The American Cardigan
In June of 1931 the first two Cardigan Welsh Corgis were imported into the United States. The first bitch to arrive in this country was the famous Cassie who was already a well established producer of high quality Cardigans in England. She was, in fact, mismarked being white with brindle patches, but her ability to produce excellent stock superseded her unfavorable coloration. The first champion of the breed was a red and white bitch, Ch. Megan whelped in 1933. Today, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc. holds an annual contest for champions only, named the Megan Competition.

**The following passage was written by one of the early influential breeders of Cardigans, Marcia Lopeman, who bred under the Kencia prefix:

Mrs. Roberta Bole imported the first pair of Cardigans to this country from England in 1931. About five years later, they were first recognized by the American Kennel Club and a group of interested friends formed a club which became a member of the AKC.

One of my earliest memories was a meeting in the early 1940's with Mrs. Bole, Mrs. Peter Jay, Kendrick Lopeman and myself at the Hollenden Hotel in Cleveland. Although we had a corner table, there was an orchestra and the "Old Red Head," Arthur Godfrey, was performing and Mrs. Bole with her back to the stage could care less, but my husband who was one of the gentleman's greatest admirers was trying to catch the act and concentrate on our deliberations. Well, we did make future plans and decided as a nucleus club to bring our breed to the forefront and some recognition. Our club consisted then of the officers - Kendrick Lopeman as president; Mrs. Peter Jay as vice president; me as secretary-treasurer; and Mrs. Bole as Chairman of the Board of Directors; the other board members being the aforementioned officers.

Mrs. Bole who was well versed not only in art and music but also in genetics was determined that the breed not be commercialized and in consequence inferior specimens be bred. We decided to start a breeding schedule and to place only the quality animals in the hands of prospective owners who would exhibit them or breed conscientiously. To do this we would give, without papers, the less promising pups to farmers for use on farms or to owners for pets.

Lest I forget to mention it, Mrs Bole was adamant that no dogs with a poor disposition be used for breeding or exhibited. Also, she felt that since the breed was a working dog, there should be no alteration of its coat - no cutting of whiskers, no stripping or clipping or coloring of coat and certainly no fabrication of quality by Novocain in tails, etc. We believed that in so doing, we might make the limelight for the moment, but it would be detrimental as the end result.

By Marcia Lopeman, CWCCA Handbook, Volume I, 1975**

**From that brief but colorful introduction, Mary Nelms (Brymore) brings us up to the late 1960's:

We were all very much isolated in those early days. My husband and I lived in Texas in 1938, when I bought my first Cardigan from Mrs. Bole. She was never bred. To reach a stud she would have had to be shipped two thousand miles, and there was no passenger aircraft in those days. In the mid-forties, after Mrs. Bole's death, the Cardigan stock became even more scattered. Some of Mrs. Bole's Cardigans went to Mrs. Marcia Lopeman in up-state New York; some to her niece, Mrs. Peter Jay in Maryland; some to Dr. Peterson of Virginia; and to Mr. W. B. French in Georgia.

Fortunately, at about this time, new enthusiasts entered the scene. Dr. Peterson was breeding his Bole stock and they were being handled in the show ring by Mrs. Margaret Douglas. She acquired a Cardigan of her own in 1946 from Dr. Peterson, a little bitch named Jess whom she showed to her championship. Jess's son, Ch. Swansea Jon C.D., won three consecutive Best of Breeds at Westminster and more than one Specialty show. Another Swansea dog, bred by Mrs. Douglas, was Jim Churchill's Ch. Swansea Busy, the first Cardigan ever to win a Working Group.

In Philadelphia, Mr. Joseph Frutchey was breeding and showing. In Minnesota, Mr. George Reed had formed a nucleus of breeders and exhibitors. In the far west, in California, Mrs. Genevieve Anderson was a pioneer breeder and a dedicated missionary for the breed. Her friend, Mrs. Marguerite Farley, bred the first American blue merle, Ch. Farlesdale Silver Pay Day, in 1952. Things were definitely looking up, but judges, in the main, ignored us; professional handlers avoided us. And indeed the Cardigan ring, in the late 1950's showed what may politely be called "diversity of type". With the exception of Mrs. Douglas, we had no large scale breeders. And for the occasional litter, the stud used was, in most cases, the handiest. For over a decade no fresh stock had been brought in from Great Britain.

