Big Ears Kennel: December 2012

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 !

Monday, December 31, 2012

" It's New Year's Eve & the drinks are on Judy ! " Belly up to the milkbar ! "

( seventh pup by Judy's tail )

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Breeze

Joanne

Heddi

Maddie & Breeze

Mom & pups

Friday, December 28, 2012

" Quick Kate get the camera while momma's on a potty break ! " .

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Belle waiting for her litter .

Judy & pups

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

To quote the Four Seasons " Oh , what a night " . Marked this litter to have 8 pups , but was surprised at 6 ( 5 live lost one ) . Every 2 hours Judy whelped a pup , then at 4 am quit at 6 . Took her & pups in to vet at 8 am & discover 2 faint heart beats ! Total 8 pups , after a C-section to claim last two ! Another sleepless 24 hours ahead as pups & mom things work out .

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Judy went into whelp tonight . Photos & report to follow tomorrow .

Judy top . Belle bottom ( did I say bell-bottoms ? ) . Both doing a little nesting . Belle has a long way to go . Judy not so far .

Yesterday Judy's temperature was 101.6 . This morning it's 99.1 ! Will check before lunch , it might warm up to normal again . Judy's last litter was 4 days early ( from 63 days ) . Who knows ?

Monday, December 24, 2012

Took Judy's temperature this morning , 100.6 . Will start taking several times a day to establish a base line . Once her temp starts dropping , her time is near . 98 means pups are near . Expect to spend a few sleepless nights on the bed in the whelping room . No sooner will Judy have whelped , Belle will be on puppy watch .

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Just too cute ! Maddie at 6 weeks . Maddie won her AKC championship in just 8 shows !

Belle with her last litter . The two black pups are borrowed King Charles Spaniels . Belle only had one pup & too much . The black pups' mom had no milk , so a bargain was made . This time Belle should have plenty of milk & plenty of puppies !

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Belle with maybe 6 puppies & a week and a half to grow !

Judy today with another week to go / grow ! Maybe 8 puppies ?

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Simply George .

Monday, December 17, 2012

Here comes Heddi !

Sunday, December 16, 2012

" You sure waiting up here won't scare Santa off ? "

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Two expecting dads , Waldo's close up & George's daredevil climb !

Both expecting moms , Belle ( front ) & Judy .

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

" Today's 121212 , pass it on ! Can't wait till noon ! "

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Eli , my 12 year old US & Canadian champion , rolled in something " fresh " . No it wasn't the wild mint ! Did the same thing this Summer when I tar patched the driveway . I really didn't need another bath after the plummer & home insurance soaked me today ! Mild weather allows Eli & me to dry out tonight .

Friday, December 7, 2012

" Today I'm happier than a corgi on stilts ! " .

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America ( CWCCA ) a national Cardigan organization , sent out a call to its members for stories on the breed . I submited my Foundation Bitch story . Here is Shadi with her great great grand pups .

Monday, December 3, 2012

Worked on Whelping Room today . Had "help' from Yo-Yo , the 3 legged cat . Yo-Yo forced his way under the twin bed ( that separates the two whelping boxes ) & refused to come out . Have a little time till Dec 29 & Jan 1 , best guesses at Judy's & Belle's due date .