He’s my brother, She’s my sister!

What a good day!  Good news came early with Charlie and Cody earning another RAE leg with 1st places in both Advanced and Excellent, I think with Friday’s leg that makes 6 RAE legs for the team! 

Not to be outdone by her littermate Bailey put on her own show and was awarded WB/BOS for her final 3 point major, so pending AKC confirmation she is now Ch Solstice Flying Circus!  Bailey is my 1st BBE champion and in addition to WB she was also Best BBE and BBE Group 2.

By virtue of finishing from the BBE class Bailey will join Banner as an invitee to the AKC Invitational.  Banner will be invited because she is an Amature Owner Handler Champion.

We still have 3 more days at my favorite cluster of the year, plus I get to go to Harry’s and play with puppies tomorrow! Yippee!

Point me in the direction of Albuquerque…………….

Yes I loved the Partridge Family and little did I know that I would spend so much time driving back and forth on I-25 between El Paso and Albuquerque but tomorrow I’m headed north for the High Desert Cluster dog show. Wish us luck!

Puppy buying 101

 

Four coins in the fountain?

Recently I’ve gotten quite a bit of traffic on my blog site and contacts for people looking for Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppies, partly because my blog comes up when you do a web search and partly because Harry has puppies at www.arylan.com. 

With the advent of social media, blogs, websites etc. searching for a puppy has changed.  In the old days (which are not that long ago) you might go to a dog show and meet breeders or be referred by someone who knew someone, write them a letter or call them on the phone.  People talked and planned on a personal level, now not so much.  It is emails and blog comments, there is less personal conversation.

Baby Charlie, Solstice Flying Ace, RE, CD, CGC

Of course breeders now use Facebook and websites and blog sites to inform potential puppy buyers about upcoming litters and breeding plans so there is a lot more information available for public view.   Which often times leads to a lack of communication instead of more.

I often get emails that say something like “I’m interested in your puppies, how much are they and when can I get one”.  Not really an email that I’m going to take seriously.  Which is too bad because the email might have led to a great home.

So here is the 411 on contacting and interacting with a breeder:

1st of all do your homework, and be aware that responsible breeders will be asking you as many questions as you are asking them.  We want to make sure our puppies are going to the best homes.  On the right handside of this page you will find a link to “Tips on finding a responsible breeder”  you can use this as you do your “homework”.

Look at websites and read about different breeders and their policies and philosophies. Remember that you and the breeder are tied together for the life of the dog.  Make sure both of your expectations are the same or at least something you can live with.   Different breeders have different ideas about placing puppies.  Don’t fall in love with a puppy until you know you and the breeder are on the same page.  My kennel policies are located again on the right hand side of this page.

Open up a dialog  with a breeder, with Cardigans we are a somewhat rare breed and you will most likely need to get on a waiting list for the right puppy.  For example I may breed just once a year while Harry’s (www.arylan.com) lifestyle allows him to breed more frequently.   Most breeders will refer you to other reputable breeders if they are not planning on puppies. 

Once you open that dialog ask questions and discuss your needs.  Be honest, breeders want to make sure you get the best puppy to fit your lifestyle.  Also be honest about other breeders you are talking to, we understand that people are often on multiple breeders puppy lists.  Responsible breeders don’t always have supply of puppies and there may not be a puppy of the sex/color/temperment that matches your needs.  I will say again, be honest,  we won’t think less of you but let us know if you are going with another breeder so that we are not holding a puppy for you. 

Once you start a relationship with a breeder you should expect updates and photos of the litter and then once the puppy goes home the breeder will expect updates and photos back.   I know several of my puppies have their own blogs which is fun for me.  We like to know what is going on with the babies and we like to know how they are growning up.

I hope this has helped you with your search, if you are thinking about a puppy from me later in 2012 I look forward to starting that dialog, you can begin by filling out my questionaire and letting me know something about the who, what, where of it all.  If you need a referral I’m always happy to talk about Cardigans and point you in the right directions.

Hair She Blows!

That is right, coat blowing season is upon us, time to get to the summer clothes. Of course when do the Solstice Cardigans choose to change into their summer duds?  That is right, after entries close for the High Desert Cluster in ABQ.  It is one of my favorite shows and of course we have majors every day so what that is a great reason to blow our coats out.  PJ is entered in breed all 4 days and is now naked, Bailey lost a lot of hair in the bath yesterday and she needs one 3pt major to finish her title.  Frosty is looking OK, she needs 3 single points for her Championship and the baby needs everything and is entered the last two days but she seems to be OK on hair.

Not wishing bad hair on anyone but I hope the entire entry is naked!

 

And a good time was had by all!

Early last week I took a plane to Huntsville, AL to join up with my BFF Leslie Reed of Keel Mtn and Kathy Davis of Dwysan for a fun-filled 12 hour road trip to Huron OH for the CWCCA National Specialty Show.   I was short on time off at work so we weren’t able to make it in time for the Sweepstakes competition but we got updates from Helen and Facebook friends as we were driving thru Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and finally Ohio.  Our pretty boys didn’t get placements in sweeps but they showed well from all reports. 

We arrived at the Sawmill Creek resort on the shores of Lake Erie and met up with the final member of our foursome Helen Keever and checked into our very nice suite, I said it was like a sorority house so we became the sisters of Sigma Cardi.  The venue was fabulous and the Nationals Hosts did an amazing job, well done and THANK YOU!

 

Here we are the sisters of Sigma Cardi at the banquet Kathy, Leslie, me and Helen

 

Handsome Rider in the 15-18 month class, a cellphone shot from ringside, better photo to come.

On Thursday the boys showed again this time in the regular dog classes, both Rider and Owyn only need single points to finish their AKC Championships but the decision was made to not finish them before the nationals so they could compete against the other young dogs.  The incomparable Sheri Hurst took both boys in and they were both awarded 2nd place in their classes.  I was excited since any ribbon at the nationals is an honor.  Bailey who was the 1st of my breeding entered at nationals got a ribbon last year and this year Rider did too.  Of course Harry’s Oz won winner’s dog last year but it was good that both Rider and Owyn were in the ribbons this year too.

Here is another blurry ringside photo of Owyn.  Both boy have great photos at Harry’s website www.arylan.com

On Thursday Kathy Davis and I attended the CWCCA Board of Directors meeting, Kathy was rotating off the board and I am in my second term as corresponding secretary, then we were off to the annual club meeting.

On Friday it was the girls turn and we spent the day ring side watching dogs, imagine that!  On Friday night I presented Rider at the judges education seminar that aspiring judges attend to learn the finer points of judging the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Rider was a handsome example of the breed and he behaved very well for me.  He hasn’t lived with me since he was 8 weeks old but he was good for his Mom anyway.

Saturday was all about the Breed, what a great bunch of dogs, it was exciting to see all the quality dogs being exhibited and what a thrill to watch the marvelous Harry P win the nationals for the 2nd time, this time from the Veteran’s class at 12 years old with his breeder/owner at the end of his lead.  Harry P is Frosty’s Grandpa so it was a family win.   After that excitement it was time for the last event of the nationals with the banquet and silent auction, I ended up with some great older handbooks from the silent auction and we had a good time looking at both the dogs and the much younger people in the photos.

Sunday morning saw us scraping ice off the windows, saying goodbye to Helen and piling into the car for the 12 hour drive home, it was cold and we were ready to head south to warmer climes.  Actually the road trip was a much fun as the event itself since I got to spend some quality time with my girls!

The true purpose of the a nationals is to expose other breeders to your breeding program and look at where others are at in theirs.  It is also a big family reunion where friendships are renewed and made.  A place where dreams start.  I had the good fortune of meeting with new and old friends and seeing some dogs I hope to bring into my lines, I kept telling people we were just a bunch of crazy chicks looking for studs and a party and that is exactly what we did. 

I have chosen a sire for Banner’s 1st litter, a handsome black dog name Rush and I am talking with his owner Heidi about the breeding, you can see Rush here http://www.regentcardigans.com/html/rush.html.   I know Leslie and Kathy also saw some boys they want to look at for their own programs, yep that is what the nationals is all about!

So that is a wrap for the 2012 CWCCA national speciality show and next year it will be in Tucson, AZ where yours truly will be acting as host/Chair of the event. 

Yes, a good time was had by all!

Off to the Nationals

I was going to title it crazy chicks looking for studs and a party but I figured it would generate a lot of weird hits for the blog site so I changed it.   But that is what we are doing, I’m off to meet up with Leslie (KeelMtn) my BFF and buddy Kathy (Dwysan) to drive to Huron, OH for the CWCCA Nationals.   We will meet up with Helen and the 4 of us will share a suite and enjoy the nationals with out dog responsibility.  Helen has her Arylan boy Owyn entered and Solstice will be represented by Harry’s young Rider but both boys will be shown by the multi talented super handler Sheri Hurst.

I’m looking forward to the time with my friends and after spending the weekend at Harry’s and then meeting up with my best buddies I will have gotten to see 2/3rds of my desert island friends all in the same week.  That is my list of people I want with me if I’m stranded on a desert island.  My dearests are not my nearest as most of my friends are in other time zones and I live virtually with them via phone, email, text, blogs and facebook so I am so excited to have  real face time with the people I love best!

 

A quick trip up I-25

I know, I know, I went to Albuquerque a week ago and and I am just now writing about my trip.  After working 70 hours last week early Saturday morning I jumped in the FIT and took a quick roadtrip (cost $32 instead of $132) up to Albuquerque to give Harry a hand with the puppies.  He has been doing a fabulous job with the orphan Chicklets and Lodi’s puppies too so I went up to give him a break and help out where I could.  Plus you know I wanted to see the babies and meet his new puppy girl, Kennebec Black Magic, Wicca  who had arrived the week before.

So there are 5 Chicklets and Lodi has 8 babies 4 of which are tri and the other 4 are red or what we call “pink” or ee red.  The “ee” is basically the definition of a dog who carries the double recessive “e” gene on the “Extension” gene locus.  This recessive gene operates to prevent black hair from showing visibly.  In the case of a “red” Cardigan, they are still red although they often have a pale, kind of dusty look or pink as young puppies.    The reds were a surprise as we expected all Tris from the two tri parents.   Whatever their color they are cute and I can’t wait to watch them grown up.

So here are a few phone photos from the weekend:

  

Ok not a phone photo, I stole this one of the puppy pile from Harry’s website, these are both litters mixed together.

Some of Lodi’s babies

A Chicklet!

Wicca, Kennebec Black Magic