Big Ears Kennel: March 2015

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 !

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

On Puppy Watch !

Is that a puppy bump ? Belle's due tomorrow April Fool's Day !

Maddie's watching all the excitement . Her turn will come April 21 .

Heddi's next , with an April 7th due date .

Monday, March 30, 2015

Maddie & Heddi

Maddie & Heddi also waiting to whelp . Heddi expected to whelp April 7 & has vet appointment for Friday Xray puppy count & sonogram puppy health . Maddie has time yet , due April 21 give or take a few days .

Six Pack ABs !

Took Belle to vets today for Xray puppy count , Sonogram check on puppies , & health check . Tuns out Belle's carrying six healthy pups & is jn fine shape ! Due date is April 1 , give or take a few days .

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Mommas On Parade !

Heddi due April 7 , is bred to Ricky .

Maddie due April 21 also bred to Ricky .

Belle due April 1 is bred to future GC George . Belle going for sonogram & Xray Monday morning .

Almost Grand Champion !

George won BOS for another 3 points ! All he needs is 1 more point & defeat another champion . Next weekend he'll have a chance with two shows entered .

Still Cold !

Kate's from North Dakota & is complaining about this Winter being too cold , too long , & too much snow . Vermonters complain if they have to stop ice fishing in April . Isn't April 1 , opening day for trout season ?

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Happy Birthday Joanne !

Today's Joanne's ninth birthday . Such a sweet girl & the mother of many champions . Look at that face !

Won 3 More Points !

Well George is nearer to his Grand Championship . 4 more points & defeat one more champion , George will be a GC ! Sunday , George has a chance to earn more points .

A Bit Early . . . What The Heck !

Started tomato seeds today , to protest the snow . Have started onions , peppers , & eggplants . Use recycled muffin containers & milk cartans . Even recycled Christmas string lights for important bottom heat .

Glenville March 28 ?

Wonder if Spring will really come ? Other parts of country getting 100 degree heat waves !

Friday, March 27, 2015

YoYo Got A Haircut !

" Just take a little off the sides . . . Whoa ! " . All the groomer left was the head & tail !

BOS !

George won 4 points today ! Now all he needs is 7 points to earn his Grand Championship ! He has 2 more days of major shows at Syracuse . Might do it or be close ?

Thursday, March 26, 2015

George Gets Closer To Grand Champion !

George won another 3 points today towards his Grand Championship . Having won his AKC Championship last week with a major , George went on to win 3 more majors towards his GC . All he needs is 11 more points & he'll be a GC . He is entered at 3 more shows this weekend .

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Mommas Enjoying The Sun !

Maddie can't believe it's approaching 35 & sunny .

Belle heard rain forecasted for tomorrow !

Heddi enjoys the almost April snow , even if it's dirty !

Maddie's showing off ! Heddi remembers when she could stretch too . Belle can't remember ever stretching ! All mommas are too full of puppies for much activities !

Girl Watching !

Ricky & Harry are watching the girls !

Flowers ?

Last night & night before , temperature dropped to 4 degrees . Been a struggle to reach mid 20s , with 30 degrees a heat wave ! Yet these little flowers push through !

Sunday, March 22, 2015

King Of The Dog Beds !

" Come on you lazy Greyhounds ! Try to take a bed ! "

Saturday, March 21, 2015

The Ears Have It !

Maize trying out for the Easter Bunny Competition !

Friday, March 20, 2015

Summer / Winter Hutches Done

Completed 6 indoor coops for Californian Rabbits ordered next month . Need to build kitty litter boxes to fit under coops . These will be used in Summer heat & Winter cold . Tomorrow will start outdoor coops for Spring & Fall . Imagine no frozen water dishes , losing rabbits to heat , & newborns not suffering from climate extremes . The basement is a good choice .

George Won His AKC Championship !

Today I am a Champion ! Last night George was being shown in Edison NJ . He won WD , a 4 point major , to earn his championship ! The handler scolded me when I dropped George off , for allowing George to become a " Fat little dirty dog " . Well this " Fat little dirty dog " that wasn't shown for 2 months ( no majors ) won a 4 point major last night ! Much thanks should go to Mark who worked so well with George !

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Baby It's Cold Outside !

It's cold again ! How cold is it ? It's so cold dogs & cats are sleeping together !

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Happy Birthday Shillelagh !

Surrounded by toys , Shillelagh enjoys a birthday !

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Goldielocks & The Whelping Box !

As Goldielocks would say " And this one is just right ! " , Belle would agree !

Happy St Patrick's Day George !

Today George heads for the handle to compete in 4 major shows in Edison NJ . He needs to win only one major to earn his championship . Mark Desrosier , his talented handler , will do all he can to show George's stuff ! If not , torches , tar , & feathers ringside will encourage judges ! We waited for months to find a major show for Cardigans . Now we found 4 in NJ ( Mar 19-22 ) & 4 in Syracuse
( Mar 26-29 ) . If by some reason Mark's talents or the torches don't light , George will always be a champion here !

Monday, March 16, 2015

Puppy Maddie !

Shot when Maddie was a puppy . She went on to win her championship in only 8 shows ! Now due to whelp on April 21 .

Sunday, March 15, 2015

3 Maidens All In A Row !

Belle to whelp Apr 1 .

Heddi to whelp Apr 7 .

Maddie to whelp Apr 21 . Mother Nature subject to change dates up to several days !

World's Tallest Cardigan !

Shh ! We're stalking Harry , the world's tallest Cardigan . There he is . . . standing behind Ricky ! I don't believe anyone has every photographed such a tall Cardigan in the wild before .

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Waiting For St.Patrick's Day !

Maddie , Heddi , & Belle enjoying the more March like weather . All three are due to whelp in April .

Peppers , Eggplants , & Onions , Oh My !

Planted 4 pepper varieties & 8 eggplant varieties on heat pad next to 2 onion varieties . Recycled milk cartians to hold jiffy pods & onion sets . Muffin packages make ideal greenhouses !

Thursday, March 12, 2015

The Morning After !

All 3 moms did well in their first night together in the Welping Room . Plenty of room for 3 separate welping areas & the puppy watch bed . On the bed we have the cooler ( with heat pad to keep newborns warm ) , extra towel . & newspapers . Off to the front left , you see a table which holds a scale , medical supplies , & paperwork . Now all that has to happen is Mother Nature take over next month !

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Ready 1 ,2 , 3 Whelp !

Have 3 girls to whelp in April !

Let the moms have a slumber party !

3 whelping boxes & a bed for puppy watch .

Monday, March 9, 2015

Happy ! Happy !

George is happier than a Cardigan on stilts ! He's entered in a series of shows in NJ & might get a major win . If that happens , George will be a AKC Champion ! Wish Mark Desrosier , his handler , fair judges & fair weather !

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Birthday Boy !

Happy Birthday Kydd !

Party Animals !

Party hardy !

Lost A Friend Tonight .

After several weeks of failing health , our Inspector General jumped up on the couch between us . A few minutes later died . Kate had him for 14 years . We knew his time was short but you're never ready for the final curtain . Kate is taking it real bad . It's never easy to say good bye to a pet & friend .

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Fits Like A Glove !

Belle trying on the Whelping Room for size . Like to let prospective moms get familiar with the room prior having pups .