Big Ears Kennel: April 2020

Welsh Cardigans

We specialize in breeding quality Black & White and Blue Merle Cardigan Corgis since 1999 . Have taken a fancy to Black & Whites and Blue Merles with tan points . We offer puppies for sale to qualified homes and generally have three litters per year. Our older Cardigan friends will sometimes be placed in special homes to enjoy their retirement .

Thanks to the enforcement of zoning restrictions from the Town of Glenville , we are no longer allowed to have chickens . Still enjoy vegetable gardening . Wife's two retired Greyhounds have passed away , but we still have YoYo ( a 3 legged cat ) .

We welcome inquiries about Cardigans and am generally available by email , bigearsk@gmail.com . Am member of Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America . Breeder in good standing with AKC . Have AKC , Canadian champions & Grand Champions . Recently AKC notified us that based on our history , number of champions , showmanship , & number of litters successfully whelped , Big Ears Kennel can apply for Breeder of Merit status !

Over the years two things that bother me are ; those that ask only price & the term corgi . There are so many questions a interested party may ask about Cardigans , price should not be the first & only question ! One fellow's entire inquiry was " How much , might be interested in a female " ? My reply based on this limited inquiry was " $82,000 " . He did not appreciate my humor . Now corgi is my second bafflement . Few people realize there are two corgi breeds . I've answered " corgi " inquiries in great detail , in a series of emails , only to learn they were only interested in Pembrokes . So if you inquire about " corgis " , I will try to define which breed . If your only question is price , I may not reply !

Wish people will understand Mother Nature limits color & gender of pups available . We try to match the best pup to a good home . That can only be done by visiting & bonding . Shipping is not an option , too many horror stories . Many online sites promise Blue Merles & shipping . Before you send money to these sites , check them out . AKC states 80% are fronts for puppy mills & scams . Some will never see their money or puppy . One site had over 144 complaints !

A common request we get for this uncommon breed is " A Blue Merle female " . Cardigans are not a common breed . There are only a few breeders east of the Mississippi . Only a few of these breed for Blue Merles . To get a quality Blue Merle , one must breed to a Black & White for crisp color & avoid genetic faults attached to recessive genes . Breeding for Blue Merles a litter may produce one or two Blue Merles . One might be a female . For every Blue Merle pup we get 10 inquiries . So don't be hurt if Mother Nature is cruel !

Thursday, April 30, 2020

He's Gotta Go !

The Crimson Pirate growled at me ! His eyes are barely open & he growls ? Okay I'm used to Kate growling at me , but now puppies too !

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Spread Out !

Stella's litter , a week & 2 days old !

Two Weeks Today !

Hard to tell but their tiny eyes are open !

Soon we'll be testing them on semi-solid food ! You don't want to miss those photos , not for the weak of heart ! Next week we'll start reviewing inquiries for approved homes .

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Just Plain Cardigan . . . Believe It Or Not ?

Duke , self taught therapy dog & hero ! Back in February his owner came down with the virus . Her breathing began to worsen , until she passed out ! Duke set up a howling ruckus & ran to the door , until the neighbors broke down the door & sent for an ambulance ! Duke was allowed to ride in the ambulance , free of charge . A few weeks later Duke started howling again ! He warned his owner of an on coming asthma attack ! Now one event , you might say Duke wanted to be fed , but two alerts . . . He's a hero !

Time To Feed The Mommas !

This will be breakfast for Fiona & Stella ! Nursing moms need food !

Friday, April 24, 2020

Can You Spot My Favorite ?

Stells's not to be out done !

You Asked For It !

A little over a week old , Fiona's litter is doing well . 3 males , a brindle , sable , & black & white !

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Not Just A Pretty Face !

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

When The Going Gets Tough . . . !

Quinn naps !

I Wanna Go Out !

All grown up & wanna go out !

Trapped At Home ?

Hear so many going cabin crazy , trapped at home ? I've been homebound since retired ten years ago ! I don't have time to get bored or stir crazy . Between puppies , gardening , rabbits , chicks coming next month , yard work , & getting married . . . I hardly have time to catch my favorite TV programs !

( They're Laural & Hardy from a former litter ! )

Monday, April 20, 2020

A Manic Monday For Bruno !

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Details . . .

Tomorrow . . . or maybe the next day ?

Abi On Garden Patrol !

With Abi on patrol , no cat would dare sneak into the garden !

Smoke 'Em If You Got "Em !

Even mom's need a break !

Stella Kicking Up Her Heels !

Actually she's aligning her pups for whelping !

Too Early ?

Vet said Stella due April 22 , based on Progestron tests . Now says maybe April 20 to April 22 based on size of puppies . Last night her temperature dropped to 98.5 , indicating show can begin any time . . . any dog time ! Sat up all night watching Stella watch me ! This morning she was holding at 98.6 . We could have another 12 hours on Dog Time !

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Sir Iron Mike !

Takes his throne . Try not to get too big for your throne

Thursday, April 16, 2020

My Three Sons !

Amazingly they all gained weight ! Usually the pups lose weight the first two days & I get all worked up ! Looking at the middle pup . . . could he be a dark brindle ?

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Fiona's Litter !

I should say Princess Fiona . . . she wants to be hand fed ! Once the newness of Motherhood wears off , Fiona will remember her common heritage !

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Oh What A Night !

Managed to save 3 of Fiona's puppies ! We started at 4:30pm & finished at 2:30am . This will be Fiona's last litter . She's a sweet dog but motherhood escapes her ! We have 3 males , 2 Black & White & one Sable . Later today we head to the vet for a wellness check .

Monday, April 13, 2020

Seven !

I guessed 6 . X-rays showed 7 pups ! Vet thinks due date might be moved up to April 20 !

High Hopes !

Clifford trying to see how many toys he can carry !

Sunday, April 12, 2020

What's Worse ?

Ask Betty Boop . . . a monkel or an Easter Bunny on your back ?

Dads Get The Worry !

Grand Champion George ( left ) & Eggs ( other left ) can breathe easy , they're not dads to either pending litter !

Copper ( left ) & Butch ( other left ) are worried sick as pending dads !

Happy Easter ?

Not so much for these 2 expecting girls !

They say the camera adds 2 pounds ? Not so with Cardigans ! They are larger in life !

Saturday, April 11, 2020

" Lucy You're Not A Dalmatian !

Lucy spots a fire truck & wants to follow !

Friday, April 10, 2020

Locked Out Of My Blog !

Try as I might , I can't reply the to the comments posted in our blog ! Best bet email me , bigearsk@gmail.com . I can read your comments & add new posts .

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Bored ? Stuck At Home ?

Seven cheers up our homebound time !

Bored ? Not us ! Between Stella & Fiona expecting , starting eggplant , peppers , & tomato seedlings , moving rabbit coops , and getting the whelping room ready . . . no time for boredom ! Later catching a few British TV shows with Kate , rounds our day . Shopping is an adventure ! Once a week we don face masks & gloves , like WW1 soldiers escaping the trenches to cover the No Man's Land , seek empty grocery store shelves !