Coat length

[Bayoucorgi]

I was watching the Eukanuba Dog Show on AP and the tri-corgi in the Group doesn't look anything like Liam. And it's not just because he was a tri and Liam is red and white. It's not a big surprise that Champion Corgi doesn't look like Rescue Corgi but the show corgis seem to have a lot longer fur especially a big white ruff around his neck. Liam has the fluffy furnishings on his fanny, but no big white ruff. He's only 14 months old, does that come later? It doesn't really matter (I adore this dog), just wondering. In Goldens we had some show dogs with lots of coat and more working lines had less? And we had some dogs that matured slowly and got adult coat at 2 or 3 years old. And we have the seasonal and latitudinal influence too. So how long are regular (not fluffy) corgi coats?

[corgimom]

Interesting that you should ask this - I think just last week someone was talking about this and they mentioned that corgis can have the short coat, the longer ones, (but not Fluffies), and then the Glamour coats - I can't remember who said this, but I thought it was Taflar(Peggy). I was watching the Eukanuba show also and noticed that the Golden Retrievers in our neighborhood look nothing like the one on the show.

[Dillydoodle]

This will be very interesting- my thought is that breeding is part of it but i wonder if there is special grooming done to a show dog ...the other thing is that i wonder how much hormones have to do with it, remember these dogs are show dogs and not neutered or spayed... I will be very interested in hearing some experts here on this one ( Dillon has a nice coat but not like i see in shows- and Gus, Dillon's uncle the now retired show dog, from photos, has that thicker looking more glamour coat and the only real difference is one is neutered and the other is not ( he will be in a week)
Emilie

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Bayoucorgi

It's not a big surprise that Champion Corgi doesn't look like Rescue Corgi but the show corgis seem to have a lot longer fur especially a big white ruff around his neck. Liam has the fluffy furnishings on his fanny, but no big white ruff. He's only 14 months old, does that come later?

Yes, there are varying amounts of coat. Some dogs can have a tight coat, shorter, probably what Liam has. Some have a bit longer, and some have what is called a "glamour" coat. Not a fluffy but a lot of coat. This coat should still have the harsh texture and no feathers.

Some dogs get a bit more coat as they mature, but usually a puppy coat is pretty plush.

The "fluffy furnishings" are called "pants". Some are longer than others, again should never be like feathers on a Golden.

Did that help?

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Dillydoodle

This will be very interesting- my thought is that breeding is part of it but i wonder if there is special grooming done to a show dog ...the other thing is that i wonder how much hormones have to do with it, remember these dogs are show dogs and not neutered or spayed..

Yes, there is some grooming that makes a difference. The dogs showing are usually freshly bathed. Some times bodifiers or mousse is used and yes that will make the coat look fuller.

As for hormones yes, it does make a difference but not like you're thinking. IMO, and I have both intact dogs and altered ones here, the intact dogs blow their coats more thoroughly than the altered ones do. Especially the females.

What the dog is fed can make a diffrence. The amount of grooming, humidity, etc. The dogs you see as the top winners are out every weekend and kept bathed, groomed and on very good foods. All that makes a difference.

The thing that makes the biggest diffeence is genetics. The amount of coat a dog carries is very much genetic.

Peggy

[LittlePonzo]

I know exactly what you are talking about...My husband just commented on the past two corgis we saw out. He said, how come Ponzo's hair is so long. I told him that it's not that there are different lengths of corgi hair. Ponzo however got the coat of his lovely daddy and mommy both of which had those glamour coats. He has a thick rough of hair around the neck and some serious pants. People are constantly remarking on how soft and shiny his coat always is. So our dropped ear, tiny head and muzzle, skinny legged man got the Show coat and markings! Ironic kinda! But he's the best for snugglin and will always look like a puppy, yippee!!

[manymuddypaws]

I agree with Peggy- when I was showing Wicca she always looked like she had more coat....It was actually more to do with the fact that she was freshly bathed, moussed and blowdried to make her coat stand up more. And then there are chalks and the like to "enhance" colors....

But at the same time Wicca's full brother has WAY more coat than she does- hers is shorter and soft and Never's (her bother) is coarse and longer...It's all in the genes I suppose....

-amanda

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by LittlePonzo

He has a thick rough of hair around the neck and some serious pants. People are constantly remarking on how soft and shiny his coat always is. So our dropped ear, tiny head and muzzle, skinny legged man got the Show coat and markings! Ironic kinda!

I don't think it's ironic at all, a dog can have a great coat and still not be of the correct structure. For a show dog the structure comes first, coat and markings are "cosmetic".

And in reailty there are not "show markings". There are limits as to how much, but not any markings that are considered to be correct for showing.

Oh, and a shiny coat is good, but a corgis coat should not be "soft". A correct coat has a harsh texture, not a soft one. So his coat is not quite correct. Right length but not texture.

Peggy

[LittlePonzo]

His coat isn't soft like a maltese. It has a rougher feel but not a dry rough feel..like someone's coarse but conditioned hair. Does that make sense? I guess it's hard to explain.

[LittlePonzo]

Peggy, could you clarify for me the limits and markings thing? I always assumed that in the standard where they discuss the coat and where the white can be and marking disqualifications that any coat fitting the ideals described was of show markings quality. I just figured it was like with the dalmations where the black spots can't overlap in so many places..so if they had any overlapping they weren't considered for showing. Thanks for helping me figure this out in advance!

[Jespah]

Thanks Peggy for clarifying some of the coat questions here. My two have the not long/not short coat - though they are Corgis from different countries and breeders. Rupe looks like he has the big chest ruff, but he's just very muscular and "chesty" (unlike me ). I can see how if they ever allowed me to blow dry them and bath them on a regular basis, they may have a different look.

Deb

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by LittlePonzo

His coat isn't soft like a maltese. It has a rougher feel but not a dry rough feel..like someone's coarse but conditioned hair. Does that make sense? I guess it's hard to explain.

Ok, that makes it sound like the harsh texture it should be. Not dry, not wiry, but not soft, a hard coat.

Peggy

[LittlePonzo]

Good I did describe it right....That was hard to do. Anyway, could you explain that whole standard thing. I do try to read and understand it but clearly I was off. Please educate, hahahaha!