GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Approx. 25-30cm (l0”-12”).
Colour: Both varieties - Red, sable, fawn, black/tan. White on foreface, neck, chest and legs.Cardigans can also be brindle or merle with white.
Coat: Medium length, dense, straight and weatherproof.
Gait: Co-ordinated with strong reach and drive.
These members of the spitz family have typical foxlike expressions. The skull ratio to the muzzle is 5:3 and the head is wedge shaped. The high set ears erect are set wide apart and taking a line from the ear tip, it should pass through the eye to the nose. The back is level and the chest broad. The forelegs that mould around the lower part of the ribcage and the hindquarters are well muscled and angulated. Besides the colour variations, the Pembrokes differs from the Cardigan as they have (a) a deeper chest (b) a slightly shorter back (c) round forward placed feet (Cardigan feet are oval and may turn out) and (d) the Pembroke’s almost non existent tail compared with the Cardigan whose bushy tail almost reaches the ground.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Readily adaptable to apartment-or country life, these intelligent dogs are easy to train. Their loyalty makes them excellent family dogs for young and old alike. They love to exercise and run around with children in the park. Regular grooming is required to remove dead hair, but apart from that little extra care is required.
HISTORY
It is believed the Cardigan was brought to Wales by the Celts and is possibly the result of a blend between a Basset Hound and/or Dachshund type of dog. The Pembroke is believed to have resulted from an infusion of the Swedish Vallhund and from the tailless Schipperkes who arrived with the Flemish weavers in 1100 AD. The Corgis were highly valued members of the family, guardians of the children and when working the stock in the fields, they controlled them by nipping at their heels.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 46-48cm (18”-19”)
Colour: Rich red and white.
Coat: Straight, flat and thick with a silky texture.Gait: Smooth co-ordination with strong reach and drive.
The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a larger dog than the English Cocker Spaniel but smaller than the English Springer, however, in type these spaniels tend to be more like the latter. They are a strong, symmetrical dog with an exuberant temperament. The slightly domed skull and the chiselled muzzle are separated mid way by a defined stop, and hazel or dark eyes which show no haw. The nostrils may be dark or flesh coloured. The smallish vine shaped ears are low set and covered with setter like feathering. The long muscular neck flows into a not overlong body, with well sprung ribs and deep brisket, strong loin and a low set tail that is customary docked. The legs are well boned, straight and moderately feathered with well developed lower thighs.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
A merry active spaniel who requires plenty of exercise. Being slightly more headstrong than their cousin the English Springer Spaniel, firm control and good training is advisable. Their extreme enthusiasm is not always suited to the elderly or families with young children. In the field, these spaniels excel, as no day is too long for them. They have an excellent scenting nose and love the water. Never forgetting their lessons, makes them easy to train. Coat care is not difficult - all that is needed is periodic grooming and a regular check to see their ears are clean and healthy.
HISTORY
Sometimes known as the Welsh Starter, these spaniels are of an ancient and pure origin. In the past, they were used to ‘spring’ game, originally for the falcon and after the introduction of guns, to retrieve birds on land or water. In the Laws of Wales in 1300 AD, there is mention of red and white dogs believed to be the forerunner of the modern Welsh Springer. One cannot ignore the similarity to the Brittany Spaniel and as Flemish weavers came to Wales in 1107, it is possible some local spaniels accompanied them.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Not exceeding 39cm (15½”).
Colour: Preferably black/tan, or black grizzle/tan.
Coat: Double - the outercoat being wiry, hard and close.
Gait: Straight, powerful and ground covering.
These workmanlike terriers are well balanced, strong and generally more compact than their English cousins. The small dark eyes are well set in the head and placed mid way between a moderately broad skull and strong jaws. The muzzle is trimmed to give a square appearance. The V shaped ears are high set with the tips dropping forward. The slightly arched neck is thicker than many other terriers, and runs into a short body with well sprung ribs. Fore and hindquarters are strong and well boned legs must be tan on the lower parts. The small feet are catlike The customary docked tail should not be carried too gaily.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
About 9kg (20lb), Welsh Terriers are small enough to accompany their owners anywhere. As they are affectionate and obedient, they are easily trained but need firm but kind treatment. Although they display the usual terrier gameness, they are not as fiery as some of their cousins, and are rarely aggressive. Professional hand stripping is better if the dog is to be shown.
