Big Ears Kennel: March 2016

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 29, 2016

Ducks . . . Err Dogs . . . All In A Row !

Monday, March 28, 2016

Takes A Licking A Keeps On Ticking !

" We put a licking to those plates ! " Now let's . . . ZZZZZZ ! "

Shhhh !

Momma hiding from puppies' sharp teeth !

Sunday, March 27, 2016

I Thought I Saw An Easter Bunny . . . I Did ! I Did !

Thank the Easter Bunny For The Colored Eggs !

Let's give some credit to the chickens ! Dude , my old rooster .

Happy Easter Eggs !

We hatched Welsh Harlquin duck eggs one year .

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Eenie , Meenie , Mightie , Moe . . .

You can imagine the trouble I had , picking the one I wanted to keep !

Friday, March 25, 2016

Have A Happy Easter . . .

Or be Abi Normal !

Abi Normal ( yes from Young Frankenstein ) & her favorite one eyed chicken !

Monday April 4 , Heddi's Litter Turns 5 Weeks !

At 5 weeks we start showing puppies to approved homes . We have not advertised the puppies yet & only have 2 Black & White left ! We try to match the right pup to the best home . So many scream Blue Merles & won't even look at a Black & White . We do not run a bakery & can't make Blue Merles . Only Nature can do that . Blue Merles are only allowed to be bred to Black & Whites . It reduces recessed genes & keeps the color crisp . So even if we breed for Blue Merles , we breed to Black & Whites , & only a few in a litter are Blue Merles .

So those that wish for a Blue Merle , do the math ! Cardigan Welsh Corgis are a rather rare breed , with only a few active breeders east of the Mississippi & even fewer breed for Blue Merles .

Free Range Cardigan !

George has free range of the porch & house but likes his perch !

Has Quite A Bit On His Plate !

Two Plate Eaters !

Pups are too big for one plate ! Monday the pups will be 4 weeks old , at 5 weeks we start showing to new homes .

Monday, March 21, 2016

Puppy Workout !

Puppies daily workout ; eat , sleep , & poop . . . called retirement in humans !

Black Arrow Today !

Look at that face . You can see him thinking !

Erin Has A Vet Appointment This Morning !

Motherhood ?

Calm Down !

Now they're all excited !

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Next Litter In Planning !

Timber

Erin

AKC Registered Litter Today !

Harry

Heddi

Feb 29 litter

First Day Of Spring Backpacking !

Maizie backpacking in the uncharted wilderness ! In each bag she's carrying , has 40 pounds of supplies & trapping gear . It's Spring & the bears are waking up . Good luck hunting Yogi !

Who Let The Pups Out ?

Took pups 5 minutes to discover openning & break out to mom !

Super-Sized Whelping Box !

Pups too big for whelping box , so we extended it !

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Huh , Already ?

Planted tomatoes March 15 & some are peeking up today !

Oh , What A Night !

Cardigan party animals . The expression " Let sleeping dogs lie " comes to mind !

Silo : Ice Cream Police !

Silo on Neighborhood Watch for ice cream !

Friday, March 18, 2016

Attacked From Both Sides !

Even though the pups are starting to eat soft food , Heddi will endure this rough treatment for a few more weeks .

Thursday, March 17, 2016

The Wearing Of The Green !

It's green ain't it ?

Today all the amateurs are Irish ! I was raised Irish & taught to hate everything British & Cromwell . Come to find out , I'm mostly Scottish & some of my ancestors served with Cromwell ! So last year , the wife & I had High Tea in London . We love everything from Great Britian & Ireland . If they can get over their " troubles " , so can this country . Happy St. Patrick's Day !

No Elbows On The Plate !

They like mom best !

First time with soft food !

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Bruce's Big Adventure !

Erin waiting for vet trip this morning . We know Erin is in heat , but timing is critical with A.I. , especially dealing with a male Cardigan in California . Today's tests will tell us if things are ready or we have to wait some more !

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Peter Clifton's Birthday , Time To Start The Tomatoes !

Peter Clifton is a world renouned authority on Cardigans & my kennel traces back to one of his dogs . Starting my tomatoes on his birthday is great !

Litter Too Big To Fit In One Photo !

Monday, March 14, 2016

Wormed & Recorded Heddi's Litter !

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Adjust for new time !

Heddi's pup ( top ) & Wendy ( bottom ) . Then & now !

Saturday, March 12, 2016

We Lost A Kind Soul In The Cardigan World !

Joanne shared her wonderful kindness with two homes . First most of her life with Big Ears Kennel as Joanne , mom to great Cardigan pups . Then as Joni a prized family member in NJ . After a brief stressing & painful illness , she left us . She held on long enough to die in her new owner's arms , only after being blessed & given permission . She had the Cardigan heart . Joni will be missed by many . So sad to lose the really good ones .

Friday, March 11, 2016

Compare !

Feb 29

Mar 11