Vermilion Kennels

Pictures of Cardigan Welsh Corgi’s

Cardigans are low, long, sturdy dogs built for speed and endurance. In spite of their short stature, they are cattle herding dogs. A job they can handle quite well.

Cardigans are happy, loyal dogs. They are great companions, gentle, friendly, and alert to all around them. They come in a variety of colors and the ones at our home cover the tri color ( actually, a black and white dog with tan points), as well as brindle and red. Other colors include blue merle and sable.

Cardigans stay clean in muddy conditions and unlike the Wheatens in our home, do not collect snow on their coats in the winter. They are able to weather rain and snow and seem rather at home in tall drifts!

Cardigan structure is unlike that of most breeds of dog. They are acrondroplastic ( dwarf) dogs and as such they have curved legs to accommodate their large chest. They are not small dogs at all. They are medium sized dogs ( ranging from 25 to 38 pounds) on short legs. Care should be taken to keep their weight appropriate for their frame so as to not stress the joints. Like other long backed dogs they can be prone to back problems but at our house we look for healthy sound breeding companions to make sounder dogs in the long run.

The AKC breed standard is the standard to which our dogs are bred.

Official Standard of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi

HERDING GROUP

General Appearance

Low set with moderately heavy bone and deep chest. Overall silhouette long in proportion to height, culminating in a low tail set and fox-like brush. General Impression-A handsome, powerful, small dog, capable of both speed and endurance, intelligent, sturdily built but not coarse.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Overall balance is more important than absolute size. Dogs and bitches should be from 10.5 to 12.5 inches at the withers when standing naturally. The ideal length/height ratio is 1.8:1 when measuring from the point of the breast bone (prosternum) to the rear of the hip (ischial tuberosity) and measuring from the ground to the point of the withers. Ideally, dogs should be from 30 to 38 pounds; bitches from 25 to 34 pounds. Lack of overall balance, oversized or undersized are serious faults.

Head

The head should be refined in accordance with the sex and substance of the dog. It should never appear so large and heavy nor so small and fine as to be out of balance with the rest of the dog. Expression- alert and gentle, watchful, yet friendly. Eyes- medium to large, not bulging, with dark rims and distinct corners. Widely set. Clear and dark in harmony with coat color. Blue eyes (including partially blue eyes), or one dark and one blue eye permissible in blue merles, and in any other coat color than blue merle are a disqualification. Ears large and prominent in proportion to size of dog. Slightly rounded at the tip, and of good strong leather. Moderately wide at the base, carried erect and sloping slightly forward when alert. When erect, tips are slightly wide of a straight line drawn from the tip of the nose through the center of the eye. Small and/or pointed ears are serious faults. Drop ears are a disqualification. Skull-Top moderately wide and flat between the ears, showing no prominence of occiput, tapering towards the eyes. Slight depression between the eyes. Cheeks -flat with some chiseling where the cheek meets the foreface and under the eye. There should be no prominence of cheekbone. Muzzle- from the tip of the nose to the base of the stop should be shorter than the length of the skull from the base of the stop to the high point of the occiput, the proportion being about three parts muzzle to five parts skull; rounded but not blunt; tapered but not pointed. In profile the plane of the muzzle should parallel that of the skull, but on a lower level due to a definite but moderate stop. Nose -black, except in blue merles where black noses are preferred but butterfly noses are tolerated. A nose other than solid black in any other color is a disqualification. Lips- fit cleanly and evenly together all around. Jaws- strong and clean. Underjaw moderately deep and well formed, reaching to the base of the nose and rounded at the chin. Teeth strong and regular. Scissors bite preferred; i.e., inner side of upper incisors fitting closely over outer side of lower incisors. Overshot, undershot, or wry bite are serious faults.

Neck, Topline, Body

Neck- moderately long and muscular without throatiness. Well developed, especially in males, and in proportion to the dog’s build. Neck well set on; fits into strong, well shaped shoulders. Topline- level. Body- long and strong. Chest- moderately broad with prominent breastbone. Deep brisket, with well sprung ribs to allow for good lungs. Ribs extending well back. Loin- short, strong, moderately tucked up. Waist well defined. Croup-Slight downward slope to the tail set. Tail- set fairly low on body line and reaching well below hock. Carried low when standing or moving slowly, streaming out parallel to ground when at a dead run, lifted when excited, but never curled over the back. High tail set is a serious fault.