The pet owner can keep the dog looking neat if clipped about four times a year. They do not shed and rarely need a bath.
HISTORY
As far back as 1737, the Welsh people have been proud of the fact their terriers were the purest variety of the old English broken haired Black and Terrier. This is because the Welsh Terrier has seen little or no infusion of lines from the other coloured terriers. In their native domicile, gameness was of fundamental importance, for these terriers were used to hunt otters, foxes and badgers. Their smaller size also made them useful keeping the farms and stables free of rats and other vermin. Although genetically purer they never became as popular as some varieties, with white, due to the fact that many hunters preferred terriers they could easily identify in the field.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Approx. 28cm (11”).
Colour: White - with black nose, pads and toe nails.
Coat: Outercoat - Harsh, straight and about Scm (2”) in length. Undercoat - dense and short
Gait: Good reach and drive - hind legs a little close.
These small game hardy terriers display loads of cocky self esteem. The heads are well covered with hair, the skulls are strong with slightly shorter powerful muzzles. The small erect ears are covered in short velvety hair. The long strong neck merges into sloping shoulders, ‘a compact body and a level topline. The sinewy hindquarters are particularly powerful and the thickly padded round feet are covered with harsh hair. The tail is about 13-15cm (5”-6”) long and like other terriers originating in Scotland, is left undocked.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Westies have merry light hearted ways and being slightly calmer in temperament if than many other terriers, they make endearing house pets. However, they do retain a strong will and like to have their needs respected. They love adults and children alike, and enjoy being included in ball games. One of the Westies’ virtues is that they have no doggy odour. Occasional baths and regular grooming is needed to remove dead hair and reduce shedding.
HISTORY
Like other strains of terriers evolving in Scotland; the Westie no doubt results from blends of the Scottish Terrier, Cairn and Dandie Dinmonts. In Argyllshire, ‘earth-dogges’ were recorded as far back as the 17th century during the reign of King James I. Sometimes known as Poltalloch Terriers (the name of the Malcolm family estate) or, Roseneath Terriers (when bred by the Duke of Argyll), the breed type of the white variety was established and the first recognized show for West Highland Whites was held in London in 1907.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 44-51cm (17½”-20”).
Colour: Any colour, or mixture of colours.
Coat: Fine, short and close in texture.
Gait: Forelegs thrown well forward effortlessly in a ground covering stride with strong propulsion.
Having the appearance of a miniature greyhound, the Whippet is an elegant member of the sighthound family. The head is long and fine, and the bright alert eyes should never be lighter than the colour of the coat. The fine ears are either rose shaped and folded back, or semi-erect when the dog is alerted. The elegantly arched neck is strong and runs into a back that gracefully arches over the loin and then drops to a low set, low carried, tapering tail. The chest is deep allowing for plenty of heart room. The fine legs are well muscled with good hindquarter angulation and the arched knuckles are well split up between the toes.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Like most members in the sighthound family, Whippets have a gentle disposition. They do not bark excessively so make ideal companions in domestic situations. Being adaptable they are equally comfortable racing or lure coursing, and when getting a chance to fully extend themselves at a gallop, they are a joy to behold. Being intelligent and sensitive, they do not respond well to harsh training. Coat care is minimal, but if feeling cold in winter, a coat or some protection is recommended.
HISTORY
Unlike the rest of the sighthound family, the Whippet can not claim a long heritage. With the aim of creating a poor man’s smaller racing hound, this breed was evolved in the north of England from a blend of Greyhound, Italian Greyhound and Manchester Terrier crosses. Once known as the ‘Rag dogs’, a name earned from the owners’ habit of waving rags from the finishing line in the hope their dogs would respond and run faster. Besides coursing, Whippets also acquitted themselves well when hunting rabbits and hares.