A Commentary on
the KC/FCI and AKC Standards for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi:
In this
elaboration, it will be evident how the Cardigan Welsh Corgi head differs from the
Pembroke Welsh Corgi head in certain important features:
SKULL,
SHAPE & STOP
Although
as with the Pembroke, the standard calls for a MODERATE stop, the Cardigan has a deeper
stop due to the SLIGHT doming of the foreskull over the eyes. This doming is attributed to
the shape of the eyebrow ridges; it does not mean the skull is apple-headed or domed all
over, as this would be very untypical for the breed.
That said, we
do NOT want an abrupt, "definite stop." The CWC head should NOT resemble an
Australian Cattle Dog, either in cheekiness or in stop.
Heads are
occasionally seen with sliding stops, as in Collies or Shelties. Quite wrong! And some
heads, combining narrowness with a sliding stop, can look like they have been through a
pencil sharpener and thus have a very foreign expression.
The backskull
should be moderately wide and flat between the ears, but tapering towards the eyes.
MUZZLE
The correct
muzzle to skull ratio for both breeds is 3:5. The muzzle should taper moderately to the
nose which is black, larger than a Pembroke's, and projects slightly making the muzzle in
no sense blunt although neither should it be pointed and snipey.
The
question of the nose colour in blue merles has been a problem for several years now. The
British Kennel Club standard used to allow for butterfly noses in blue merles, however
that was changed a few years back to its current position: "nose black". This
has caused problems in the UK and in other countries where the KC or FCI standards are in
place, as judges have to decide what to do with a lovely blue merle who has a butterfly
nose.
By its
very nature the merle gene acts haphazardly on pigment and there is no way to control
whether or not the nose will be black, just
as there is no way to control colour anywhere else on a blue merle!
It was an
unfortunate standard change, as are any standard changes which work against basic
scientific principles.
The
muzzle is slightly fuller and perhaps slightly more rounded than a Pembroke's but should
not be lippy, meaning the lips should fit cleanly and neatly all round.
Although snipey
muzzles are wrong, so are overdone and heavy ones. Muzzles that appear heavy, square or
lippy, often with flews, are incorrect for a CWC. A strong underjaw but without prominence
is required as weak underjaws can lead to bite problems.
Before leaving
skull and muzzle, note that in profile the skull and the muzzle should be on parallel
planes. Or as described in the American standard: "The plane of the muzzle should
parallel that of the skull, but on a lower level due to a definite but moderate
stop". Therefore neither backskulls that fall away to the rear nor downward sloping
muzzles are required.
TEETH
The
Kennel Club and FCI Standards both read "Strong and with scissor bite, upper teeth
closely overlapping lower and set square to the jaw."
SET
SQUARE TO THE JAW means the teeth do not incline outwards, nor do they tip back into the
mouth. The AKC standard for the CWC reads "Scissors bite preferred, etc." Also,
"overshot, undershot, or wry bite are serious faults." Therefore the AKC
standard, while "preferring" a scissor bite, allows some leeway for the judge's
discretion.
A quality
Cardigan should not be faulted solely because of a level bite. This one factor should be
taken in consideration along with any other positive attributes the exhibit may have to
offer. Many of the achondroplastic and herding breeds have level bites and provision is
made for this in their standards. It would be a shame to have the unknowledgeable judge
lose a good dog merely because all he/she sees is scissors bite or not. Regrettably, it does happen.
CHEEKS
Cheekbones
should not be prominent. One of the distinctive differences between CWC and PWC is the
shape of the cheeks. The US standard says "flat with some chiseling ..." as it
describes cheeks. The CWC has a flatter shaped cheekbone, and a slightly flatter cheek
than the PWC.
EYES
Another
important breed difference is in the shape of the eyes. The British Kennel Club and FCI
Standards require the Pembroke's eyes to be round. They state the Cardigan's eyes to be of
MEDIUM SIZE, WIDELY SET AND WITH THE CORNERS CLEARLY DEFINED. The standard of the American
Kennel Club says "Eyes medium to large, not bulging, with dark rims and distinct
corners".
NOTE that
none of the standards call for oval eyes and although the correct Cardigan eye is not
round, neither is it oval or almond shaped. Rather, the upper curve of the eye is more
arched than the lower.
The shape
of the eyes is determined by the shape of the skull and the CWC skull differs to that of
the PWC due to the slight doming over the eyes thus giving it a slight "brow".
The Pembroke Corgi's skull should not be domed over the eyes and therefore has a more
moderate stop. The eyes are more frontally placed and of a more rounded shape, with the
corners of the eyes being less distinct.
Due to
the slight doming or "brow" over the eyes and more rounded foreskull the
Cardigan's eyes tend to fit around the skull therefore changing the set and shape of the
eyes and presenting the desired look of "medium
size, widely set and with the corners clearly defined."
The eyes
of a Cardigan are generally darker than those of a Pembroke, but can be either dark OR
blend with the coat. In blending with the coat, the eyes of a brindle can be the same
colour as the lighter shades of brindle in the coat.
The eye
rims are well pigmented and dark. One or both eyes blue, pale blue or blue-flecked, only
permissible in blue merles. Small eyes give a hard expression and eyes set too close
together indicate a narrow foreskull and give a pinched expression. Both are to be
avoided.
EARS
Ears are
required to be proportionately large for the size of the dog. Cardigan Welsh Corgi ears
are of different shape to and larger than Pembroke ears which are required to be of medium
size. The Cardigan's ears are rounded at the tips, moderately wide at the base and set
about 8 cm or 3.5 inches apart on the skull. Note that the Cardigan's ear shape is
therefore slightly tapered from base to tip. Ear shape where the sides of the ears are
parallel to each other are faulty. The ear
should have a good substance and strong cartilage – it should not be thin. Ears are flexible and set further back than the
Pembroke's ears so that they can folded back against the neck.
Correct
ear carriage requires that the tips of the ears are placed SLIGHTLY WIDE of a straight
line drawn from the tip of the nose through the centre of the eyes. This configuration
will give the impression of an imaginary triangle in which the top line is slightly longer
than the two sides. Conversely, the Pembroke is required to have the eartips set so as to
provide an imaginary equilateral triangle.
Soft, pendulous ears are a serious fault and should not be exhibited, although some allowance is made for juveniles.
In the US, drop ears are a disqualification.
21.03.2004 |