FCI Standard
for Welsh Corgi Cardigan
Country of origin: United Kingdom
USE: Herding and working dog.
CLASSIFICATION:
FCI Group 1 Herding and Cattle Dogs, except Swiss Mountain Dogs.
Section 1 Sheepdogs.
Without use test.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
Robust, hardy, stocky and enduring. Long in proportion to height, with a fox-like tail set in the extension of the body.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
The length of the forehead in proportion to the head is like 3:5.
BEHAVIOR/TEMPERAMENT:
Alert, active and intelligent. Calm and neither shy nor aggressive.
HEAD:
The head is fox-like in shape and appearance.
Skull: Broad and flat between the ears, gradually narrowing towards the eyes, over which it is slightly domed.
Stop: Moderate.
Nose: Black. The nose is slightly protruding and in no way blunt.
Nose: Decreases somewhat in width towards the nose.
Jaws/Teeth: Strong teeth with scissor bite, i.e. the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower ones and placed perpendicular to the jaws. Lower jaw clean cut and strong without being prominent.
TAIL:
Like a fox tail, set in the extension of the back line and moderately long (should reach almost or completely to the ground). When standing, it is carried low, but may be lifted somewhat during movement, but not curled up over the back.
LIMBS:
Strong bones. The legs were short, but the body kept well clear of the ground.
Shoulders: The shoulders are well placed and form an angle of approximately 90 degrees with the upper arm. The shoulders are muscular.
Elbows: Well connected to the body.
Underarm: Slightly curved to follow the curve of the chest.
Forefeet: Round, well-jointed, rather large and with strong pads. Slightly turned out.
BACK:
Powerful, well-angulated and straight with muscular upper and lower thighs. Strong bones all the way down to the paws. Legs short.
Hock joint: When standing, the hocks are vertical, seen both from behind and from the side.
Hind feet : Round, well-jointed, rather large and with strong pads.
MOVEMENT:
Free and active with good elbow connection, neither loose nor bent. The forelegs are carried well forward without being lifted too much, in harmony with the push off from the hind leg action.
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EYES:
Medium sized and clear with a friendly and alert but watchful expression. They are set quite wide apart and have clearly defined corners of the eyes. They are preferably dark or matching the coat colour, with dark eye rims. For blue merles only, one or both eyes are acceptable as light blue, blue or blue-spotted.
EARS:
Erect, rather large in proportion to the size of the dog. Slightly rounded at the tip, moderately broad at the base and set about 8 cm (3½ ins) apart. Carried so that the tip lies slightly outside a line from the nose through the centre of the eye, and set well back so that they can be laid flat along the neck.
NECK:
Muscular, well developed, appropriate to the dog's build and well set into the sloping shoulders.
BODY:
Quite long and strong.
Topline: Straight.
Loin : Clearly defined waist.
Croup: Rather long and sloping.
Chest: Moderately broad with prominent sternum. Deep ribcage. Well sprung ribs.
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FUR:
Coat: Short or medium length and of hard texture. Weather resistant, with good undercoat. Straight coat preferred.
COLORS:
Accepted colors: Blue merle, brindle, red, sable, tricolor with brindle markings and tricolor with red markings.
All of the above colors with or without the typical white markings on the head, neck, chest, lower body, legs and paws and white tail tip.
White should not dominate the body or head, and should never surround the eyes. The nose and eye rims should be black.
Liver (chocolate brown) and diluted colors are highly undesirable.
SIZE:
Ideal shoulder height: 30 cm
The weight must correspond to the size with harmony in the whole being the essential thing.
FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect on the functional health and well-being of the dog and on its ability to perform its traditional work.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
– Aggressive or excessively shy dogs.
– Dogs that clearly show signs of physical or behavioral problems
abnormalities, shall be disqualified.
NOTE
– Male dogs must have two normally developed testicles in the scrotum.
– Only functional and clinically healthy dogs with breed-typical characteristics should be used in breeding.
Danish Kennel Club's note:
Conditions that negatively affect a dog's health are considered a serious fault.