Then in 1957, Mr. Hal Nelson imported a tricolor bitch, Kentwood Dilys, from Miss Sonnica Godden. At about the same time Mrs. Michael Pym brought in Ch. Parmel Bryn. Bryn was bred by the Parkinsons, and was the son of the great Eng. Ch. Kentwood Cymro, whom he once beat in the ring. When Mrs. Pym bought him he had just won the Breed at Crufts. But these two imports looked lonely in the American Cardigan show ring.

They were so different from all the others. The judges didn't seem to know what to do with them, so they placed them alternately at the top and at the bottom of their classes. The difference in appearance led to careless talk about "an American type", a concept that would have spelled disaster for the Cardigan in the States.

At this critical and dangerous point in Cardigan history, rescue appeared in the form of Mrs. Pym, herself an Englishwoman and a lady who never does anything by halves. Her heart was in the breed, and the situation frightened and annoyed her. So in 1962 she went to Great Britain and chose eleven Cardigans for breeding stock, bringing eight of them back with her in the Queen Mary, to the delight and edification of passengers and crew. Subsequently, some of these were given to other breeders in various parts of the country to improve the bloodlines.

In the meantime, Mr. Nelson's Dilys, now a champion, had not been idle. Bred the first time to Kentwood Helgi, she produced a daughter who was subsequently bred to a Swansea stud, Ch. Swansea Punch. From this litter came Ch. Lord Jim's Lucky Domino, one of our truly greats, winner of groups, of Westminster (and of 5 National Specialties - ed. note). When bred back to his grandmother, Dilys, he sired two of the outstanding dogs in American Cardigan history: Ch. Springdale Droednoeth, and Ch. Domino's Beau Jester. Dr. Ed McGough took his Ch. Springdale Droednoeth all the way to the top, to win the first Best in Show award at an all breed show in the history of American Cardigans...

By Mary Nelms (Brymore), Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association 1976 Year Book**

Although still comparatively rare, the breed has gained public recognition by appearing in TV and movies. Today there are over 500 members of the CWCCA. The Cardigan of today holds his own in all breed competition with several specimens having received Best in Show awards.

This information was taken from the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America's Website, http://www.cardigancorgis.com

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What colors do Cardigans come in?

A: Cardigans come in many different colors. The most common (and only ones accepted to show in conformation) are Blue Merle, Brindle, all shades of Red & Sable and Black with or without Tan or Brindle points. There are other colors however such as Ginger Merle, Chocolate Merle, Gray, double merles that appear White with others. These colors are hard to find and are not to be bred for.

Q: Are Cardigans loud?

A: All dogs can be loud and the Cardigan is no exception. They do bark but with training the barking can be more controlled.

Q: Are Cardigans good with children?

A: Yes, most Cardigans are very good with well-behaved children to don't try and annoy the dog. As with any dog, Cardigans should be supervised while with children. Cardis will often try and protect children from dangerous situations by herding them out of the way. But, a Cardigan is not a babysitter and should not be expected to do this job.

Q: How long will I have to wait for a Cardigan puppy?

A: That depends on what breeders have available. Thankfully, Cardigans are still a rarer breed and your wait might be long. Some people have waited for several years, but the average time is a few months. This is not a breed you decide to get one day and go pick up the next. Take this time to interview breeders and decide which one suits your needs and you feel comfortable with. After you have found a breeder you like, ask to be added to their waiting list. If they won't have a puppy for you, ask to be referred to another breeder they trust.

Q: Do Cardigans shed?

A: YES!! Cardigans shed their undercoat twice a year and lose small amounts of hair throughout the year. If you are looking for a breed that does shed, the Cardigan is NOT for you.

Q: Do Cardigans make good outside only dogs?

A: NO!! A Cardigan is a very intelligent dog and must be considered a member of the family. Outside dogs tend to be a second thought and a Cardi wants to be the center of your world. If you are looking for a dog to "put in the yard", the Cardigan is not the breed for you. They enjoy outside time with the family but also need to come in with you. If you are looking to put something in the yard, try planting some flowers; a dog is not decoration.

Q: Are Cardigans a health breed?

A: Yes, in general, Cardigans are a healthy breed. There is really good health information about Cardigans on the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America's website: www.cardigancorgis.com.

Q: What is the difference between a show quality dog and a pet quality dog?