Forequarters

The moderately broad chest tapers to a deep brisket, well let down between the forelegs. Shoulders -slope downward and outward from the withers sufficiently to accommodate desired rib-spring. Shoulder blade (scapula) long and well laid back, meeting upper arm (humerus) at close to a right angle. Humerus nearly as long as scapula. 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 -removed. The feet- are relatively large and rounded, with well filled pads. They point slightly outward from a straight-ahead position to balance the width of the shoulders. This outward point is not to be more than 30 degrees from center line when viewed from above. The toes should not be splayed. The correct Cardigan front- is neither straight nor so crooked as to appear unsound. Overall, the bone should be heavy for a dog of this size, but not so heavy as to appear coarse or reduce agility. Knuckling over, straight front, fiddle front are serious faults.

Hindquarters

Well muscled and strong, but slightly less wide than shoulders. Hipbone (pelvis) slopes downward with the croup, forming a right angle with the femur at the hip socket. There should be moderate angulation at stifle and hock. Hocks well let down. Metatarsi perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. Dewclaws removed. Feet- point straight ahead and are slightly smaller and more oval than front. Toes arched. Pads well filled. Overall, the hindquarters must denote sufficient power to propel this low, relatively heavy herding dog efficiently over rough terrain.

Coat

Medium length but dense as it is double. Outer hairs slightly harsh in texture; never wiry, curly or silky. Lies relatively smooth and is 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. The coat should not be so exaggerated as to appear fluffy. This breed has a shedding coat, and seasonal lack of undercoat should not be too severely penalized, providing the hair is healthy. Trimming is not allowed except to tidy feet and, if desired, remove whiskers. Soft guard hairs, uniform length, wiry, curly, silky, overly short and/or flat coats are not desired. A distinctly long or fluffy coat is an extremely serious fault.

Color

All shades of red, sable and brindle. Black with or without tan or brindle points. Blue merle (black and gray; marbled) 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. White on the head should not predominate and should never surround the eyes. Any color other than specified and/or body color predominantly white are disqualifications.

Gait

Free and smooth. Effortless. Viewed from the side, forelegs should reach well forward when moving at a trot, without much lift, in unison with driving action of hind legs. The correct shoulder assembly and well fitted elbows allow for a long free stride in front. Viewed from the front, legs do not move in exact parallel planes, but incline slightly inward to compensate for shortness of leg and width of chest. Hind legs, when trotting, should reach well under body, move on a line with the forelegs, with the hocks turning neither in nor out, and in one continuous motion drive powerfully behind, well beyond the set of the tail. Feet must travel parallel to the line of motion with no tendency to swing out, cross over, or interfere with each other. Short choppy movement, rolling or high-stepping gait, close or overly wide coming or going, are incorrect. This is a herding dog which must have the agility, freedom of movement, and endurance to do the work for which he was developed.

Temperament

Even-tempered, loyal, affectionate, and adaptable. Never shy nor vicious.

Disqualifications

Blue eyes, or partially blue eyes, in any coat color other than blue merle.
Drop ears.
Nose other than solid black except in blue merles.
Any color other than specified.
Body color predominantly white.

Approved December 13, 1994 Effective January 31, 1995

As a member of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America I am bound by the following Code of Ethics:

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America

Code Of Ethics
Effective November 15, 1999

Each member of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, referred to as the CWCCA, shall consider the welfare of the Breed and Club paramount when engaging in any activities involving owning, breeding, exhibiting and selling of Cardigan Welsh Corgis. Acceptance of this Code of Ethics is a condition of membership in the CWCCA.

