Finding a breeder

Once you have decided that a Cardigan Corgi is the breed for you, you need to start your search for your perfect puppy. It can be hard to know where to start so I‘m hoping I can offer some helpful advice on this page to help you in your search.

Firstly you need to find yourself a breeder, this needs to be a person that you can build a relationship with as they should always be there for you throughout your pups life to give support if needed. One of the best places to start looking is the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association website where you will find any available puppies that members have available but also if you look under ‘Links’ then ‘Members Links’ you will find a list of members both UK & abroad. The information will include their email address and it is worth contacting a few breeders to see if they have any future breeding plans. When emailing a breeder tell them a little about yourself and what you are looking for (dog or bitch, for a pet, show or sport etc). Do not email just asking if they are having puppies and how much, of course you do need to know price but leave this question for later correspondence once you have established a connection.

If no-one has pups available you will likely find that some will have litters planned and you may be able to have your named placed on a waiting list or be kept informed. The most important thing to remember is to be patient, good breeders do not have puppies on tap and a well bred puppy from a good breeder is worth waiting for.

So what do you look for in a good breeder? Here are a few things that distinguish the better breeders.

Firstly, as I said earlier the biggest thing you can want from any breeder is someone who will always be there for you and the puppy they have bred with any help or advice you might need.

They provide lifetime help & support. This will include taking back a dog they have bred at any age or at the very least helping to re-home if there is ever the need. Sometimes things happen that are unforeseeable and if needs must, a good breeder will be there to help and will never see one of their dogs end up in rescue.

They will be knowledgeable about the breed. They will be able to answer your questions and will give care and advice sheets on things such as feeding, exercising and grooming when you have one of their pups.

They do not over-breed. They will generally be breeding to retain a puppy for themselves to carry on their lines. They will choose the sire carefully to compliment their bitch, sometimes they are lucky to own the stud that suits their girl but more often than not they will have travelled to the stud. They will not just use the closest and most convenient male. They will be happy to tell you why they chose that pair to breed and what it is they are hoping to achieve, a good breeder will have a goal in mind.

They will ask you lots of questions. This is to make sure that you are going to be a suitable owner and that their precious puppy will have the very best home possible. They in turn will want you to ask them questions, they will want to know that you have done your research and you are certain you can offer a lifelong home.

They will want to meet you, your family and let you see the puppies with their Dam. You may well have to travel to find the right puppy but you will be welcomed to visit once the pups are a few weeks old, you will never be asked for a deposit before the breeder has met you and you have met the puppies. The breeder will always ask to meet you and all family living within the household before agreeing to letting you have a puppy.

Puppies will be KC (Kennel Club) registered. This is very important. Many people believe that because all they want is a pet and not a show dog that not being registered doesn’t matter. However, Cardigans can suffer from an inherited eye condition called Progressive Retinal Atrophy rcd-3 (PRA for short) which causes blindness. Due to the work and dedication of UK breeders they have managed to eliminate this awful disease in their stock. The Kennel Club will now only register puppies whose parents are either tested clear for the disease or are hereditary clear so you can be safe in the knowledge that by buying a KC registered puppy it will never be affected. This applies to the UK only.

They will often ask you to sign contracts. Do not be afraid of a breeder who asks you to sign a contract. This will be to protect them as well as yourself, read it carefully and question anything you do not understand. A contract will often include the details of any endorsements a breeder has placed on a puppy, normally stopping progeny from that puppy being registered and not being allowed an export pedigree, again this is done to protect the puppy and deter unscrupulous breeders from acquiring stock from good breeders to exploit. Talk to the breeder about their reasons for adding endorsements and if there are any requirements to them being lifted .

They will provide comprehensive Puppy packs. This will include a supply of the pup’s current food, enough for you to gradually change it over if you so wish, so at least 2 weeks supply. They will also supply care sheets and guides on things such as feeding, exercise, grooming and any worming/vaccination records . It will include all the Kennel Club paperwork, the contract if they do one, 4 weeks free insurance with the Kennel Club and sometimes a blanket with mum and siblings scent on.