Buyer Beware: Where (and How) to Choose a Puppy Wisely
Looking for a Cardigan?
CWCCA Statement on Crossbreeding Cardigans with other Canine Breeds
The members of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America are dedicated to the preservation of this ancient breed. Cardigans are sturdy “big dogs in small packages” and excel not only as herding dogs on sheep and cattle farms/ranches but also as treasured family companions. They are active dogs and love to work, who successfully compete at the highest levels in many canine sports including Herding, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Scent Work, Barn Hunt, and FASTCAT as well as Conformation. Thanks to the dedication and care taken by our breeders, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi gene pool remains diverse, and the incidence of inherited diseases is low. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America opposes any crossbreeding of Cardigans with another breed. A cross between two breeds will not instantly make a new breed that will be consistent in any way. In fact, crossbreeding Cardigans with other breeds will not produce a better dog but can, in fact, introduce inherited genetic diseases like Exercise Induced Collapse, Von Willebrand’s Hemophilia, and Multiple Drug Resistance that currently don’t occur in Cardigans. Giving the crossbreeding dogs a name such as American Corgis or Cowboy Corgis does not take away from the fact that these are mixed breed dogs. The term Corgis simply means dwarf dog in Welsh. Please note that if you purchase one of these crossbred dogs, you are purchasing a mixed breed dog. If you want a mixed breed dog, visit your local Shelter.
BLUE MERLE: CARDIGAN YES, PEMBROKE NO…
While the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi appear similar, they are in fact two distinct breeds that developed separately centuries ago in geographically distinct areas of Wales. They are part of the cultural heritage of Wales, and each breed deserves to be preserved and protected like any cultural treasure. One of the many breed characteristics that distinguish Cardigans from Pembrokes is color. Cardigans come in more colors including blue merle and brindle which have never occurred in purebred Pembrokes. Since canine geneticists have proven that both of these traits are dominant, it is virtually impossible for either color to suddenly appear in a litter of Pembrokes. Blue merle or brindle Pembrokes are a result of crossbreeding which is not condoned by the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America or their members. These puppies are not purebred, are not eligible to be registered in the AKC Stud Book and cannot compete in AKC Conformation or Herding events.