Conformation & Size
Good morning, all!
I'm in the process of trying to find my very first, perfect corgi puppy for my family. Not an easy task since there are very few breeders where I live! I'm pretty certain I know which breeder I want to obtain a puppy from, but the next litter isn't due for a couple of weeks and the suspense is killing me! So I've been researching a lot and looking at other breeders for comparison and to see if, maybe, there just might be a breeder that I like equally as well and has puppies available. (I'm so impatient!)
My question is this: Isn't size part of conformation? I found a breeder with some details online, and they claim to both breed for conformation and a smaller size. Isn't that an oxymoron or am I not understanding conformation properly? I had thought conformation dealt with conforming to the breed standard as put forth by the AKC (size, shape, coloring, etc.)
I do not plan on buying from the breeder, as I just don't get the same good feeling from them as I do the breeder I have already settled on, but I am curious about that description.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rachael & Waffle on
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"A dog must be very seriously penalized for the following faults, regardless of whatever desirable qualities the dog may present: oversized or undersized;..."
I got the impression from your post that she breeds for conformation and then breeds for smallness alongside that. But, you can have smaller corgis that fit within conformation. Smaller, not small. It is one thing to have smaller dogs in your lines that you show, and another entirely to purposefully breed for size.
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Permalink Reply by Yuki & Ellie on
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Here is more size info from the breed standard. I didn't read it carefully enough. :3
Height (from ground to highest point on withers) should be 10 to 12 inches. Weight is in proportion to size, not exceeding 30 pounds for dogs and 28 pounds for bitches. In show condition, the preferred medium- sized dog of correct bone and substance will weigh approximately 27 pounds, with bitches approximately 25 pounds. Obvious oversized specimens and diminutive toylike individuals must be very severely penalized. Proportions--Moderately long and low. The distance from the withers to the base of the tail should be approximately 40 percent greater than the distance from the withers to the ground.
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Thanks! That helps a lot. :)
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Permalink Reply by Jane on
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It really depends on what their idea of "smaller size" is. Are their dogs still within the standard, but on the smaller side? Do the parents have champion titles? Or are they intentionally breeding undersized dogs in order to get "mini" corgis which would not be an acceptable size in the breed ring? There are some people that do this and I wouldn't recommend buying a puppy from them. I've seen a lot of questionable breeders that use the word "conformation" to mean they think the dog is well structured. "Wonderful conformation and only 16 lbs!" should be a red flag.
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Hi Jen,
Yes, depending on what one's definition of "small" is, speculating and judging without an actual measurement / history is pointless. Generally you will not see a long-legged, short-backed, forward-shouldered, dippy-toplined, and straight in the rear corgi in the show ring. Here's old thread and a group for discussion.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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1) Within the standard, some breeders will breed for the smaller end (22 pound girls) and some for the higher end (28 pound girls). THAT is acceptable variation by the breed standard; some breeders (like the one we used) think that as a farm dog the Corgi should have the size and scope to work all day. Other breeders may feel that the breed is getting too heavy, with what was once considered top-of-the-standard now being seen as an "average" dog in some lines. In fact, I've heard whispers of CH males in the ring hitting 34 pounds, which is clearly over the standard. So it could be a breeder breeding within the standard who is intentionally breeding for a smaller, lighter dog within that range.
2) There are some agility breeders who intentionally breed an undersized dog with the idea they can then compete in a lower size class. I was in agility class with a tiny little 18 pound Corgi. She was perfectly proportioned, just small. Personally I 'm not a fan of this type of breeding practice. Of course, having said that, my own girl is top-of-the-standard at 28 pounds in show condition; my male is oversized at about 36 pounds. I personally like a bigger dog but there are other people who think the trend towards bigger is a problem.
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Thank you very much for the responses! I'll have to pay more attention to sizes. Though, with any luck, there will be a puppy born in a couple of weeks that will be just the right color and temperament for me. Then I won't have to worry about finding more breeders! :)
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Permalink Reply by mosesbotbol on
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Camber is about 18-20 lbs and well proportioned, just small. We got her as a rescue, so I know little else about her except she had two litters.
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Oooh, so smaller is ok as long as it's within a certain size range?
I don't really mind a dog that is small for its breed (I'm looking for a pet, not a show dog, after all), but I also want to make sure I'm as well-informed as possible when I do find a puppy that I think might be right for us. :)