Big Ears Kennel: February 2014

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 !

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

C C C C . . . Cold !

Glenville NY today !

Heddi & Maddie Expecting Mid-March .

Heddi can't believe how big Maddie got !

" Don't laugh Heddi , you have the whelping box across from Maddie ! "

" Look away Heddi ! " Maddie's laughing like she knows a joke that Heddi doesn't !

Monday, February 24, 2014

Argyle Blue Merle

A friend in Argyle NY asked me if this is a Blue Merle ?

Thursday, February 13, 2014

" Check It Out ! "

" No I don't like this one at all ! "

" Snif , snif . . . this one doesn't look too bad ! "

Maddie checking out the whelping room . Not due till mid-March .

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Westminster's Done !

A Cardigan , for the first time ever , won the Herding Group & was in line for BIS . In the AKC history only 38 dogs ever won over 100 BIS titles . Four of them were in the ring with the Cardigan . The Cardigan won 6 BIS . It was quite a feat to compete against such great champions .

Three's Company !

Looks like good things come in three's !

Thick As Thieves

Hudson & Stanley are mistaken for Siamese Twins ! They sleep together & watched Westminster Dog Show together . Last night they enjoyed watching a Cardigan win the Herding Group . Told they woofed at the losers !

Dangerous Forecast !

Yesterday I told all that would listen , this was the year of the Cardigan . The first time ever , a Cardigan won the Herding Goup . Having come out of 3000 years in the shadow , I hope another breed wins Best in Show . We had our moment in the sun , now it's time for the Cardigan to do what its done for the last 3000 years , be a wonderful hardy companion & stable multi-purpose dog . So many breeds have won Westminster's BIS & were ruined by over popularity & greedy breeders . It'll be nice to win BIS tonight , but better not to !

Westminster Magic !

Monday, February 10, 2014

Cat in the Box !

While arranging the Whelping Room , one of Kate's cats tried to steal a cardboard box !

Westminister Cardigan Tops !

Over 3000 years Cardigans have been hid in the shadows of Welsh farms , but this year the Cardigan will come out of the shadows & be picked at Westminister ! Since 1932 the Cardigan has been passed over by judges who picked the large breeds in the herding group . Sometimes the noble Cardigan would have to take a back seat to the Pembroke , that got the judge's nod . This is the year , nay the century of the Cardigan ! Disney will remake a movie with a Cardigan replacing Old Yellar . Ben & Jerry will name a flavor after the Cardigan / Cardigan sweaters will be a fashion craze . This will be the century of the Cardigan / Watch the Westminister Dog Show tonight & Tuesday !

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Poor Lucy !

First sign of going snow blind in Maine , loss of facial muscular control !

It you're in the snow too long , you can lose your feet !

" Judy , Judy , Judy ! "

Judy would rather hang with me today , than rough house with the pack . Hopefully Judy will come into season soon & fall in love with George !

Get Ready !

Getting the Whelping Room ready . A few days before & after St.Patrick's Day , we should have litters .

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Kate Shoveling !

Well someone had to shovel !

Saturday, February 1, 2014

" Hey , I Got Your Back Too . . . ZZZZZ ! "

Two Cardigans at their best !

Blast From The Past !

Picture of Shadi my foundation bitch in her prime . Shadi past away at 16 but here she is forever young ! One of the people who bought Shadi's great grand pup , took this photo & sent it to me . Thanks !