A: Most breeders will always have puppies in a litter that are considered to be pets only. The reasons have nothing to do with the health of the dogs, typically they are cosmetic faults that may prohibit the dog from being shown but won't prevent them from being wonderful pets and family members. Maybe the color or markings are a bit off, they might be too small or too big, and they might have a longer coat or a dropped ear. None of these things are harmful to the dog, they just make them less desirable to bred from and show. Most breeders, including Scott and I, sell pets on an AKC limited registration. This means that if they are ever bred, none of the offspring can be registered with AKC.

Q: Are Cardigans easy to train?

A: Since the Cardi is an intelligent "thinking" breed, they are pretty easy to train. I recommend obedience classes for all Cardigans. This helps them to become better members of the family and helps to create a stronger bond between the new family and the puppy.

Q: Which is a better pet, a male or a female?

A: This all depends on the dog. Both males and females can be equally as devoted, affectionate, intelligent and loving. If you are looking for a good pet, the gender of the dog should be less important that the temperament.

Q: Do Cardis get along with cats and other animals?

A: Most do. All my dogs get along very well with cats and other animals. This will depend on what the puppy has been exposed to and what training the new family will provide.

Q: How much do Cardigans cost?

A: This is a hard question to answer. The initial cost of the dog is little compared to what you will spend throughout the dogs life for yearly vet care, food, toys, flea control, heartworm preventative, leashes, collars, more toys, crates, shampoo, treats, more toys, etc. The price of a pet Cardigan (almost always required to be spayed/neutered) will depend on the breeder. I have found an average between $ 800 to $ 1000 for a pet to be normal, but below or above are not uncommon. Show prospect Cardis will usually be more, most starting at $ 1200 and up. Talk to the breeder and ask them. Our pet puppies are $ 950 (required to be spayed/neutered and sold on an AKC limited registration) and show prospects will be determined on an individual basis and start at $ 1300.

Q: Do you co-own any of your dogs?

A: Yes, all female dogs placed will be co-owned. This means that I will be listed as an owner on the AKC registration papers. The co-ownership can be lifted when proof of spaying has been mailed to me from your Vet. All show prospects, male or female, will be co-owned and details are provided on an individual basis in the contract. The only times I will not require a co-ownership is when I have a long-established relationship with a buyer.

Q: Can a Cardi be shipped?

A: Yes, they can be flown to you if you find a breeder you like that is far from you. Again, this will depend on the breeder and if they are willing to ship. I have had dogs flown to me and I have flown puppies to their new families with no problem. If you are not comfortable with this, try and find a breeder close to you.

Q: Are Cardigans active dogs?

A: In general, yes. Some are more active than others and this is why you need to find a good breeder that will send you a dog that goes best with your lifestyle, not just the first puppy they have available.

Q: What is better, an older Cardigan or a puppy?

A: Both can make wonderful companions. With a puppy, you get to do everything from house training to obedience training. An older dog, like a retired show dog will have already been taught these things and might be better for your situation. Tell the breeder what you are looking for in a Cardi and they will be better able to direct you to what will be best.

Q: Most breeders won't let me have a puppy at 6 weeks, why?

A: Because they are doing what is best for the dog AND the new owners. Puppies need time with their littermates and mother to learn how to be a dog, learn and develop confidence and to learn basic good manners. If a puppy is taken away from their littermates and mother too young, they miss out on this important developmental phase. Most breeders won't let puppies go until 8 weeks at the youngest and this is best for the puppy and the new family. Also, if let go early, the breeder can't be sure of the puppy's temperament and would not know if this puppy were the best for you.

Q: I live in an apartment, will this be a problem?

A: Not usually. As long as your puppy learns basic house manners very soon and is frequently taken for walks, Cardigans can make great apartment dogs. As with any Cardigan, no matter where they live, if there is not a dog proof fence, they should ALWAYS be walked on a leash!!! Remember this is a herding breed and they do chase! Once you puppy is out of reach, they might not come back and risk getting lost or killed by a car.

Q: I want to do performance events like agility, obedience and herding with my Cardigans. Can my dog still go to these events if they are spayed or neutered?

A: YES!! In fact, having a spayed female is preferred in performance because when females go into season, they cannot be shown in that event while they are in season. Any spayed or neutered Cardigan can compete in obedience, herding, agility, flyball, freestyle or any other performance event. The only competition that your Cardigan won't be able to do is be shown in the conformation ring.

If you have a question about Cardigans that has not been answered here, please email me and I will try and answer it for you!