Section 1. CWCCA members are expected to comply with the following:

1. Each member shall take lifetime responsibility to ensure that Cardigans of his/her breeding or ownership are cared for in a safe and healthy environment. Should a Cardigan owner no longer be able to care for the dog, the owner shall take all reasonable steps to secure a new home for the dog. If the owner is unable to complete their commitment to the dog, the breeder shall resume responsibility.
2. Each member who contemplates breeding a litter, or who allows the use of his/her stud dog to the same end, shall direct his/her effort toward producing Cardigans of exceptional quality. Members should be forthright and honest regarding their bitch’s or stud dog’s strong and weak points, reproductive record and familial history.
3. A member shall not use for breeding a Cardigan showing a serious defect in type, structure, temperament and/or health. Owners of stud dogs shall not accept for breeding a bitch, the reproduction of which is likely to be detrimental to the breed.
4. Each member shall make an active effort to become educated with regard to inherited problems particular to the breed. Each member should screen all breeding stock for appropriate hereditary problems.
5. A member shall refrain from further use of a Cardigan for breeding if that Cardigan has produced offspring with serious inherited defects detrimental to the animal’s well-being, such as blindness, deafness or impairment of the vital functions, and produces like results with a different mating partner unless such defects can be managed via the use of genetic marker test, judicious breeding and offspring management. In such instances, only superior animals should be bred and only with the informed consent of all participants..
6. A member shall not engage in false or misleading advertising or other misrepresentations of his/her Cardigans, nor shall he/she malign his competitors by making false or misleading statements regarding his/her competitors’ Cardigans, breeding practices or person. No photographs shall be retouched to change the appearance of the dog.
7. Members are encouraged to use the limited registration as provided by the AKC and/or a signed spay/neuter contract when selling or placing Cardigans not to be used for breeding.
8. Each puppy or adult shall be placed or sold in a clean and healthy condition, including appropriate immunization for its age, and shall be at least seven weeks old (unless precluded by state law), namely old enough to make the necessary adjustment to a new home safely. The breeder/seller shall provide each new owner with a health record and written information on the feeding, health care and training of the dog.
9. All members should make themselves aware of and comply with their state laws regarding the breeding and selling of dogs.
10. Each member of the Club has an obligation to protect the interests of the breed by conducting himself/herself in a manner designed to reflect credit upon himself/herself, the breed and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America.

Section 2. Failure to comply with the following may be considered to be action(s) not in the best interests of the Club or Breed:

1. No member shall breed a bitch to cause her to produce puppies more often than twice in 18 months nor breed her before 12 months of age.
2. Blue Merles may be bred to blacks (with or without red or brindle points) only.
3. No member shall dispose of a Cardigan in a shelter or pound.
4. No member shall engage in the wholesaling of litters of Cardigan Welsh Corgis or the selling of any Cardigan(s) to such places as pet dealers, animal brokers, catalogue houses or commercial sources of distribution, nor supply Cardigans for lottery, raffle or auction.
5. When a member places or sells a Cardigan Welsh Corgi on a limited registration as provided by the AKC, the reason(s) for such shall be clearly understood by the buyer, and the breeder/owner shall have a signed statement to that effect. All other puppies or adults shall be registered or eligible for registration with the AKC. All new owners will be provided with appropriate AKC registration documents, pedigree and health record unless otherwise agreed upon in writing and signed by all parties.
6. No member shall knowingly exhibit a Cardigan Welsh Corgi in conformation with a disqualifying fault under the AKC-approved Standard for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
7. (1) No member shall knowingly exhibit a Cardigan Welsh Corgi in conformation with a condition that renders it ineligible under AKC regulations, including but not limited to a dog which has undergone any of the following procedures to change its appearance by artificial means as set out in Chapter 11, Section 8 of the AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows.

1. The correction of entropion, ectropion, trichiasis, or disichaisia.
2. Trimming, removal or tattooing of the third eyelid (nicitating membrane).
3. The insertion of an eye prosthesis.
4. Correction of harelip, cleft palate, stenotic nares, or an elongated soft palate resection.
5. Any procedure to change ear set or carriage other than that permitted by the breed standard (does not include taping puppy ears).
6. Restorative dental procedures, the use of bands or braces on teeth, or any alteration of the dental arcade.
7. The removal of excess skin folds or the removal of skin patches to alter marking.
8. Correction of inguinal, scrotal or perineal hernias.
9. Surgery for hip dysplasia, OC.D., patellar luxation and femoral head resection.
10. Alteration of the location of the testes or the insertion of an artificial testicle.
11. Altering the set or carriage of the tail.