Become a Student of the Breed

Student: One engaged in a course of study.

Study: The process of aquiring knowledge; examine thoroughly; apply the mind to learning.

In order to succeed in any venture, it makes sense that one must be prepared. In order to read and write, children go to school. Before they are allowed to drive, they attend drivers education. No one would expect a surgeon to pick up a scalpel without spending years in medical school, would they?

Why, then, do we expect that we can successfully breed and compete in dogs, without first learning everything about the history, purpose and structure of our breed?

Most people fall into showing dogs, and end up with their chosen breeds without a great deal of forethought. Novice owner/exhibitors have a "pass" on the education for awhile, as they have so many other things to learn about our very complicated hobby.

However, if your goal is to step beyond the perpetual novice status, you need to become a student of the breed.

Being a student of the breed is more than being able to recite the AKC standard. Can you put that standard in other terms? Do you understand the Whys and Wheres of the standard?

Lets think about this for a minute.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is related to which group of dogs? Which modern breed(s) are our closest relatives?

Our standard calls for a very different front end assembly than the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Why? They are both Corgis... Whats the difference? Why do we have different colors? What about coat texture? What is the difference in their heads?

How many times have you had non-dog people ask you the difference between Pembrokes and Cardigans? I'm sure you know what the differences are-- but do you know WHY they are different? Do you understand what those differences mean in the way the dogs develop?

Lets go back to studying the breed...

How much do you know about early Cardigans? Do you know the names of the first male and female Cardigan Champions? Do you know who imported them to the US? What about some of the most influential bloodlines in the US? Canada? Great Britain?

As a student of the breed, you should be reading all of the great articles on our breed. I can't encourage you enough to visit the Cardigan Commentary website and read each and every one of the articles that is posted there; those articles are written by many of the icons in our breed.

Get your hands on as many Cardigans as you possibly can. Learn to find that "upside down egg" and prominent prosternum; correct wrap, moderate angulation, correct coat texture, sloping croup- all of those things that we talk about.

Attend the National Specialties! I cannot stress this enough! No where else will you see the depth of quality in Cardigans. No where else will you have the chance to pick the brains of so many experienced people. In addition, the CWCCA allows its members to attend the Judges Education seminar, so you have a fantastic learning opportunity in that!

As you become more experienced in Cardigans, branch out a bit. Start to watch our related breeds: Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, Skye Terriers, German Shepherds. By learning about our cousins, you can learn to appreciate our breeds finer points. *Note-Pembrokes are a Spitz breed and therefore not as closely related.

By becoming a student of the breed, you will hopefully ignite the same passion for the breed that inspired some of the great breeders and mentors. Its an education that never ends, and one that has such great study partners! Our breed needs people who love the breed for what it is, and what it was, and are willing to work very hard to educate the rest of the fancy on what a great breed the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is.

Best of luck to all of you! I hope you enjoy your education as much as I am enjoying mine!