Committed to the improvement of the breed by breeding for health, temperament and better structure in dogs that have the ability to herd.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Upcoming Litter

My good friend Denise Waiting has a litter due July 20th. 

GCH Toshay's Butterfly, aka "Amy" was bred to my Brewer, CH Ebonwald's Be Home By Midnight. This will be Amy's second litter and Brewer's first.


Amy is OFA Good, PennHIP 90%, DM Normal N/N, CERF

Brewer is OFA Good, PennHIP 90%, DM Normal N/N, CERF, E/E, Fluff carrier.

Colors expected in this litter are brindles, and possibly black brindle pointed.

Contact Denise for more information on this exciting litter :)

Pedigree

future litter

Ebonwald's Be Home By Midnight

C-Myste Baledwr Free to Disagree

Merrymoon Firestorm

Phi-Vestavia Pirate's Patch

Phi-Vestavia Unforgettable

Mariel Reese's Alice Springs ROMs

Reese's Bold As Brass ROMb
Ironhill Valentine to Mariel AM CD ROMs

Merrymoon Ebonwald Im a Q.T.

Pluperfect-Merrymoon Prince

Pluperfect Pattern

Merrymoon Pluperfect Poppy

Merrymoon Noblestar My Girl

Mazara Merrymoon Reggae Bob

Merrymoon Noblestar Hot Ice
Toshay's Butterfly
Shadowalk Trademark ROMg

Shadowalk GW Make Way For Morgan ROMb

Phi-Vestavia Cardach Aeron AX OAP NJP ROMb

Shadowalk End of the Innocence ROMs

Shadowalk Vashon Jettsetter ROMb

Phi-Vestavia Inkling ROMg

Shadowalk End of the Innocence ROMs
Toshay's Burnt UmberCoedwig Darby Of Windermere CD NA NAP NAJ
Coedwig Vestavia Luminescence CDX RAE PT OA OAJ OAP OJP ROMg
Coedwig's Perfect Crime
Dcross Bookter Stitch N Time HS
D Cross Bookter Tyler Tyrant
D Cross Mallt

Official photos and with AKC!

My first and second Grand Champions, both bred by myself. Both finished the same weekend. Both got their first majors 12 months prior at the same show, so in a year they both received their Champion title AND their Grand Champion title. Thank you to all involved (stud and bitch breeders) for making this possible.

They are totally different kinds of bitches, and not everyone's cup of tea, and neither are perfect but I'm very pleased with them both and wouldn't change anything about our quest towards their titles.

Ballantyne finished her CH title with 4 majors, and her Grand CH title with ALL majors (7 of them). She had several majors at Supported Entries and NSHGC Specialties.

Ava finished her CH title with 2 majors, and her Grand CH title with all majors (7 of them) including one Best of Breed over 4 other specials. To say I'm proud is an understatement!


GCH CH Ebonwald's Be On The Lookout - DN28237503

Conformation - Awards Processed Through 02-JUN-2012
CH  
Number of Points 16
Number Major Wins 4
Number Major Judges 4
Total Number Judges 8


GCH  
Number of Points 31
Number Major Wins 7
Number Major Judges 7
Total Number Judges 7
Events w/CH Defeated 6



GCH CH Ebonwald's A Blessed Pirate Queen - DN27475204


Conformation - Awards Processed Through 02-JUN-2012
CH  
Number of Points 16
Number Major Wins 2
Number Major Judges 2
Total Number Judges 11


GCH  
Number of Points 27
Number Major Wins 7
Number Major Judges 7
Total Number Judges 7
Events w/CH Defeated 7


















Ava will be bred this fall, and Ballantyne is off to boot camp. She'll be shown in Richland this fall, and we'll see what 2013 brings for these girls. In the mean time I am just enjoying them and so glad for my friends who are helping make them, the best they can be.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

What a trip! And a souvenir!

So back when I first met Missy and let Minnie (f/n/a Janey) go live with her, part of the agreement was after health tests, and performance titles were done, we would co-breed a litter of pups, with a mutually agreed stud dog.

We searched high and low for a black dog that fit Minnie for things we wanted to improve upon, that was health tested, AND was of a pedigree we could agree on going to.

I must say, that Missy and Glenn have been the premier dog people that could ever be found for a co-ownership!! They never deviated from the contract, kept me in constant contact and updates on anything related to Minnie and her titles, qualifying legs, growth/weight/height, vet visits, heat cycles etc. After having to deal with unfortunate other issues with other co-owners, this was just really too good to be true. So thank you Glenn and Missy for being such outstanding people! I can't thank you enough!

So Minnie was the pick puppy of the Huxley x Zoe litter. I REALLY wanted a show puppy, so Ava stayed here. Minnie went to live with Glenn and Vela (Missy's mom) as she went back to Glenn's old stuff that he used to have.

Jump forward over 2.5 years and here we are on evaluation day. These are NOT the greatest photos but honest pictures of what the pick of the litter was. She WAS the fluff (tested even) and honestly was the puppy I really liked from the beginning, and really hoped for when I saw the 6 week photos.

At this time in my breeding program/life, I told Missy if she became the pick, that I would take her, regardless of her 'fault', as she was the VERY best in the litter and exactly what I was wanting from the breeding. I personally think those who place mismarks and fluffs based solely on those cosmetic concerns are selling their breeding programs of what could potentially be amazing individual dogs, but only my opinion. As much as I love to show, I'm not an idiot when quality is staring me in the face, and can see what they can bring towards bettering the breed. And that is really what is important to me, not a BIS (although it'd be nice along the way! haha





Overall the litter has REALLY pretty heads, great rears and top lines and have amazing round feet and bone. Not OVER done with bone, but nice bone. Naturally not every dog is perfect so I'd like to see more lay back in progeny from these pups moving forward (will have to find dogs with this), and still, more depth of chest, although the top two bitches were really ok, but could always be better. And longer upper arms, but couldn't they almost all?? These pups have the LARGEST EARS EVER! They will all need help standing up, so will need to be taped. The pups are also very sweet pups and giving the chaos all weekend they did really well.

The nice thing about this litter is that the parents were health tested! The pups are DM clear by parentage that was DNA tested, PRA line clear, and pink clear.

Oh yes, the important stuff:

Her call name: Naveen
Her registered name: Spyrock Ebonwald Return To Sender
Her Sire: CH Tailbrite Dark Before Dawn
Her Dam: Ebonwald A Minnesota Blessing CGC RE STDs
Her pedigree: http://www.cardiped.net/testmating.php?dam=78137&sire=67385&gens=5

So you won't see her in the show ring any time soon, but we will be working on other things to keep her occupied, and she'll be living with some dear friends of mine doing Puppy K, socializing and obedience, and I'll get to see her as often as I can! Win:Win for everyone!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Herding instinct = BIG PLUS

I don't seem to update the blog as often as I should, since so many of my thoughts go on my statuses on Facebook.

I have not had a single Cardigan yet to date that hasn't had SOME interest in herding. Whether it be ducks, sheep, cattle or chickens, they seem to have the 'knack' for it from an early age.

After moving the rams today with Sadie, Bolin and Ell, I filled the kiddie pools up with water so that the dogs had several places to cool off in the shade away from the days heat. I went back inside to finish cleaning up the kitchen and heard a racket outside with some Guinea hens which were very displeased. I walked to the window to see Ballantyne and two of the pups, Dago and Dinham calmly walking a group of 9 Guineas around the backyard. At any time the Guineas could have flown away, or the dogs attack the Guineas but I think it was understood by all parties that it was merely 'fun' for the Cardigans.

Once I found them they all came running up to me to beam up at me with their big goofy tongues and faces and roll over to be belly rubbed....pleased with themselves. I've never seen such intent pups, especially ones that were calm enough to just walk slowly behind the birds to get them to move where they wanted them too.

They never cease to amaze me!


Monday, June 4, 2012

Pretty Big News

First of all, last week I became the newest AKC Breeder of Merit! I looked online and I am the 4th Cardigan breeder in the state of MN to receive this award. There are several perks to being in this group of people, and there are a few requirements that are needed for such a title. I received a lapel pin and certificate in the mail this weekend while I was away at the dog show.

Speaking of the dog show:

On Friday under judge Jean Fournier, Ballantyne, aka Naughty, was Best of Opposite at the CWCCA Supported Entry for a 5 point major to finish her Grand Champion title! She finished her Grand title in 6 consecutive shows, with 6 majors! on Saturday she was again BOS, this time under breeder judge Vivian Moran. Now that her Grand CH title is completed she'll have some time off for boot camp and maturing before I take her out again for any amount of fun ;)

On Sunday, under judge Joe Gregory, Ava was Select for her final few points (another 4 pt major!) to finish her Grand Champion title! Ava had 7 Grand majors to finish her GCH title.

Both girls are bred and owned by me. Ava is going to be a momma sometime this fall/winter and she'll take time off to do other things like maybe Rally and CGC testing before she goes back out as a special.

So three wonderful things all in one week!

When I come down from Cloud 9, I'll let you know :)