Big Ears Kennel: September 2013

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, September 30, 2013

Sunny Saves the World !

Oh that's only a fisbe , I thought it was a UFO !

Another Puppy Wins a Family !

Kids & puppies .

I know there's a puupy there , some where ?

There's the puppy !

One of Belle's little girls was selected today . In three weeks the pup will leave for her new home .

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Today First Anniversary !

First time I enjoyed being before a judge . Our Wedding day !

Best thing is cake after ! That was a year ago .

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Ma Belle takes a break .

Story of Yo-Yo & Belle : a tale of forbiden love !

Scrambled Cardigans !

Thursday, September 19, 2013

We Moved !

Moved mower box . Note one pup left the box to use the Cradigan rest area !

Snuggle !

Pups On The Loose !

Litter getting too big for whelping box . Might move mower box to shorten / hide electric cord to heating pad . Note left soiled papers to attract pups , sort of a Cardigan rest stop .

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Cardigan Break Dancing !

" I think I'm stuck ! "

Yoshi ( Checkers ) give the one ear salute ! I'd give Nature a couple of weeks , then use the instructions on taping . Right now enjoy his efforts !

This little guy went to a new home today . Sounds like he's having fun already !

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Look At Those Ears !

This morning Daisy's ears are up ! What a relief . Never had a female Cardigan need taping but watching a pup tease you with one ear going up , then dropping for days , you begin to lose faith . They do the same thing before going into whelp . Usually the last three days are sleepless on puppy watch & suddenly they go into whelp !

Monday, September 16, 2013

To Grandmother's House We Go !

Shaggy ( Friday ) visiting his new grandmother .

Sunday, September 15, 2013

First Meal

" Tastes like chicken ! "

Saturday, September 14, 2013

First Kill !

Katie , one of my pups that went to VA , makes her first kill ! The other dog didn't have a chance ! Katie didn't want to be an Alpha Dog , she wanted to be a Uno Dog ! Kidding it's playtime in Richmond !

Almost !

Noticed one of Daisy's ears going up , then down . In a few days one should stay up , then the other follow.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Shaggy ( formerly called Friday ) leaves for a new home . He is a good Cardigan & will be happy with mom , daughter , & grandma to play with .

Belle is in the Pink !

Gotta love my new camera ! Belle loves to hang out under my desk when not with the puppies .

Three Weeks Old Soon !

Belle's pups will be three weeks old tomorrow . We'll start testing them on softened puppy food mixed with yogurt . Be ready for some messy photos !

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

We decided to call the girl ( sitting up ) Daisy . We haven't named her brother yet ( sprawked out ) .

Two Weeks Old Saturday !

As day old

Today . Compare the litter mass to mom . Wow!

Time Lapse Photography

6:40:00 am

6:40:30 am

6:41:00 am !

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Eye of the Cardigan

Last pup in Belle's litter to open his eyes !

Hope this little girl's ears go up soon . Don't worry at 10 weeks she has time . If by 14 weeks her ears aren't up , taping might be required .

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Real Buddies !

One of Big Ears Kennel's pups cosying up to a new buddy !

Maddie's boy's ears are both up ! Yeee Haww !

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Father & Son

This matched photo of Waldo ( dad ) & Merlin ( son ) is quite striking . Thank you Merlin's family for sharing this with me .

Waldo is really a "wow" dog & should live in a "wow" home . The word "placement " is sometimes simplified wrongly to "free". The term "older dog " is also blurred . Waldo is neither free or an older dog but must live in a "wow" home , either here or placement ; which ever proves most practical . A few years ago I was seeking outside bloodlines & looking for a quality adult male . I traveled as far as Central Ohio dog shows . No one would sell me a quality adult male no matter how much I offered ! Seems breeders will not sell to non-show people or to other breeders .

I'm just a retired USDA employee who likes Cardigans . Waldo will have a lifetime home with me . However I must be practical . I really don't need 2 Blue Merle brothers from the same litter . If someone sees Waldo & makes a "wow" offer for this "wow" dog , would I be practical or ruled by my heart ? This is where I am with Waldo .

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Merlin yakking it up with a friend !

Tuesday's Puppy Fix !

" There that should keep the little brats happy ! " to paraphase Buffalo Bob on the last Howdie Doody Show !

Waldo !

To place or not to place ? We have to many males & might be interested in placing Waldo under the right conditions . July 8 , Waldo was 2 years old . Several visitors expressed an interest in Waldo's stunning blue eyes , unusual color , & easy going stable temperament .