As we explained in our story, we didn’t plan to have a kennel. We’re not even sure that is going to happen. Even still, it is a daunting thought to think that future us may be partially responsible for the stewardship of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
From everything we have read, we are on a solid pathway forward. We are learning more about the breed, taking each experience in stride, and trying to accept advice and direction with humility and grace.
We’re not going to lie, it is scary to put ourselves out there. We are brand new to the breed; we do not have the many years of experience in the conformation ring that others do, and there are not a lot of resources to truly guide newbies like us.
We know there are breeders, mentors, and plenty of documentation out there. We’re not saying that resources do not exist; what we are saying is that there is no definitive guide as to where to start. What do we look for in mentors? How do we interpret the breed standard versus others? Is there a “right” interpretation, or is everything subjective?
We’ve been told by some folks within the community that our animals don’t have what it takes. We’ve been told we’re wasting our time and our money. We’ve been told our dogs are too narrow in the chest, too wide in the chest, their chest is too deep, their chest is too low, or too high. We’ve also been told our animals have a lovely chest and front profile. So, how are we supposed to know who we are to trust when this information comes from within the community itself? It wears on you, the consistent criticism, even when you’re asking for the feedback.
At the end of the day, we’ve decided that our best course of action is to look in the show ring for types that we feel best represent the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. From there, we look to the lines, examining the strengths and faults of each. While we are still learning, it gives us a foundation to build from.
Additionally, we want to see the winners succeeding outside of the show ring. We’re not looking for every line to be a working line, but we are looking for indicators that the lines we like are producing animals that love to work and have a bit of sass (what we believe is a crucial element to any herding breed).
Navigating these deep waters is overwhelming at times, but we’re the ones who decided to jump in without knowing how to swim. We’re learning along the way, but there are times when we feel we’re swimming with sharks.