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Cardigan Welsh Corgis
Cardigans are not a 'cookie cutter' breed—they vary significantly in physical appearance as well as in temperament. The personalities of my own three Cardis vary wildly—so much so that when people ask me to describe a typical Cardigan my reply is usually, "Is there a 'typical' Cardigan?" The only thing common to my three Cardis, besides all of them having short legs, is their amazing ability to shed hair (lots of hair) all year long.
There are a variety of health problems within the breed including spinal column issues, hip dysplasia, premature closure of growth plates and degenerative myelopathy. Health tests can screen for some of the disorders Cardigans are most prone to but ultimately it is up to responsible and ethical breeders to take the information from these tests--in conjunction with assessments of temperament and 'drive' in their dogs--and make sensible breeding decisions. Unfortunately many Cardi breeders choose not to health test their dogs prior to breeding them. Though a genetic test for degenerative myelopathy (DM) has been available since 2008, fewer than 200 Cardigans have been tested for the disorder. The national Cardigan Welsh Corgi club does not even make mention of the disorder on their website.
A well-bred Cardigan is absolutely capable of performing in nearly any sport out there—herding, tracking, obedience, agility, flyball and disc dog are all sports Cardis can do if they are mentally and physically strong. If you are considering bringing a Cardigan into your life, I strongly urge you to educate yourself about the breed and, if possible, meet a few Cardis personally so you can gauge if their somewhat 'demanding' nature will be a good fit with your lifestyle.
For More Information:
List of Cardigan Welsh Corgis tested for degenerative myelopathy (as of 3-10-10) (PDF file)
OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)
PennHIP (The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program)
Overview of degenerative myelopathy
Selecting and Raising a Cardigan for agility
Cardi Commentary International
Some of the finest canine genetics research in the world takes place at these laboratories: