Up and Comers

So these are my 'keepers' from the Tiger x Ballantyne litter, born 11/14/14. 

The first black brindle girl is Cora. (Formerly Helga). From birth she was the 'one' who I was drawn to. I am glad to see that others also appreciate her type and quality.

 The next girl is Ingrid. She was to go to another show home and they decided to go a different direction. I am so glad they did, as her quality and type are just exquisite! I am so excited to watch he grow as well. Different than her sister, above, but all the same refinement, bone, angles as Cora, and just as beautiful of head and expression.

 

Their handsome brother Olaf is below. He caught my eye as a youngster and I prayed that others would see his quality. The depth of quality in the litter was apparent (even with the fluffs!) and his soft eye and expression is exactly what I think of, when I think of a Cardigan. 

 

 

This girl is NOT a littermate to the brindles above. She is KiaLoa (formerly Gia) who is out of the Captain x Ballantyne litter born 8/14/13. She was DNA tested to be homozygous black, and homozygous 'wolf agouti' or 'wild type' (meaning she is not sable or tri). She is turning in to a lovely lady and even though she is technically not showable, her merits as a brood bitch are evident. I cannot wait to see what she produces when she is older and has her health tests complete.

 

In case anyone missed it, we have moved to Iowa for a job transfer/promotion. We have downsized our pack so all the above dogs are living with friends in show homes.  We are ultimately looking for a small farm in SW Wisconsin to call home, so we can bring all the dogs back together and the sheep, cattle, chicken and hogs as well :)

Stay tuned for more updates!

Upcoming Events

2012 will be a year of continued progress in the realm of health testing, as well as hopefully moving forward with my breeding program, and my involvement with the CWCCA (our parent club).

In February Ell will be due with puppies. This will be her 2nd litter and I'm cautiously optimistic about this breeding. Pups will be brindles or possibly blacks.

In March when Brewer, Ballantyne and Bolin turn two, I will have their hips/elbows done. Ava will also be done as when she turned two she was in standing heat. Four dogs to have tested at the same time?! $$$ I am going to be paying for that for awhile! But it is very important to me and for the health of my dogs. Im not anxious to breed any of them yet, as I will hopefully have an Ell pup to grow on, as well as a pup out of Minnie that should be coming this way if all goes well sometime this summer.

In April the Cardigan National is going to be happening in Ohio. Since I missed last years in Texas (the first I've missed since I started going in 2008) I told myself I'd never miss another one. Its the chance once a year I get to see some of my Cardi friends! Aside from email or facebook, it is the only face to face opportunity I would get to see my friends!

In May I will be frantically finalizing the CWCCA Supported Entry at the FMKC shows June 1, 2 and 3 in Fargo, ND. I am member in charge but have delegated much to others so I am not running around the show site trying to help the FMKC AND the Supported Entry at the same time. Margot the Briard will also be showing there with her half sister and full sister hopefully so that should be fun to catch up with the Briarders.

I will not be going to the Western Reserve this year as Jon Kimes, one of my mentors will be judging one day. Since he and Barb and I co-bred a litter I am unable to show under him, which is totally fine. He's hard on my dogs without showing under him ;) ha ha ha!!

The rest of the year is up in the air. I'm not sure which shows i will be able to show at or go to. Will depend on my work schedule and the judges I guess, and where the majors may or may not be.