"Live Long and Prosper!"
That could well be the
official breed motto. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is normally a healthy dog with a life
span of about 12 to 15 years. Cardigans generally remain active and alert long after other
breeds have advanced into old age. In fact, one of the points we have tried to illustrate
with this web site is the vigour and 'joie de vivre' of some of our Cardi senior citizens,
such as Patches (Our Blues) and Emily, pictured here at the age of 11.
Emily's sire "Percy," (Am/Can/Mex. Ch. Aelwyd Hotspur) is shown here at the age of 10 when he won the Veteran Sweepstakes of the CWCCSC specialty in California. Percy lived life to the fullest for 15 years.
Cardigans are relatively
free of genetic defects. The most serious genetic problem has been Progressive Retinal
Atrophy (PRA), which causes blindness in young adult dogs. While the number of
affected dogs does not appear to be large, it is of great concern to conscientious
breeders because, until now, it has not been possible to identify carriers of the
defective gene until their affected offspring begin to go blind.
Now there is a test to detect carriers of PRA before they are bred. The DNA-based test can
determine whether any Cardigan is a carrier (i.e. having one copy of the affected gene and
one normal gene); is affected by the defect (i.e. having two copies of the affected gene);
or is genetically clear of the defect.
ALL of our Aberwyvern Cardigans have either been tested themselves, or have been cleared
through the genetic testing of both parents, and are CLEAR of PRA. They can neither
develop the condition themselves nor pass it on to their offspring.