'Da Fluff

I bought Pixel as a performance dog. I wanted an athletic, well built Cardigan with lots of toy drive, and a great temperament. I got all of that. I also got a Fluffy. Pixel was DNA tested as a pup and is indeed a fluff. I knew that when I bought her. She was sold to me on a non-breeding contract with the understanding that she is not a show dog. Which is just fine by me.

Saying that, I thought it would be a good experience for her to be shown- it really is the only sport that allows a puppy with little training to do anything in a trial atmosphere. Rita (her breeder) graciously allowed me to show her as a puppy- just for fun.

Pixel is a beautiful dog- and of course I am biased but I really did get a ton of compliments on her. Her topline, movement, and head are all very, very nice.
But then there is that pesky coat...

The CKC Standard reads: "Coat: Short or medium of hard texture. Weatherproof with good undercoat. Preferably straight."

The AKC Standard is a little more specific, it reads: "Coat- Medium length but dense as it is double. Outer hairs slightly harsh in texture; never wiry, curly or silky. Lies relatively smooth and is weather resistant. The insulating undercoat is short, soft and thick. A correct coat has short hair on ears, head, the legs; medium hair on body; and slightly longer, thicker hair in ruff, on the backs of the thighs to form "pants," and on the underside of the tail. The coat should not be so exaggerated as to appear fluffy. This breed has a shedding coat, and seasonal lack of undercoat should not be too severely penalized, providing the hair is healthy. Trimming is not allowed except to tidy feet and, if desired, remove whiskers. Soft guard hairs, uniform length, wiry, curly, silky, overly short and/or flat coats are not desired. A distinctly long or fluffy coat is an extremely serious fault."

As with most things "dog" this can be interpreted many, many different ways. There are people with lots of different opinions. I have seen "fluffs" in the show ring, and I know of "fluffs" who have been bred, and I personally don't really know where I stand on the matter.

I love Cardigans, but I am not a breeder- and I think that is why I don't think about it too much. I do know that Conformation showing is at the bottom of my list of things to do so when I was approved for Pixel it didn't matter to me that she was a fluff.

It does matter for some people though- and I don't want the misconception that she was sold to me as a show dog, as a fluff- which is not the case at all.

As with everything I do with my dogs this past weekend was "just for fun!"

I do thank everyone for their wonderful comments but I just wanted that to be clear. I had first hand experience this weekend of just how some show/breeder people are and I don't want Rita to have any issues because of my fun!

I still think Pixel is Ultra Cute, and she is going to be Ultra Cute doing Obedience, Herding, Agility and Rally....