis, we face some chal- lenges in educating folks on the differences and similarities in the two breeds. Cardigans and Pembrokes are not interchangeable, nor varieties of the same breed. That has to be boiled down into an “elevator length” sound byte. I don’t think it impacts placing puppies, though. How has the breed adapted to civilian life? The Cardigan was developed to be an all-around farm dog. The Welsh farmers who developed our breed valued their independent thinking skills that balance with their need to be part of their family and their family’s daily routine. This makes them great dogs for all sorts of families, including ones with children or childless couples of all ages. They don’t need a ton of space, but do require regular exercise of their minds and bodies. Our breed has retained very much of its original working ability and can still do its original job, but has great adapt- ability for other situations. What about the breed makes him an ideal companion? They love to be part of their family’s daily routine. They are
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Elizabeth Hillebrand continued
lazing around the house with a walk around the neighborhood. Then there are the Cardigans that must be busy and will find any- thing to keep themselves occupied, if the owner doesn’t give them to do. Matching the correct temperaments with the new owner is essential to ensure everyone is happy with their puppy. A puppy born with breed standard faults, you will know right way. At eight weeks I can usually rule out any undesirable traits I do not want in my breeding program. As far as trying to determine the best show puppy, this breed changes so much between eight weeks and a year, it is difficult. By six months, I will see how they are doing. Sometimes you get that one special puppy that is “it”, but most of the time it is keep the puppy for a while to see how they do. I’m actually seeing improvement in people willing to pay for a well bred Cardigan, as compared to ten years ago or so. When the economy is poor, breeders don’t breed because there are so few buyers. What is the most important thing about the breed for a novice to keep in mind when judging? Be very familiar with our breed standard. There is a reason our fronts look like they do. Movement. I’m a huge movement person, so make sure the dog has reach and drive, and the front single tracks. My ultimate goal for the breed is staying power, I want to see the dogs at 10 and 11, that are still structurally sound. It says a lot when there is a veteran that can still move. As a breeder, it is important for me to know that the veteran’s offspring will be able to perform and be sound as they get older. My favorite dog show memory is my first regular group place- ment with my first Cardigan, when he was only a year and a half old. REBECCAWINKLER I live in Ashburn, Virginia. I work full time as well as make jewelry from stones I mine as a side business and “outside” of dogs. I also enjoy traveling especially going on cruises. Does the average person in the street recognize the breed? No the average person doesn’t recognize the breed. When they hear Welsh Corgi they think of Pembroke. I don’t know about good or bad for placing puppies since I am not a breeder. Also people think this is a mixed breed. How has the breed adapted to civilian life? My three Cardis have adapted to civilian life by becoming guard dogs when people come to the house, they also bark at trucks and people walking by the house as well as herding workers around the house. What about the breed makes him an ideal companion? Their understanding of what you say to them make them an ideal fit. My oldest Cardigan is the perfect companion since he taught himself to recognize my illness three weeks before I have a relapse and has fig- ured out when my mother’s blood sugar level is too high or too low. He was never trained and is now training the youngest dog to take over for him. The only drawback I see if the need to bark at things and people and not be quiet at appropriate times. Does the breed’s energy level and active brain keep you on your toes? Yes, but I give them games to work their brain to stay sharp. What is your favorite dog show memory? I don’t have any since I use a professional dandler to show my dogs in the breed ring. At ten years of age, my oldest dog became the eighth Cardi- gan to become a Herding Champion in AHBA (American Herd- ing Breeders Association). My oldest boy also has his conformation Championship and he earned that when he was three. My youngest girl who is now four loves to strut her stuff in the show ring and she is working on her Bronze Grand Championship.
extremely people-oriented, while retaining independent think- ing skills that make them endearing and exasperating at the same time. They can train their owners faster sometimes than their own- ers can train them. They need as much mental exercise as they do physical exercise. Does the breed’s energy level and active brain keep you on your toes? Yes! I laugh, curse, and cry every day over my dogs’ antics. But then, at night, when I have a bed full of peacefully snoring dogs, I remember what attracted me to this breed. I couldn’t imagine my life without a Cardigan in it. What special challenges do breeders face in our current eco- nomic and social climate? We are fighting the popularity and public awareness of the doodle fad and the adopt-don’t shop mentality. There can be a kind of public shaming for wanting a purebred dog. We need to do a better job of getting our message out there. At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? Well, at birth you can see cosmetic things like faulty markings. Then at about three weeks coat length starts declaring itself, but that, in and of itself, doesn’t automatically eliminate a puppy from consideration as my keeper. I watch the puppies as they get up on their feet, judging balance and personalty. We generally make our final decisions about who to keep at around 12 weeks. We tend to keep more girls, and a male has to be completely superior in almost all aspects to be considered a keeper. I will forgive a bit on bitches, because I have found I can improve good bitches with great stud dogs. The reverse has not been as successful for me. What is the most important thing about the breed for a novice to keep in mind when judging? A judge that is new to this breed should realize that consider the outline from the side—we are a silhouette breed, but if a judge is having trouble deciding between two dogs in a class, move them again! They have to be more than pretty statues. We have a unique front and that takes some getting used to, but a correct front should never look unsound coming at you. Reach and drive on the side is great, but a clean, pleasing down and back are just as important. Overall, judge the whole dog, and don’t get lost in the details. What is my ultimate goal for the breed? To breed healthy, correctly structured dogs who epitomize what a Cardigan is sup- posed to be and for them to be in families that love them and their quirkiness. My favorite dog show memory? Gosh, there are so many! From my very first dog show with my first Cardigan back in 1996 to all the fun things that are happening with our current home-bred Spe- cial, MBISS GrChS Cadnoclun’s Trippy Little Hippie, currently the number one Cardigan Bitch All Systems, it has been a fun ride and I wouldn’t change anything! I think they are the greatest breed in the whole world! DARCI LANG I live in Tucson, Arizona. Outside of dogs I still work full time, love to read and take vacations without the dogs. Does the average person recognize the breed? Most people rec- ognize it is a Corgi, but do not know the difference between a Pem- broke and a Cardigan. I did have someone ask if my blue merle was an Australian Shepherd/Dachshund cross. When I have a new puppy inquiry, I always make sure the person understands which breed I have, especially if they state they want a Corgi. The cardigan’s willingness to please makes the breed very adapt- able to any type of “work”, in the form of performance events. Herding events, at least in my area, are becoming more popular so even the city dogs can have a chance to herd. As with all breeds there are variations in temperament and activity level. There are Cardigans who are extremely happy just
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