Today , With Fiona & Pups !

 

Breeding Cardigans Is Not For Everyone Or Every Cardigan !

 We are lucky to have a hardy base stock , but occasionally have to seek outside bloodlines . It took 20 years of work , hardships , & determination to maintain a kennel of Cardigans , that meet the CWCCA AKC standards , to produce Cardigans the ancient Welsh farmers would approve . 

Over the decades we had strange requests ! A man wanted to rent a litter of puppies for his daughter's birthday party . Several wanted me to ship a puppy to Europe & would pay $5000 . . . later . One woman had several children in diapers & thought a Cardigan puppy would be nice for her children to play with . Some people think we run a petting zoo . One woman wanted a Cardigan puppy to housebreak her Pembroke puppy ?

A most common request is people want their Cardigan , male or female , to have puppies ! One motive is money . People believe there's lots of easy money in dogs ! Where ? Yes there is lots of money in dogs ; feeding dogs , showing dogs , AKC registrations , housing dogs , equipment , fencing , taxes , transporting  , & veterinarian care . Then you throw in for free , sleepless nights & labor . Now before you can get all this easy money , you have to have it all ready in advance to cover expenses . You'll make more if you just left it in the bank ! Another motive ; the Disney belief their dog , male or female , wants to have puppies & raise a family . Problem is neither the animal or human half of this dream , is prepared ! What happens to the puppies ? How do you place them ? Animal shelter ? Are you prepared to spend weeks searching emails & phone calls from 100s as crazy as you ? 

Breeding & showing Cardigans is a rare blessing & curse .  You will meet some of the craziest & nicest people . Few can handle the stress & joy of whelping a litter at 12am . Few people or dogs have the temperament , strength , of financial resources for this magical madness . Advice : start small . Get the best puppy you can , after intense research . Show the dog & meet people in the game . Then with a background of experience decide , are you crazy enough to breed Cardigans ?

A litter from the past .

Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking ?

 Will mommy drop a treat , as she opens the bag ?

Hey Can Someone Fluff My Pillow ?

Looks like Harrison is taking over !

 

Jonah Does Magic !

 Drum roll please !

Ta-Ta-Da !

Wash Day !

 Washed girls yesterday . Doing boys today . Copper ( left ) Butch ( other left ) !

Cardigan Sea Dog !

 Abi sets course to loot & explore waterways !

Watch Pointing That Finger !

It's got a nail in it ! 

Moxie Shows Moxie During T-storm !

 She slept through a Michigan T-storm that knocked out power to 200,000 homes !

Cardigan Sleeping Patterns !

 The Three Stooges & Shemp !

The Cross Over ! 

Have All Our Cardigans In A Row !

 Well almost !

Millie !

 Loves the " Sound of Music " ! Here she is reenacting a scene !

What Did You Do Fiona ?

 

Fiona's Surprise !

 I went to bed at 4am , leaving Kate on guard with 5 pups . I returned at 6am & Kate had 6 pups ! X-rays said 4 pups , maybe 5 . Never expected another extra pup ! Fiona was so quiet , Kate didn't see her deliver & clean on her own , the sixth pup !

While You Were Sleeping !

Fiona had her litter !

 

Ahead Of Schedule ?

 Vet said Fiona due to whelp Aug 20 . Fiona may have other ideas ! Started heavy panting & nesting ( Fiona not me ! ) this afternoon . 

Another Shark Attack !

 

And Away We Go !

 

Tomorrow's Friday The 13th !

 How will you celebrate it ? I'll eat my homegrown Devil Tomato !

Another For The " Too Cute " Group !

 Vote early for Harrison & vote often !

Next ?

 Looks like Fiona will be the next in a long line of Cardigans , to whelp a litter for us . This will be Fiona's last litter . Her litters were small ( one , three , & now vet says 4 ) but special . Were X-ray counted yesterday & will be sonogram Aug 18 , with delivery expected Aug 20 . Cardigans are known to whelp a few days early .  Getting bed in Whelping Room ready to go on puppy watch . Expect another natural whelping & several sleepless nights !

Harrison , Kid Herding !

 Someone's gotta do it !

Star Gazer Off To A Good Start !

As advised , Star Gazer is getting her first new home vet check up ! Our pups make a big hit at the vets !

Jonah Make Yourself At Home !

 

That's What I'm Talking About !

 Teagan's ears are up !

That's One Happy Pup !

 

Bogus Alert !

Every once in a while someone drops a bogus ad on my blog . If you see a comment on my blog selling mixed breed dogs or snake oil , please let me know ! If the ancient Welsh farmers wouldn't approve , either would I ! We owe a stewardship to this wonderful breed . Please alert me if some low life uses my blog to sell puppy mill mix breeds ! Thanks .

 

BLT Tonight !

 May not be pretty , but sure will be tasty ! First vine ripen tomato with all the rain & hungry slugs ! Kate is so excited , she picked out special potato chips !

I can not lie !

It was I who chopped down the cherry tree ! 

 

Living Large !

 Named after nearby Cleveland Ballpark , BE Ballpark Frankie , is the Big Dog !

Last Of Jane & Copper's Litter Placed !

 Within a 350 mile radius , there are approximately 60 million people . There will always be more people wanting a Cardigan puppy , than Big Ears Kennel can supply . Our best effort , & pledge to stewardship of this amazing breed , is to place our few pups in the best homes we can . To those that missed getting a pup , try again on our next litter . It took me 2 years of trying , before a breeder would sell one to me ! Best bet is to follow our blog for new arrivals !

Too Short To Pick Apples !

 Yet quick enough to catch windfalls ! This boy heading to a Vermont Apple Orchard , where sheep herding trials are held nearby !

Bigfoot Lives !

Pup has " Good Bone " ! Cardigan breeders seek sturdy pups like this .